A Septic system is a vital element or component of any home. You should consider it an investment when choosing an installation service. You want to avoid any issues because of the inconvenience and cost of repair. There are, however, some situations when the system may fail. We will delve into some of the common reasons why your system may fail and what you can do.A Septic system is a vital element or component of any home. You should consider it an investment when choosing an installation service. You want to avoid any issues because of the inconvenience and cost of repair. There are, however, some situations when the system may fail. We will delve into some of the common reasons why your system may fail and what you can do.
How to Know When There Is a Septic System Failure
There are specific indicators you need to be aware of so that you can quickly identify a septic system failure.
The septic tank is not draining Sewage comes back into the house Wet spots within the yard Need for frequent pumping of the septic tank Very green patches of grass near the septic tank showing that the water is generating to the surface Wet areas around the septic tank You may hear gurgling sounds from the plumbing Nasty odors around the drain field or septic tank Algae in the lakes or ponds High coliform bacteria or nitrate levels in water wells
Reasons Why Your Septic System May Fail
Let us explore various reasons that could lead to the failure of your septic system.
The Water System Is Overloaded
When you are installing a septic system, there are specific size requirements that take into account a projection of the number of water usage per the number of bedrooms in the house. The wet flow rate is usually 120 gallons per bedroom in a day. For non-residential property, the experts will advise on the flow rate after they know what it is you intend to use the property for.
There may be instances when you generate too much wastewater. It may happen when you are handling several jobs within the home at once. You could, for example, be doing your laundry, washing dishes, showering, among other things. You will also overload the system if you have extensions to your house, and do not factor in an upgrade of the septic system size.
The result is too much water going down the drainage if your system is not able to handle it. The water seeps up to the surface or back up the pipes.
Installation Issues
During the septic installation, you must not put too much pressure on the system. You may, for example, find that if you compact the soil too tightly, it may damage the pipes. The type of soil will determine how much weight it can take. Sandy soil for example is better than clay soil. Clay soil tends to waterlog, and the drain-field will be too wet, and the sewage will not undergo proper treatment before it reaches the groundwater. It is also essential that the experts take into account the water table, which will determine the positioning of the drain-field trenches.
You must also avoid high traffic such as driving or parking over the system. The root system for the plants and trees can damage the pipes.
You Do Not Maintain The System
You should schedule for a septic tank inspection as part of the routine maintenance. Depending on the type of household use, you may need to do it every 3 to 5 years. One of the routine maintenance aspects is septic tank pumping to avoid any clogging. Septic tanks will, over the years, become full of solid waste. If you do not pump it out, you may experience situations where sewage will come out of the toilet or even sinks.
If you pump it regularly but still notice that it is not draining correctly, it could be an indication that there is clogging somewhere. You must avoid flashing items such as wet wipes, tampons, condoms down the drain. These are the major culprits that result in the clogging of drainage systems. Another issue could be with the effluent filter or outlet baffle. Sometimes, you can try and remove the blockage on your own. Use a pole and gently try to dislodge whatever is blocking the pipe. However, be careful that you do not damage the components with the pole. If the problem is more serious, you may need to call in septic tank plumbers.
Issues With The Drain-field
The drain field may fail or become saturated with water, resulting in sewage backing up into the home. You may notice particular places in your yard that have healthy grass. You may also notice a bad smell near the drain-field or tank. This is a severe problem, which may damage your system irreparably. If the problem is too much saturation, a plumber can dry it out. Let the professionals handle this job because they will advise whether you need to change the whole system.
Design or Construction Issues
You must ensure that your septic system has a proper design and that an expert does the installation. It requires a good understanding of soil type and grading, among others. If, for example, the soil layer is too thin, it could result in a problem in the near future. You also need to ensure that you avoid too much moisture or saturation in soil. The expert will do a site check and advise you accordingly.
So What Can You Do?
The only way you will enjoy long-term usage out of your septic system is through proper maintenance. If it is a problem, do not let the septic system failure get out of hand. Even if there is no problem, carry out routine maintenance as a pre-emptive measure. We provide all types of septic system maintenance, such as septic tank installation, sewer and drain cleaning, emergency drain cleaning, among others. Contact us today and let our Brevard county, FL experts sort out your sewer system problems!
