What Are The Signs That Your Manassas, VA Septic Tank Is Full

In most cases, homeowners with a septic system on their property don’t think about it much until something goes wrong and it starts to malfunction. If this sounds familiar, as a trusted septic tank service provider, we feel it is essential to stress the importance of learning to spot the septic tank signs in Manassas, VA warnings that has been overfilled.

After all, what are the signs that your septic tank in Manassas, VA, is full? Advantage Septic Service has experts that can assist you in finding an answer to this question if you are clueless about it. However, let’s briefly discuss what a septic tank is and how it functions before answering this so that you will better understand the whole process.

A Breakdown of What a Septic Tank Is and How It Functions

A septic tank system is one that typically has a straightforward layout. It is a waterproof container buried below and is often cubical or cylindrical. It may be built of fiberglass, plastic, or concrete. Underground septic tanks are typically positioned at a distance of fifty meters from the nearest residence. 

In most cases, they are composed of two separate compartments. The wastewater from your home is brought into the first compartment through an inlet pipe. As the wastewater enters the first chamber, it is held there for a sufficient time so that the liquid and solid waste may be separated from one another. When the collected wastewater has been sitting for some time, it will split into three distinct layers.

The fatty oils and grease that make up the top layer float on top. This is often referred to as “scum.” The wastewater, together with other bits of waste, makes up the middle layer. The third layer, which is also the bottom one, is made up of particles that are denser than water creating a sludge layer. Once the wastewater the tank receives splits down into different layers, the bacteria naturally present in the tank will start decomposing the solid waste. The middle section of the wastewater, known as effluent, will now discharge into the second compartment.

The wastewater that enters the second chamber also splits into three different layers in the same fashion. The liquid portion of the waste in the second chamber is then released into the drain field via porous pipes, where the soil treats it even further. The residue that settles to the bottom of the tank is the component that, as part of the tank’s regular maintenance, has to be regularly emptied.

As the wastewater goes through the soil and into the groundwater below, it gets absorbed and treated by the soil, where it undergoes a natural process that rids it of dangerous coliform bacteria, viruses, and nutrients.

Now that you know how a septic tank treats your household wastewater let us look into some telltale signs that indicate a full septic tank.

What Are the Signs That Your Septic Tank in Manassas, VA, Is Full?

Some symptoms of a full septic tank that need pumping or examination are as follows.

• Your toilet won’t flush or continues backing up

It may not be a simple obstruction if your home’s toilets and drains are emptying slowly or are difficult to flush. Often such warning signs Indicate your septic tank is full, and it’s high time you pump it out.

• The pipes or water drains in your home are making a gurgling noise.

A gurgling noise occurs when air is trapped in pipes due to anything obstructing the flow of water. Please be aware that a blocked drain or accumulated dirt, hair, or paper in the pipes may create this issue.

• You wake up to a green lawn in your backyard.

Do you recall when grass suddenly sprang around your septic tank and seemed much healthier than the surrounding vegetation? If so, remember this is an unusual sign of a sewage backlog that requires pumping.

• The yard starts to collect water.

If standing water or other overflow indicators forms near your septic tank, you may have a problem with your septic tank. Besides their unpleasant stench, rainwater pools are almost identical to wastewater in every other way.

• A foul odor has been detected in your home or outside space.

Odors coming from your drains or toilets might potentially be a sign that there is a problem with your septic tank. Gases might get trapped if the ventilation system becomes obstructed, leading to unpleasant stenches in the nearby areas of a septic tank.

Some Warning Indications That Your Septic Tank Is Blocked

We receive many inquiries at Advantage Septic Service from homeowners wondering whether they need to have their septic tanks pumped out. Would you want to know the common symptoms of a septic tank that needs cleaning? Now, let’s look at some potential red flags, shall we? Here is the list:

• When there’s a problem with your septic system, the most prominent and alarming sign is a sewage backup. It might also have a strong odor.
• Also, the water in the sinks, tubs, and showers drains much more slowly than usual, and if you listen closely, you can hear gurgling sounds coming from the pipes that are hidden behind the walls of the building.
• A noxious odor may emanate from the drain field or septic tank.
• Wells in the area may have the presence of either coliform bacteria or high nitrate concentrations.
• There is a chance of algal blooms being present in the nearby lakes and ponds.

The Top 5 Things You Can Do to Maintain Your Septic System

Let’s look at some good septic hygiene practices that will extend the life of your system.

• Appliances that use less water are encouraged.

If you often flood your system, you risk damaging or clogging your tank from the excess pressure. Remember that you may help your septic tank last longer by using water appliances that use water more efficiently.

• Don’t put non-biodegradable items in the toilet or sink.

Some objects should never be flushed down the toilet, or kitchen sinks since doing so might upset the delicate balance of the bacteria in your septic tank. These substances may alter the pH level, making it impossible for bacteria to break down waste which can lead to backups.

For example, you shouldn’t flush or wash down the drain, including diapers, wipes, oils, fats, cigarettes with filters, used coffee grounds, paper towels, chemicals, paint, eggshells, nut shells, and feminine hygiene products.

• It’s essential to let professionals examine your septic tank regularly.

Regular septic tank inspections increase the possibility that any issues will be spotted at an early stage when they are more manageable and less costly to fix. Septic professionals will inspect the tank, its exposed parts, the drain field, and any adjoining soil for leaks or other damage.

• Maintain your drain field properly

Remember that the drain field around your septic tank is just as important as the tank itself and that any damage to the drain field might compromise the efficacy of your septic system. Avoid planting trees nearby your drain field since the roots might obstruct the drain field and prevent wastewater from flowing correctly.

• Septic tanks need to be pumped regularly.

Maintaining the optimum functioning of your septic tank requires periodic pumping of the septic tank. It is often believed that tanks only need to be emptied once every 3-5 years, depending on how often they are utilized. If you observe your tank filling up more often than once a year, you may want to get it inspected by a specialist to determine the frequency of pumping. Now, let’s find out whether a septic tank that’s been flooded can mend itself.

Can A Septic Tank Self-Repair If It Gets Flooded?

The soil surrounding your house will soak up water if it rains heavily. The upside is that this helps keep water out of your home in the case of a flood. A septic tank owner, however, runs the risk of having their tank overflow during very severe weather.

As you know, a drain field’s primary purpose is to allow wastewater to percolate into the soil. The area above and surrounding the drain field becomes gently saturated in this procedure. Instead of allowing wastewater to drain, the earth gets flooded with precipitation during heavy downpours. 

In this case, the soil in the drain field would be unable to drain the wastewater effectively. A flooded septic tank can’t be assumed only because of a rainstorm. A full septic tank may cause flooding in your yard. You can avoid this by understanding the signs that your septic tank in Manassas, VA, is full. Let’s check them in the next section.

• Settling

When a septic system has been installed, it is normal for the area to settle for a while. Years later, though, settling is an indicator of a septic tank that is overflowing.

• Wet ground

If the earth surrounding your septic tank is wet, it is probably flooded and isn’t filtering the effluent.

• Puddle formation

You likely have a sewage backup if water collects on your septic tank and doesn’t drain.

• A putrid smell

When your septic tank emits a foul stench, it is likely blocked and not filtering wastewater. This is unmistakable evidence of a flooded septic tank that requires immediate attention.

• The sewer drains are backed up.

A flooded septic tank will cause sewage to back up into drains after usage. So, the septic tank should always be large enough to accommodate the whole volume of effluents. Rain or flooding prevents the drain field from doing its job.

Did you ever get an answer as to whether a septic tank that has been flooded may be fixed by itself? The likelihood of it occurring is negligible. A flooded septic tank may cause sewage to back up into all of the pipes in your house, which is a significant concern since the septic tank is responsible for emptying wastewater from your property. In turn, this may lead to foul smells.

How Will You Know When You Need a Septic Tank Pump Out?

When was the last time you had your septic tank examined and serviced? To be told, most house owners have no idea when they need to do septic tank maintenance. In other words, the truth that many people have forgotten the exact date of their last septic tank cleaning is not unexpected. Tank maintenance is probably not on your mind until there are problems. Yet, this might quickly develop into a significant issue down the road. Maintaining your tank as per schedule can help it last longer, ensure its continued functionality, and help you spot any major problems before they become catastrophic.

Particular objects may inevitably end up in the toilet or the sink after being flushed by accident. Even yet, there is still the chance that someone would flush something down the toilet that isn’t biodegradable without realizing the potential consequences. Remember that if you flush anything down the toilet that isn’t biodegradable, it can clog your septic tank. Thus, if you keep flushing these objects down the toilet, they will accumulate and ultimately block your entire plumbing system.

Have you never dealt with something like this before? It’s an issue for many families, so count your blessings. When a blockage occurs, untreated sewage may backup into your house and cause circumstances that are difficult to manage. Keeping your tank clean is essential to protecting the health of you and your loved ones. So, how does one keep septic tank issues at bay?

Whether you’ve experienced a clogged septic tank firsthand or have just heard horror tales, the thought of experiencing it is enough to make anybody wish to avoid a similar fate. After having their tanks pumped, most individuals are curious about how they can keep their septic systems in good working order.

Know that it may be too late to address the problem by draining out your septic tank once you find indicators of a problem. This emphasizes the need to contact experts on the subject for assistance. Septic tank problems may be eliminated, and their root causes determined with the help of experts who will ensure the appropriate procedure is followed at each septic inspection to prevent future issues.

Please know that it is vital to get in touch with professional septic tank pumping service people if you observe the signs that your septic tank in Manassas, VA, is full.

Septic Tanks: What Happens If They Are Never Pumped Out!

Doing routine maintenance on your septic tank and putting off pricey replacements and repairs is the best way to keep costs down. When it comes to septic tanks, they must be installed properly. For instance, you need to know what size tank would work best in your house. It all comes down to how many people are utilizing the septic tank, how much solid waste is being deposited, and how much wastewater your household produces.

If you notice sewage backing up when you flush the toilet or if there is a foul odor near the septic tank, the drains in your home, or the drain field, your tank is likely full. Similarly, if puddles are forming near your septic tank, it’s time to get it pumped out.

Advantage Septic Service will check your septic tank to determine the problem and provide a solution. That’s why it’s so important to know the signs that your septic tank in Manassas, VA, is full so you can take care of the problem before it gets out of hand.

When you give us a project, you can rest easy knowing that a team of professionals will do it. We will check each inlet and exit and clean the septic tank to guarantee no clog exists. We will advise you on what to do if your septic system requires maintenance or replacement parts.

Talk to the Septic Tank Experts Right Now!

Throughout the years, we have built a solid name for ourselves because of our dedication to our clients and the quality of our work. Our goodwill among our clients has helped us draw in many repeat customers. Thanks to word-of-mouth advertising from satisfied consumers, we’ve made a ton of dough.

To this day, we still put a premium on making sure every one of our clients is happy with the work we’ve done for them, and that’s why we have so many returning customers. If you are concerned that your home’s septic system has clogged and are looking for a practical remedy, do not hesitate to contact the expert specialists at Advantage Septic Service.

If you are experiencing issues with your septic system, please fill out the contact form on our website so that a member of our septic system expert team may contact you as soon as possible and help you out.