Signs Your Septic Tank Is Full And What To Do About It
Whether you have owned a septic tank for years or have just gotten one for your home, the first thing you learn is that you want to keep track of when it gets full so that it can be emptied. Should you fail to get your septic tank emptied, you will learn in a hurry not to ever let this happen again. However, since your septic tank is underground, you may be wondering how you can tell when it’s full. Rather than keep you guessing, here are our Boss Plumbing experts to give you the signs your septic tank is full.
What Does It Mean That a Septic Tank is Full?
Simply put, a septic tank is full when it is filled to the capacity at which it was designed to hold. Of course, this can vary, depending on the type and size of septic tank you have at your home. When filled to a normal level, this means your septic tank will still let wastewater and waste flow through the intake and outtake valves with no problems. When a septic tank is overfilled, this means water will back up into the overflow tank and have water levels rise well above normal capacity.
Signs Your Septic Tank is Full
When your septic tank is full, there are telltale signs septic tank pumping is needed.
1. Pools of Water
Pools of water in your yard directly over or near your septic tank is one of the classic warning signs of a full septic tank.
2. Slowing Drains
Should you notice your home’s drains are getting clogged or slowing down quite frequently, chances are your septic tank is full and needs to be emptied. However, this can also mean that you might need to get your drains cleaned, so in this case we recommend you call a professional.
3. Foul Odors
When you start to smell bad odors near your septic tank, it’s either a leak or it means your septic tank needs to be cleaned and emptied as soon as possible. Remember, if you can smell these odors, so can your neighbors.
4. Very Healthy Grass
If the grass around your septic tank looks unusually good, this means the grass is reaping the benefits of water overflowing from your septic tank. While the grass may look great, get the septic tank emptied right away.
5. Sewer Backups
Something you definitely don’t want to experience, a sewer backup from an overfilled septic tank can not only be messy, but also cause significant damage to your home and even put the health of you and your family at risk.
6. Gurgling Water
While this could indicate other problems within your home’s plumbing system, it could also mean your septic tank is full and requires emptying. Rather than take this for granted, check your septic tank to see if it needs to be pumped out.
7. Problems Flushing Your Toilet
If you have problems flushing the toilet in your home, this may indicate a full septic tank. Should you fail to take this seriously, you may soon experience a sewer backup.
How Often Should You Empty a Septic Tank?
While you certainly don’t need to have your septic tank emptied each month, it does pay to know just how often it will likely need to be emptied. To determine this, you will need to consider your septic tank’s size, how many people live in your household, and what is flushed down your toilet regularly.
Most septic tanks range in size from 500-2500 gallons, so they will have different emptying schedules. For example, a 500-gallon tank used by a family of four should be emptied once per year. However, a 2500-gallon septic tank used by a family of four may need to be emptied only once every eight years.
Can You Pump a Septic Tank Yourself?
If you want to make sure you are in need of plumbing repair services for your septic tank, try pumping it yourself. Even though it is theoretically possible to do so, you must remember that the waste from the tank is considered to be hazardous waste. As a result, it must be disposed of in a very specialized manner.
Since this is virtually impossible for the average person to do on their own, you should always seek out the services of professionals who have the experience, knowledge, and equipment to do the job correctly and safely.
How Much Does Emptying a Septic Tank Cost?
When you find yourself in need of septic tank pumping, the good news is that this service is offered at very affordable rates. On average, you can expect to spend around $150-$200 to get your septic tank pumped by a professional service.
Also, remember that along with having this dirty job done by professionals who can get the task done safely and quickly, you and your family will also gain tremendous peace of mind, knowing your septic tank has been properly cleaned and maintained.
Call the Boss Plumbing Pros
To keep your septic tank properly maintained and working as it should year after year, don’t trust this job to just anyone who claims they know about septic tanks. Instead, call the pros you trust here at Boss Plumbing.
Whether it’s septic tank pumping you need, a leak that needs to be repaired, or just regular maintenance on your septic tank, we can do it all here at Boss Plumbing. Rather than let significant problems develop and then find yourself facing an uphill battle and high costs, let us at Boss Plumbing keep your septic tank in great shape.
