Things You Should Know About Septic Tank Backup
Septic tank backup can cause a lot of problems, including contamination of water, foul odor in your home, and health problems. A backed-up septic tank can be messy and can happen for many reasons. Luckily, there are practical solutions to a backed-up septic tank, and the problem can be prevented.
Let’s look at the main things you should know about septic tank backup.
Causes of Septic Tank Backup
- Improper Plumbing Installations—Sometimes, an inexperienced plumber may install piping incorrectly, resulting in frequent buildup and clogs. That’s why it’s important to work with an experienced septic company when installing or repairing your septic system.
- Excessive Rain—Heavy rain can oversaturate the drainfield, interfering with the soil’s ability to absorb liquid waste. This makes it hard for the septic tank to drain properly, resulting in backups. An ideal way to prevent this is to have proper drainage that diverts rainwater away from your septic tank.
- Tree Root Intrusion—Tree roots can penetrate cracks in the pipes, causing an obstruction.
- Harsh Chemicals—The chemicals kill the bacteria that accelerate the waste breakdown, resulting in solid waste taking up a greater amount of space in the septic tank. This situation can reduce your septic tank’s capacity and cause backups.
- Non-Flushable Solids—Items that should not be flushed down the toilet, such as feminine hygiene products, baby wipes, paper towels, and condoms can get stuck in the pipes, thereby obstructing the flow of wastewater.
- Incorrect Septic Tank Pumping—The wrong pumping procedure can cause wastewater to back up into your drains. It’s crucial to hire an experienced "septic system service near me" to help you with septic tank pumping.
- Clogged Septic Filter—A septic filter is a device installed on the outlet baffle to filter out solids from wastewater before it goes into the drainfield. When the filter gets clogged with solids, it will impede the operation of your septic tank, resulting in backups.
Signs of Septic Tank Backup
You’ll know you have a backed-up septic tank when notice signs like clogged drains, persistent odor coming from your drains or toilet, a wet lawn even when it hasn’t rained, and wastewater seeping from the ground near your septic tank.
