Affordable Sanitation

When Do I Need to Call for Septic Service?

If you use an experienced sanitation expert, your septic system will be designed and installed to last for decades. However, many times people move into a home with a septic system and have no idea who installed or if they were professionally trained. That can spell disaster within a few years.

Understanding Septic Systems

A septic system has several parts. First, wastewater is flushed from a home and is poured into a septic tank, which is far below the ground. The water settles into a top layer, middle layer, and bottom layer called the sludge layer. (This layer must be pumped out every five years for proper maintenance.) As more water is flushed out of the house, it displaces the top layer of water and moves it into the drain field, which is below the septic tank, where it is absorbed into the ground.

Septic Systems Problems Require an Expert

There are three times when you should call a septic system professional right away:

Unresolved plumbing issues that continue over time. If you are experiencing plumbing issues in your house, over a series of months or weeks, it may not necessarily be because of a problem with the plumbing in your home. Instead, it could be that your septic system outside needs to be repaired, and that is affecting the plumbing for the rest of the house.
Strange smells outside. If you have noticed a strange odor coming from the outside when the windows are open in your house or when you leave the house, that could indicate a problem with your septic system. Another clue is that the grass above your septic system is always wet.
Ignored maintenance. If you are not maintaining your septic system properly, or the system was not maintained before you bought the property, then you will probably experience some serious issues. You should always have your septic tank inspected every few years, and your tank must be pumped out every five years.