Your septic tank needs cleaning and pumping regularly to prevent clogs, foul odors, and system failure. Non-biodegradable materials like wipes, feminine hygiene products, and excess grease can clog the tank and cause wastewater to back up into your home.
Regular septic tank cleaning and pumping keep your underground waste treatment system functioning properly for years to come. While the terms are often used interchangeably, septic tank cleaning and pumping involve distinctly different services with different goals. Contact Septic Tank Cleaning Perth for professional help.
If you notice foul odors in or around your home, it could be a sign that there is a problem with your septic system. Foul odors are caused by gases that are produced in your septic tank as anaerobic bacteria break down organic waste. These gases include carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and methane. These gases are not only unpleasant, they can also be toxic and even explosive if they reach high concentrations.
While it is natural for your septic system to produce these gasses, it’s important to keep them in check. Proper disposal of waste and routine maintenance services can help to keep odors to a minimum.
Foul odors in or around your home are typically the first sign that there’s a problem with your septic system. This can be caused by a number of factors, including a full septic tank or a bacterial imbalance. These smells can also be a result of clogged drains or ventilation problems.
Many homeowners may think that septic tank additives can help to eliminate foul odors, but these products often contain chemicals that disrupt the natural balance of bacteria in your septic system. This can cause poor waste breakdown, which in turn leads to sewage backups.
If you’re noticing septic odors in your bathroom, it’s likely a sign that your toilet wax seal has dried out and needs to be replaced. If the septic odor is located outside, it may be a sign that the septic tank lid has cracked or is missing altogether.
If your septic tank overflows, it can cause sewage to back up into your drains and the surrounding yard. This can be a serious health hazard and require emergency plumbing services. A professional plumber can clean out the septic tank and repair any leaks in your septic system. This can help prevent future septic tank overflows and keep unwanted odors at bay.
Slow Drains
Clogged drains are a clear sign that you need to have your septic tank cleaned. These problems can lead to sewage backups, which pose serious health risks for you and your family.
A septic system works by taking in waste, solids, and liquids. The solids settle in the septic tank, while the liquids flow into the drain field where the soil absorbs them. When the septic tank becomes full, the wastewater can’t flow out freely, and that can cause your sinks, showers, and toilets to drain slowly or become clogged.
If you have a drain that is clogged, try using septic-safe drain cleaners. However, if the problem persists, you should consider calling in a professional septic technician. They will be able to use specialized tools to quickly and safely unclog your drain pipe.
It is possible to prevent drain clogs from happening in the first place, such as by installing a hair trap in your bathroom or by regularly cleaning out pop-up stoppers and strainers. You should also avoid pouring fats, oils, or coffee grounds down any drain, and only flush the three P’s (pee, poop, and paper, i.e., toilet paper).
Another common cause of clogged drains is a blocked septic vent. This can be caused by debris, a bird’s nest, or even a tree root. If you hear gurgling when running water or flushing the toilet, call in a professional to inspect and clear the vent.
While septic tank cleaning may not be the most fun job to tackle, it is crucial for protecting your home and family from dangerous odors, clogged drains, and wastewater backups. The best way to avoid these issues is by following a regular maintenance schedule and keeping an eye out for warning signs like slow drains, sewage backups, or wet spots in your yard. Contact Wind River Environmental to learn more about your septic system and how to prevent costly cleaning and repairs. We can also help you create a routine maintenance schedule to keep your septic tank in top condition. We offer septic tank cleaning for residential and commercial properties throughout the state of Arizona.
Overflowing
A septic tank overflow can cause contamination of the surrounding area. This can pose a health risk for your family and anyone else who comes into contact with the contaminated water. This contaminated water is full of harmful bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens that can cause various illnesses.
One of the primary signs that your septic system is overflowing is an unpleasant odor. This smell is caused by hydrogen sulfide, which is produced when organic waste decomposes in the septic system. If you are experiencing this odor, it is time to call a plumber to inspect your septic tank and perform a cleaning.
Another sign of septic tank overflow is when you notice a puddle or pool of liquid around your septic system. This liquid is wastewater that has escaped the septic tank and is making its way to your drain field. This can lead to clogged drains and toilets throughout your home.
A septic tank cleaning will eliminate solid obstructions in drainage pipes. These obstructions can be caused by things like wipes, chemicals, and grease that are flushed down the drains. These objects can also clog the drain fields and septic tanks themselves. A professional septic tank cleaning will remove these obstructions and prevent them from damaging your septic system.
When a septic tank is overflowing, you should immediately cease all water usage until the problem can be resolved. This means avoiding taking showers, doing laundry, and even flushing toilets. This will reduce the amount of waste and water that is entering your septic tank, reducing its overflowing rate.
The best way to keep your septic system in working condition is to schedule regular septic tank cleaning services. Ideally, these should be done every 2-3 years for most residential homes. Larger homes and aging systems may require more frequent septic tank cleanings to ensure optimal performance. Regular septic tank cleanings will also help to extend the life of your septic system by eliminating the buildup of sludge that can cause premature system failure. To further minimize your septic system maintenance needs, practice water conservation and avoid dumping hazardous substances into the system.
Damaged Drain Field
Septic system drain fields are the unsung heroes that help your home’s wastewater filter through soil safely and naturally. They work quietly behind the scenes and go unnoticed until they are damaged or fail, which can result in costly repairs and contaminated yard and water. Keep an eye out for these early warning signs of a failing septic drain field.
Foul odors are the most common sign of a clogged or damaged septic tank and drain field. If you notice a foul smell in your house, it could mean that the leach field is overflowing with wastewater and needs to be cleaned or that the septic tank needs to be pumped. Foul odors from the septic tank can also indicate that the septic tank has a leak or crack and needs to be repaired.
The septic tank’s scum layer and sludge layer form over time, with the sludge being thicker than the scum. When septic tank cleaning is performed, the service provider can measure these layers to determine when the tank will need to be pumped again. General guidelines state that if the sludge layer is within six inches of the tank preventative outlet or the top of the sludge is 12 inches from the bottom of the tank, it’s time for a cleaning.
When the septic tank is pumped, the service provider will also clear out the lines that lead into your drain field to ensure all solid waste and liquid effluent is being sent where it should. Over time, drain field lines can become clogged with things that should not be flushed down the drains such as diapers, wipes, feminine hygiene products, grease and food items. If these clogs are not corrected quickly, the drain field will become overloaded and can fail, which can be a very expensive repair.
To protect your septic system, educate family members on what can and cannot be put down the drains. Avoid putting down medications, household chemicals, drain cleaners, paint, solvents, oil or grease, which can clog the system and disrupt natural biological processes. In addition, keep heavy vehicles and equipment away from the septic system to prevent compaction of the drain field and leach lines. Contact a septic tank and drain field service professional to schedule regular septic tank cleanings, pumping, and maintenance services to prevent serious problems that require more extensive, and costly, repairs.