Photo By leungchopan at Shutterstock

Some homes in Cleveland, TN, are not connected to city sewer systems. Instead, they have individual septic tanks that hold and treat household wastewater. While installing a septic tank is costly, if well-maintained, it can serve a home for very many years. To keep a septic tank functioning well and to prevent bigger and more costly issues, it has to be pumped whenever it gets full. Sometimes you might forget about your septic tank. However, the good news for residents of Cleveland, TN, is that there are telltale signs of a full septic tank. Here are things you can look out for to determine if it is time to get your septic tank pumped:

• Time Interval Since the Last Pumping

The first way of knowing if your tank needs to be pumped is to understand its recommended pumping interval. The typical septic tank pumping interval for most systems is every 3 to 5 years. However, the exact interval will depend on the size of the septic tank, the number of users, the amount of wastewater generated, and the volume of solid waste generated. If you have recently moved into a home you could ask the previous owners for the pumping and maintenance schedule that was done on the tank before you moved in. If by any chance, you cannot determine when the tank was last pumped, you can have it pumped immediately you move in. After the first septic tank pumping, you can now keep a maintenance schedule.

• Pooling Water 

One of the most common signs that show you need septic tank pumping services is pooling water. This can happen in many areas but be keen on the lawn around the drain field. Pooling water shows your septic tank is full because if it were working as it should, wastewater would remain underground and out of sight. When solid waste particles clog the drain pipes, wastewater then collects and rises to the surface of the drain field. If you notice this sign, contact us immediately for professional services.

• Drain Field Grass Health 

Another telltale sign of a full septic tank is the health of grass on the drain field. When your septic tank system is operating correctly, the grass on and around the drain field will look as healthy as the grass in other lawns in the home. However, if the grass above the drain field appears considerably more lush and greener than other areas, it is time to have your septic tank serviced. The difference in the appearance of grass means that liquid from the septic tank is rising excessively. Some little liquid is okay, but too much of it is an indicator that you need to contact a septic tank pumping company.

• Foul Odors

Experiencing foul odors from the septic tank is never a good sign. Your septic tank should not smell if it is working properly and is not full. Household wastewater that drains into the septic tank comprises of water from the bathroom sinks, kitchen, bathtubs, clothes washer, dishwasher, and toilets. This means the septic tank houses solid, liquid, and sludgy waste. It is meant to process and dispose of this waste without emitting any noticeable foul odor. If you notice any stinky smells above the tank or around the drain field, then it might be time to have your septic tank serviced.

• Gurgling Drains

If your drains or toilets have gurgling piles, it might be an indication that your septic tank is full. You should get a professional to look into the issue. Sewage backup can clog your pipes, making drainage difficult. When the clogs occur, your pipes might make gurgling sounds as they attempt to drain water. While gurgling sound could be a sign of a clog, if there are other issues accompany it, it might mean you need to contact septic tank pumping professionals.

• Slow Drains 

Drains in your home should flow quickly and clearly. Slow drains can be an indicator that your septic tank is full, and it needs to be emptied. Note that slow drains can also be an indicator of other plumbing issues besides the need for septic tank pumping. One of the ways to determine the cause of your slow drains is to check if the slow drain is specific to one drain or to multiple drains. If it is one drain, then the problem might be a clog in that particular drain pipe. However, if the slow drains are happening throughout the house, it could be an indicator of a full septic tank that is causing a backup.

• Sewage Backup

This is the grossest and most obvious sign that your septic tank has reached its capacity. If you notice sewage backing up in toilets, bathtubs or sinks, you need to get the septic tank drained. Sewer backups are likely to happen first in the lowest drains like the basement toilets and sinks before moving to the other drains. Sewage backup is usually black and stinky, so it will be easy to notice. If you see backup, contact us at Metro Plumbing for exceptional septic tank pumping services.

• Nitrate Concentration 

Well water with high levels of nitrates is a symptom of a full septic tank. While this sign only applies to those relying on well water, for them, it is critical. A full tank causes nitrates and bacteria to leach into the surrounding well water and soil, causing contamination. To determine the health of your water, you need to test it for nitrate concentration at least once a year. If you are in Cleveland, TN, and you realize the nitrate concentration in your water is high, contact us for septic tank pumping.

Get Premium Plumbing Services

If you notice one or more of the signs above, contact a professional. If you ignore signs of a full septic tank, you might find yourself having major problems later on. An overly full septic tank leaks into the soil around the drain field and contaminates groundwater. Instead of risking polluting your groundwater and you are in Cleveland, TN, contact Metro Plumbing for professional septic tank pumping services. Alternatively, you can have it pumped every 3 to 5 years.