An overflowing or clogged septic system can cause a host of problems which will likely be messy, inconvenient and possibly even expensive to deal with, depending on the level of damage that befalls components. Does your tank need to be emptied? Below are five telltale signs of a full septic tank in Modesto, CA:
- Slow drains: Every household experiences slow drains and toilets from time to time. In most cases, the problem is a small clog, like hair that’s collected in the shower drain or flushing too much solid waste in one go, which can be remedied with a standard plunger. However, drains that are still slow even after you’ve plunged or snaked them might need a septic-friendly drain cleaner. If unclogging and drain cleaners didn’t work, your septic tank could be full.
- Bad smells: Your home’s septic system sends not only toilet waste into the septic tank, but all the dirty water from other household water fixtures. This includes soaps, shampoos and hair from showering, food particles from the kitchen sink and dishwasher, and laundry detergent and dirt flowing from the washing machine. All this used water mixed together can create noticeably nasty odors. But you generally shouldn’t be able to smell your septic system. If you can, it’s time to empty the septic tank!
- Sewer backups: Probably the most obvious sign of a full septic tank in Modesto, CA is a sewer backup—it’s also the most damaging to the septic system and your property. Regularly check the lowest drains in your home for sewage trying to sneak out. Call a professional for help immediately.
- Pooling water: Your septic system’s drain field (or leach field) shouldn’t have pools of water on the grass or the area around it. Pooling water is a sign of an overflowing septic tank, and it’s telling you it’s filled to maximum capacity. Reasons for a full tank range from irregular pumping to solid waste clogging the drain field’s piping system. The fact of the matter is that all that liquid needs to go somewhere. If there’s no room in the tank, then it’ll spill out on the top of the ground. Get your system pumped if it hasn’t rained recently and you’re seeing a lot of water on your lawn.
- Extra green lawn: Everyone with a lawn wants their grass to be green and healthy. Unfortunately for folks with septic systems, an especially lush green lawn is not always a good thing. Pay special close attention to the grass that sits above and around your septic system piping and drain field. Is the grass color and height similar to the rest of your lawn? If the answer is no, and the grass above the system appears extra healthy and green, water might be leaking out of the system somewhere, or the tank may be full.
Need septic maintenance? Got a full septic tank in Modesto, CA? Here at Alvarado Pumping Septic Service, we provide a wide range of septic system services to residential homes and commercial buildings. Call us today to schedule an appointment!