How You Can Tell When It's Time to Have Your Septic Tank Pumped

Posted on: 26 January 2017

If you live in a part of the country that doesn't have a community sanitation plant, it's an absolute must that you have a septic tank.  Septic tanks are the devices used to allow a natural separation process between the liquid and solid waste that comes from your home.  Although the septic tank performs such a critical role, it's easy to forget to pay attention to the condition of your device.  The tank could be completely full and you may not even know it.  Use this information to learn more about the signs that it's time to have your septic tank pumped.

Your Drains Are Moving Slowly

One of the telltale signs that your septic tank is full occurs when you notice that your drains are starting to take a long time to empty.  The water seems to remain in the sink for much longer than it normally does.  When this happens, your septic tank may be the culprit.

Understand that when your septic tank is full, it naturally acts like a barrier for other wastewater that is trying to enter it.  The solids could have become so thick that they clog up the drainfield and cause the water in the tank to squeeze through ever so slowly.  As a result, there's a bit of a backup that is causing drains to move slowly.

When you notice this happening, it's important to act right away.  If you've tried to use some septic tank-friendly clog removers to no avail, it's time to call in a plumbing professional who can let you know if your septic tank needs to be pumped.

There Is Standing Water In Your Yard

The next sign of septic tank trouble is when you find that there is standing water in your yard.  This doesn't apply to the normal puddles that appear after a good rain.  This refers to standing water that could be quite high and that pools around your property.

Think of a glass of water that is completely full.  You may keep pouring, but since there's no more space, the water spills out all around the glass.  This is equivalent to what happens when your septic tank is full.  The overflow has no choice but to pool up in your yard.

Carefully noting the signs is the key to knowing when your septic tank is full.  If either of these signs crops up, call a professional, such as Sullivan Septic, for more information or advice.

Share