When you turn on the faucet or flush the toilet, it's easy to disregard the path the water will take once it enters your drainage system. However, if you have a septic tank, it's important that you ensure everything is working properly at all times.

Septic systems are complicated, especially to the untrained eye. When there is a problem, it's not always obvious where it's originating from. Promptly diagnosing the issue is important to ensure it doesn't get worse or cause any problems for the people in your home who need to use water.

If you're experiencing septic tank problems, there's a good chance that it's one of these common concerns.

CLOGS

One of the first questions to ask yourself when your septic tank gives you trouble is when was the last time the septic tank was pumped out? Septic tanks gradually fill with solid waste. The grey water is allowed to pass through the tank and out into the underground drain field lines in your yard. Once the tank is full of solid waste, you may experience sewage backups in the toilets or slow drains in tubs and sinks. The frequency of pumping depends on a few factors. First, the number of people who live in the house. Second, how much wastewater goes into your septic tank? Do you take extra long showers or do an unusual amount of laundry? How often does the dishwasher run? Each of these fixtures / appliances drain into your septic tank.

If your septic tank was pumped out in the last year or two, it is unlikely that it is already full. So in that case, you most likely have some sort of a clog between the house and the septic tank - or even in one of the branch drainage pipes between rooms and plumbing fixtures. You’ll need to determine where the clog might be. If all of your drains are draining slowly, the clog is probably in the pipe leading away from the house, which is usually a 6-inch diameter pipe, but in some areas could be a 4-inch or even an 8-inch pipe. Sometimes, they become clogged with items that should not have been flushed such as tampons, wet wipes, condoms or paper towels. If sewage is backing up into your home or surfacing around the septic tank, you might have a problem with the outlet baffle or effluent filter. Finally, check the inlet baffle to the tank if you have access to it. You'll be able to clearly see a clog here, and you might be able to free it up using a pole pushed through the access port on top of your septic tank. You may have to dig down to find it.

TREE ROOTS

Tree roots are incredibly resilient. They have a tendency to wrap around or drill right through whatever is in their way. If you're not careful, your septic system could end up being in the wrong backyard at the wrong time.

TANK OR LINE LEAK

They say the grass is always greener on the other side. But greener isn't always better. If you have oddly green grass - healthy grass when all other vegetation is dead or dried up, or especially brightly colored grass - it could mean your septic tank has a leak in it or your lateral lines are receiving far too much wastewater downstream from the septic tank and are saturating your yard. You might even find puddles or raw sewage on your lawn, which is a dangerous environmental hazard.

If treated and maintained properly, your septic system will last you several decades. However, it's important that you don't let common septic tank problems decrease the system's life span. If you suspect a clog, tree root infiltration or a tank leak, reach out to your local Roto-Rooter for help. Not every Roto-Rooter location provides pumping services but most locations do septic tank repairs. Many even provide full installation and replacement services. Check here to locate your local Roto-Rooter office.

SIGNS THAT YOUR SEPTIC TANK NEEDS PUMPING

Most homeowners with septic tanks are aware that they need regular cleaning, but the question for many is how regular these cleanings should be. If you ask around, you may be told anything from every year to every five years. The reason for the wide range of estimates is that a lot of factors influence how quickly a septic tank starts to fill up with solids. If you can afford it and don’t want to deal with any hassle, you may choose to simply schedule it each year. If you’d rather put it off until it’s necessary, there are signs to look for that will let you know when the time has come.

TOILET CLOGS

Sometimes toilets clog because you’ve been flushing too much or have been flushing things you shouldn’t be, but if your toilet begins to get backed up even with the most innocent of flushes, it may be a sign that your septic tank needs cleaning.

SMELL

It isn’t uncommon that the first signs of a septic tank in need of cleaning aren’t seen, but smelled. With a healthy septic tank, the system should be designed to prevent gross smells from making their ways up pipes and into your home. If you start to smell unusual and unpleasant scents, it is a sign that something is wrong.

OVERFLOW

If a pool of water has accumulated above the tank lid, your tank is overflowing, and it is time to investigate whether the septic tank needs pumping or if there is a separate issue.

ALERT SYSTEM

Some septic tanks are fitted with an alert system that will notify homeowners when the tank needs pumping. Some are fitted with alarms that will make a high-pitched noise, or sometimes they use a light on the side of the house as an indicator. If your current septic tank doesn’t have an alarm or alert system, it isn’t too difficult or expensive to have one installed.

OTHER ISSUES

If any one of these signs starts occurring, or a combination of them, you should check for other possible causes as well. Sometimes these occurrences might be due to a leak or a clog, so check your plumbing for those things first. Otherwise, it is likely that the time has come to call a plumber to come to give your septic tank a good pumping. If none of these signs show up after around five years or so, you may want to have your tank pumped just in case.

SEPTIC TANK PUMPING: REMOVAL OF SEPTIC SOLIDS

Have you ever wondered how raw sewage is processed when it leaves your home? You simply flush the toilet and everything disappears! Where exactly does it go? If you have a septic system, keep reading and you will learn all about the mystery of waste processing. Perhaps you have seen a Roto-Rooter truck doing septic tank pumping and wondered what was going on? They were likely pumping solids from someone’s septic tank, a procedure that must be performed every few years on a septic system.

MECHANICS OF A SEPTIC SYSTEM

For those who are not able to hook into a city sewer system, the alternative is a septic system. There are essentially four parts to a sewer treatment system like this.

• Sewer drainpipe—this comes out of your home and carries waste into the system.
• Septic tank— this collects the waste. Upon entering the tank, the waste begins to separate. The heavier solids (sludge) settle on the bottom of the tank. The greases and fatty substances (scum) float to the top. All the fluids (effluent) drain out an opening in the tank.
• Effluent drainpipe—this pipe carries the effluent to the drain field.
• Drain field—this is a system of perforated pipes buried a few feet in your soil. The effluent enters this area and slowly trickles into the soil. Because this liquid is full of germs, it still poses a health hazard to humans and animals. The soil collects these impurities then systematically filters and kills them.

CARE OF THE SEPTIC SYSTEM

It is important that no kitchen grease, solid waste, petroleum products, and dangerous chemicals be flushed into the septic system. These products will inhibit the natural process of breaking down the raw sewage. It is also suggested that no enzymes or other retail chemicals be placed into the septic system.

Depending on how much usage the system has, you will need to have Roto-Rooter perform a septic tank pumping in order to remove the build-up of solids in the septic tank. A septic system that is installed correctly should be able to go two or three years before needing to be pumped.

It is important that no vehicles drive over the drain field. You can grow grass and shallow-rooted plants over the drain field. However, avoid planting deep-rooted trees, as they will inhibit the natural processing of the effluent.

5 SIGNS IT'S TIME TO CALL YOUR SEPTIC PUMPING SERVICE

It's a fact of life: If you own a septic tank, you'll have to clean it at some point, as proper maintenance is key for making sure your septic tank and everything else in your home runs the way it's supposed to. Make sure you pump your septic tank once every few years. If you don't clean it regularly and instead leave it to its own devices for decades, you could have an expensive problem on your hands when you finally do decide to have it cleaned out.

When should you call your septic pumping service? Here are five signs you should watch out for:

1. HAS IT BEEN TWO OR THREE YEARS SINCE THE LAST TIME THE TANK WAS PUMPED?

A good rule of thumb when it comes to having your septic tank pumped is to determine a baseline for how often you want to clean it out. Depending on how large your tank is, how many people live in your household and how old your septic tank is, there could be different protocols for how often you need to pump it.

2. WILL YOU HAVE A LOT OF VISITORS IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE?

If you're anticipating heavy septic system usage for an extended period of time, and your tank hasn't been pumped in a while, it may be a good idea to go ahead and have it cleaned out in order to prepare for the heavier influx of sewage.

3. DO YOU SUSPECT TREE ROOTS ARE CLOGGING YOUR DRAINAGE TILE LATERAL LINES?

It's important that you make sure any trees on your property aren't causing mayhem underground. Tree roots are a leading cause of pipe blockages, and your septic tank is no exception. You should call a professional to help you determine whether trees will affect the sewage system.

4. DOES YOUR LAWN HAVE A BAD ODOR?

If your septic system is failing, you'll know it. Pay attention to how the lawn smells – if you haven't cleaned the tank out in a while, your lateral field may become overwhelmed, spewing nasty gases into the air.

5. IS YOUR YARD WET, EVEN THOUGH IT HASN'T RAINED?

Look for soggy patches of grass and even standing water, as well. This could be an indication that a septic system overflow or failure has occurred.

These are all signs that you should contact a plumbing expert sooner rather than later. For more information on our septic pumping services, get in touch with the professionals at Roto-Rooter.

SEPTIC TANK BASICS FOR NEW HOMEOWNERS

Buying or building a new home is an exciting milestone! But the learning curve can be steep if the home has features you’ve never used before. Whether you’ve purchased an existing home or you’re building a new home with a septic system, keep these basic tips in mind for installation and ongoing maintenance.

• If you’re building a new home, you’ll need to have the soil tested by the local health department before installing a septic system. Not all soils can be used to treat raw sewage. Your health department specialist will inform you of other options available if yours is not the proper type of soil to sustain a septic system. Perhaps your contractor will be able to haul in the proper soil. Be sure to coordinate this action with your health inspector so that all applicable building and health codes are followed.
• Moving into a new home with an existing septic system? Remember, the septic system was installed according to the size of the home and the number of occupants dwelling there. Typically, a system can handle around 50 gallons of waste per day. It is important that you know exactly how much your system can handle and then stay within those parameters. If you over-burden your septic system, the result could be flooding of the liquid waste from the tank.
• Depending on who you ask, opinions differ on whether it is important or necessary to use chemicals in your septic tank. If you aren’t sure, discuss this issue with your local Roto-Rooter professional. There may be some chemicals that are useful in keeping your sewer pipes clear. Your plumbing technician may also recommend chemicals that will treat the waste products in your tank.

The simplicity and efficiency of a septic system makes it an attractive addition to your home. Be sure to ask previous homeowners for records of septic system maintenance, repairs, pumpings and inspections. Most importantly, remember that septic tanks should be inspected and pumped every three to five years.