Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Know If A Septic System Is Bad

Regularly maintain your septic system to keep it working properly


Sometimes, a homeowner may not realize just how important a septic system is until it starts to fail. Proper maintenance can help you avoid expensive repair or replacement costs. According to SepticTankAdvisor.com, plan on having your system regularly pumped every 2 to 5 years, depending on the amount of use. Additionally, be aware of the signs of a failing septic system. If you notice any of them, call your septic tank pumping company as soon as possible. Does this Spark an idea?


Instructions


1. Sniff around your house, inside and outside, in the area of the septic system. You may notice an unpleasant odor if your septic system is failing. The system may also be improperly vented if it gives off an odor.


2. Observe your toilets and other drains. If your septic system is going bad, you may notice sewage backing up into the drains. You may also notice that your toilet is not properly flushing and your drains are not properly draining despite the use of drain cleaner or a plunger.


3. Examine your yard in the vicinity of the septic tank. If you have consistently green, lush grass in the area, even in a drought, your septic system may be having trouble dealing with all the wastewater. In this case, the wastewater could be moving up instead of down.


4. Check the ground for any spots of bog-like, stinky soil. According to SepticTankInfo.com, a failing septic system will sometimes result in the appearance of water on the surface of the ground.


5. Flush an environmentally friendly, biodegradable dye down your toilet if you live next to a pond or other body of water. Then observe the water to see if the dye shows up there over the next couple of days. According to the University of Minnesota Extension, this indicates that your septic system is contaminating the water instead of draining properly through the soil.







Tags: septic system, your septic, your septic system, failing septic, failing septic system, septic system notice