Common Clifton, VA Septic Tank Problems

In Clifton, VA, the most common of all septic tank problems that homeowners deal with is too much sludge in the tank. The experts here at Advantage Septic Sewer Service are constantly being asked how they can prevent the trouble and how to save money on maintenance and repairs.

We work hard to educate our customers so they know how to keep their septic systems in excellent repair. Our first and most important recommendation is regularly pumping the septic tank. This helps make your entire system efficient. It also saves you money on tank repair and replacement, and helps your drain field stay in top condition.

Most homeowners need yearly pumping. Some only need the work done every two or three years. It all depends on how many people are using your system. The essential point is to find a schedule that works for you and stick to it. This is the most sensible way to prevent the biggest and most common of all septic tank problems in Clifton, VA.

When you don’t empty out the tank on a regular basis, you are setting the stage for a host of problems. Here is just a short list of things that can go wrong as a direct result of a tank that is beyond its capacity.

• Sewage backing up into the house. When the sludge is filling the tank, sewage will simply back up into the pipes and right into your home. This causes a smelly, disgusting, and unhealthy mess.
• Drains and toilets running slowly. When this happens, most of our customers run out and buy products and tools from the grocery store to fix the clog. But of course it doesn’t fix a thing. That’s because the source of the trouble is a septic tank that is too full.
• Cracks in the tanks. When your tank is filled to capacity, the natural result is cracks and leaks in the tank. This can get expensive, to repair cracks or to replace the entire tank if they are too bad.
• Contaminated soil in the drain field. When the tank is full with sludge, wastewater gets pushed out. This is a mix of black water from toilets and gray water from appliances, sinks and tubs. Since it hasn’t had a chance to go through the treatment process, it is filled with contaminants, which create an expensive health hazard in your soil.
• Smelly drain field. Wastewater stinks, and when it seeps into your soil, your yard stinks too.

You can see why we say scheduling pumping on a regular basis is the smart way to go. This eliminates the most common of all septic tank problems, keeps your system safer and helps it last for years longer.

Call Advantage Septic Service today to learn more about common septic tank problems in Clifton, VA, and how we can fix them.