Catching problems with your septic tank early is often the key to avoiding a catastrophic septic system failure. Avoiding this type of system failure is extremely important since it can result in serious damage to both your yard and home. This damage will ultimately need to be repaired in addition to the repairs that your septic system requires in order to be functional once again. Thankfully, there are some warning signs that can help you spot an issue with your septic tank before you experience a system failure. You can learn more about three of these warning signs below.
Warning Sign #1: You Smell A Sewage Or Sulfur Smell
If your septic tank is in need of repair, you may be able to smell evidence of this issue either coming from your drains or when standing in your yard. In most cases, you will detect either a sewage odor or the smell of rotten eggs. If your septic tank is over full, you will likely smell this odor inside your home. However, if your septic tank has sprung a leak, this odor will likely be most noticeable outdoors. In many cases, this odor will become stronger after a soaking rain since the high groundwater levels will cause any sewage that has leached into the ground to rise closer to the surface.
Warning Sign #2: There Are Puddles On The Surface Of Your Drain Field
Rain water typically soaks into the ground around your home with no problem. However, this is not the case when the ground is already saturated and therefore cannot absorb any more water. When this happens, you will often see puddles of water beginning to settle on the surface of the soil. When this happens in your drain field, this can be a strong indication that your septic tank is leaking. This is because a leaky tank will quickly saturate the soil around it causing puddles to form on the surface when it rains.
Warning Sign #3: Your Drain Field Is Exceptionally Green
While a leaky septic tank certainly is not good for you or your wallet, it can work wonders on the grass in your drain field. This is because the wastewater leaking out of your septic tank will be full of nutrients that your grass will be more than happy to drink up. This can cause the grass in your drain field to be much greener when compared to the rest of your yard.
If you suspect you need a septic tank repair, call a septic service near you.