5 Signs That It’s Time to Have Your Septic System Cleaned
Septic tank maintenance is critical to caring for your Niles, Ohio, home. If you’ve been putting septic cleaning off or just purchased a home with a tank that hasn’t been cleaned for a while, now is the time to get this dirty job done. Following are five sure signs that you should schedule an appointment today.
1. Failed Odor Suppression
Your septic tank holds all the waste and wastewater from your plumbing system. The good news is that as gross as this may seem, it’s designed to remain virtually odor-free all year. Septic tanks suppress odors so outdoor areas can be enjoyed just as thoroughly as they would if plumbing waste were routed to a municipal sewer system. However, when septic tanks are full or nearly full, their odor suppression capabilities begin to fail. If you’ve got a persistent stench permeating the air around your home, don’t ignore it.
2. Slow-moving Drains
Slow-moving drains have a variety of causes. In bathroom sinks and shower pans, drains that are slow to empty may need cleaning. It could be time to get rid of accumulated hair and soap scum. In the kitchen, a developing clog might be the culprit. When you have a septic tank, slow-moving drains become a severe concern when every drain in the house starts draining slowly. This is an indication that there’s little room, or no room, left in the tank for the waste that you’re currently producing. It’s also a sign that a significant backup lies just around the corner.
3. Backups
When septic tanks reach capacity, newly accumulated waste has nowhere to go but back where it came from. Worst of all, it doesn’t go back exactly where it came from. Dirty toilet water and its biological waste can find their way into your sinks and shower pans. Whole-house sewage backups are both costly to contend with and incredibly unsettling. After witnessing one of these events, you’ll never feel the same about taking a long soak in your tub. Moreover, these backups can cause a tremendous amount of permanent damage to your home and your items.
4. Your Yard Is a Veritable Mud Pit
Not every symptom of a septic overflow will manifest indoors. Before your septic tank sends waste and wastewater back into your home, it will likely saturate your yard. If you step on your grass and instantly sink ankle-deep in swill, it’s time to get a professional.
You may even notice pooling water in your yard along with several secondary problems that come with it, such as:
- A sudden increase in mosquito populations
- Pungent waste odors
- Low or sunken spots around your tank
In dry weather, it’s not uncommon for the grass that sits directly over septic tanks to turn brown. This is a sign that your septic tank is working as it should. If your septic tank is covered in lush, green grass and other hearty growths during an incredibly long stretch of hot, arid weather, you have a problem. This indicates that your soil is saturated with the nutrient-dense waste your tank once contained.
5. Your Toilets Won’t Flush
Flushing your commode and having waste remain in the bowl or flow immediately back into the bowl is a sign of trouble too. Even if your toilets are flushing normally, you should seek professional help if they start making a loud gurgling or bubbling noise as the water swirls down. These sounds often mean that tanks are near-full. However, they can also be indications of other septic tank problems.
To avoid flushing issues, make sure that you aren’t sending things down your commodes that your septic tank can’t handle. These include:
- Flushable kitty litter
- Flushable personal wipes
- Feminine hygiene products
- Paper towels and other heavy-duty paper products
- Cotton balls
- Oil or grease
If you’re new to septic tank maintenance and general tank use, feel free to ask us for guidance during your next appointment.
At A To Z Dependable Services, we’ve been serving Niles, Ohio residents since 1960. We offer heating, cooling, and plumbing installation, repair, and maintenance services. We also provide drain cleaning, septic tank cleaning, and sump pump service. If your septic tank is full or nearly complete, we can help. Give A To Z Dependable Services a call today.
