It’s easy to disregard signs of a leaking septic tank, thinking they’re just minor annoyances. The reality is that leaking septic tanks can be extremely hazardous if not addressed quickly, which is why it’s important for you to familiarize yourself with the different warning signs of septic system leakage and how to go about fixing them. You’ll learn all about it in this article, so stick around.
Warning Signs of Septic Tank Leakage
There are quite a few warning signs that could indicate septic system failure, with some of them being very common. The following paragraphs will help familiarize you with these warning signs.
1. Standing Water
The first telltale sign that there’s a leak in your septic system is standing water around the place where the leak exists. This takes place because soil tends to compact whenever it’s exposed to fluids for a long period of time. This is especially true if the septic tank is skirted by loose backfill that was dumped intentionally after the installation of your septic system in order to cover it.
When soil compacts, it tends to settle and drop down, which makes for an area where sprinkles from tank leaks or rainfall can collect. You’ll highly likely be able to tell whether or not it’s rainfall judging by the odor and by simply being aware of when it rains in your area. The issue could be in the sewer line that’s leading to your septic tank, and not necessarily the septic tank itself.
2. Revolting Odor
Another sign is when you can smell sewer gases. This could mean one of two things, either the lids are out of position or they’re damaged. There are two lids that you must inspect in this case: the septic tank riser and the lid to the filter access port. If both lids are okay, then the gases may be escaping from the body of the tank itself, meaning the tank is cracked or has crevices.
3. Backing Faucets
Whenever your faucets are backing up or are slow to drain, this can be acknowledged as a sign of a damaged septic tank. This also applies to toilets. This might be a result of a collapsed baffle or some sort of block at the area where liquid waste flows out. Another reasonable probability is that more than a third of your septic tank is packed with sludge and scum, causing failure.
4. Rich Vegetation
Seeing thriving vegetation in odd places around your septic tank could mean that your system is leaking or overflowing. This can also mean that one of your pipes or a nearby pipe is cracked or has come loose. If you can see a soggy area around the tank or the drain field, this can indicate that the drain field is clogged, which will return in the growing of rich vegetation around the area.
How to Address Septic Tank Leakage
If you’ve identified a failure or leak in your septic system, it’s ideal to get it checked and serviced by professionals, but there are also a few actions you can take on your end to handle the failure.
1. Locate Your Septic System
For you to know how to deal with the leak/failure in your septic system, you first have to pinpoint its location in order to inspect it. If you suspect that your tank is flooded, check all of its openings because that is where the water will likely come out, resulting in groundwater filling the tank and potentially carrying soil and silt. This will lead to floating waste to rise and plug the openings.
If you don’t know where your septic tank and drain field are, you ought to call your area’s health district office and inquire from them, as they’re likely to have documents detailing the installation of all septic systems in the area. You should also inquire about the depth to the top of your tank and the depth of your drain field or you can measure them yourself using a pointed metal rod.
2. Inspect the Tank for Damage
Now that you know where your septic system is, you want to take a good look around it and try to pinpoint leaks or damage. Settling soil and holes in the soils are usually surefire indicators of damage. If you were able to find a leak or some sort of damage, you want to call a professional to inspect it. If the soil around the system is soaked, avoid using any heavy machinery around it.
3. Avoid Pumping Out Water
If you suspect that the septic system is leaking or failing, you should completely avoid pumping out water into your yard. This could create a stream that may result in hazardous health issues, especially if you have kids or pets that might walk through it. Please take into consideration that waterborne ailments spread rapidly, so if one person gets it, others might get infected.
4. Reduce Your Use of Water
After hiring a professional to handle your septic system, it’s advised to reduce your use of water to prevent this from happening again. If you have any leaking faucets or fixtures, get them fixed as soon as possible so that the volume in your septic tank doesn’t increase beyond normal. You should also inspect your basement sump pump and your roof gutters for any issues.
Be sensible when trying to reduce your water use. If you can minimize how frequently you flush the toilet, do it. If you can reduce how often you bathe and how often you wash your clothes, do it. This isn’t to limit your freedom when it comes to using water, it’s simply to prevent any issues that might occur from excessive use. The higher the water table, the less water you should use.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, the information shared in this article has given you some insight into how you can go about addressing leaks in your septic tank. Please don’t try to resolve the issue yourself, as you might be prone to waterborne diseases. |Just hire a professional and take the above-mentioned precautionary measures.