If you have a building that cannot be connected to the mains sewage system, then it is important that you look for an alternative method of taking wastewater and sewage away from it. One of the most effective ways of doing this is through a septic tank system. When you get a septic tank system, the wastewater and sewage are channelled away from the building and into a septic tank that is situated close by. Inside the septic tank, the waste is broken down by bacteria and separated into water and sludge. The water is then drained into a drainage field in the local area (only sewage treatment plants are allowed to drain to a watercourse or surface water).
The sludge sinks to the bottom of the septic tank, meaning that the tank needs to be emptied at regular intervals. This is part of good maintenance of a septic tank but can also be damaging and expensive to fix if not done regularly.
If you have a septic tank system, it can be advantageous to know some of the signs that your tank is full. Although regularly emptying it should mean that you do not reach this stage, being aware of the signs is also useful.
With this in mind, here are some of the most obvious tell-tale signs that your septic tank needs to be emptied:
Pooling Water
One of the most common, and obvious signs that a septic tank needs to be emptied is pooling water in the drainage area. This means that the tank is over-flowing, perhaps full of sludge and it is important to get it emptied as quickly as possible.
Unpleasant Odour
If you are experiencing an unpleasant odour from your plumbing or septic tank, this is another sign that your tank needs to be emptied. Although dealing with wastewater and sewage, the septic tank system should not smell, so if you notice an odour, this is a good indicator that there is something wrong.
It is important to remember that there can be other reasons why you may notice an unpleasant odour – such as a downdraft from the sewer ventilation pipes – so you should make sure that you get it checked out.
Slow Draining
Another important sign that your septic tank needs emptying is if you notice that your drains within the building are slow. Draining should be free-flowing and easy, so, if you notice a difference in your draining, with it becoming slower and more laborious, it could mean that your tank needs to be emptied. This can also include trouble flushing toilets. If left, this can result in sewage back-up – and this is definitely something that you want to try to avoid if possible!
As before, there could also be other reasons why your drainage is slow, so it is important that you get it checked – especially if you have only recently emptied your septic tank.
Healthy Lawn
The septic tank system’s drainage field secretes water into the surrounding area. If, however, the tank is full, it can also drain some of the bacteria into the same area, feeding the lawn with nutrients and water, and often encouraging new growth. This means, that if you are getting an area of beautiful, healthy lawn, it is, unfortunately, often a sign that things are not so healthy in the septic tank system.
Gurgling
Some people who have a septic tank that needs to be emptied experience a gurgling noise coming from their drains. If you notice this, it is another sign that you should get your system checked and probably your septic tank emptied.
Time
The most effective and least risky way of knowing when it is time to empty your septic tank is to know what the correct pumping interval is for your tank. This means knowing when it was last pumped, how long to wait until the next one, and making sure that it is pumped on time. The pumping interval is determined by a number of factors such as the size of your tank, how many people are using it, and how much they are using it.
The pumping interval can then be calculated, meaning that the likelihood of the septic tank getting too full – and showing these addition signs – is low.
Having a septic tank pumped regularly will help to ensure the longevity of your septic tank system and help you to avoid some of these symptoms that can occur if it gets too full. It is also important, however, to know the signs to look out for if you have a septic tank so that you can be aware that there is a problem if they do occur.
