Even though you use your septic tank every day, it’s (hopefully) not on your mind as often. Even if you have regularly scheduled maintenance, you’ll still want to know when your tank is full to prevent costly (and potentially hazardous) repairs, replacements, and ramifications.
Symptoms of a Full Septic Tank
Keep an eye out for these classic signs (and refer to this in-depth guide to peeking into the system yourself) that your septic tank is full:
1) Slow Drains
While a clog could be the culprit, if you notice that your toilets, showers, tubs, or washing machine are not draining as quickly as normal, that can be a big tell that your septic tank needs pumping.
2) Foul Odors
When your tank starts to fill up with wastewater, toilet paper, and solids, you may become painfully aware of unpleasant smells in the vicinity of the tank. These odors may also waft from the drain field if too much raw sewage makes it out to the weeping bed.
3) Water Pooling
Water accumulating around the grass that’s over the septic tank—especially when it hasn’t rained—likely means the tank is at capacity. This standing water may actually be wastewater escaping the tank and reaching the surface.
4) Water Gurgling
Most drains exhibit some form of gurgling, but constant sounds could indicate the septic tank is backing up and needs pumping to operate efficiently.
5) Backed-up Sewage
One of the least appealing symptoms that your tank’s full and needs pumping is the presence of backed-up sewage. If you don’t have regularly scheduled maintenance—and ignored the other signs listed above—raw sewage could backup into your tubs and sinks.
6) Overly Green Grass
As with pooling water, the spot around your septic tank can provide big clues that there’s a leak or overflow, particularly if the grass is too green. If you see that an area of your lawn is noticeably greener than the rest of the landscape, that could be a hint that your overflowing septic tank needs to be emptied. Be aware that sometimes green grass can indicate a failing drain field.
7) High Nitrate Content in Well Water
If you rely on well water for household needs, you’ll want to be testing your well at regular intervals to keep tabs on the nitrate levels. If you find higher levels than normal, that could be a sign overflowing wastewater is leaching into the groundwater.
Septic Tank Essentials
Now you know what to look out for, but do you know how long it takes for a septic tank to fill up? While this depends on various factors—like tank size and how big your household is—the pros recommend that scum and sludge never exceed ⅓ of the working capacity in any septic tank. Usually, that translates to a pumpout every three to five years, for a family of four with normal usage.
What To Do If Your Septic Tank is Full
If your septic tank is indeed full, you’ll need to contact a trusted septic service provider (like Wind River Environmental). You may be fortunate enough to only need a tank pumping and be all set. But if your upkeep has been neglected for a long time, you may have additional issues, like a leakage in the system or drain field deterioration. Either way, we’ve got you covered. Get in touch!
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