Like Any Regularly Used System, Septic Tanks Need Proper Maintenance
For our inaugural blog, A-Affordable Sanitation is describing some of the signs that your septic tank needs pumped out. If you have a septic tank, it might not be something about which you often think. However, your septic tank and system is an essential element to your home.
Like other systems used regularly, your septic tank needs consistently maintained to function. Septic tanks not regularly maintained, homeowners call A-Affordable Sanitation to pump out and empty those systems. Some of the warning signs that indicate you need to pump out your septic tank include:
- Drains back up or empty slowly
- Standing or gurgling water
- Sewage or foul odor nearby the septic tank
Pump Out Your Septic Tank if Your Drains Back Up or Empty Slowly
Slowly emptying drains could indicate the need to pump out your septic tank. So could drains that back up. A-Affordable Sanitation is happy to pump out obstructed or over-full septic tanks. However, we encourage taking preventive measures against what could make drains back up or empty slowly.
Learn About Examples of What Makes Drains Back Up or Empty Slowly
Clogged drains cause them to back up or empty slowly. Fibers come off clothing and linens while in the washing machine as well. Sometimes these fibers cling together when flowing down the washer drain, thus forming clogs and causing back up. In the kitchen, fats, oils, and grease, commonly clog drains, causing them to back up or empty slowly.
At the bathroom sink, beard trimmings and shaving cream can form a cohesive gunk inside your drain. Also, soap scum builds up along the drain’s lower surfaces. Overtime this gunk and soap scum build up makes drains empty slowly or back up. Flushing anything other than water, reasonable amounts of toilet paper, and human waste down the toilet can also clog drains.
Take These Preventive Measures Against Incorrectly-Functioning Drains
In the kitchen, pour fats, oils, and grease into containers and wipe dishes with paper towels or napkins. This is step one in preventing kitchen drains from clogging and causing them to back up. The next step is throwing the containers with fats, oils, and grease and used paper products in the trash. When shaving at the bathroom sink, don’t rinse your razor under the faucet. One preventive measure against causing drains to back up is rinsing razors in hot water filled into small containers.
Step one to prevent soap scum from clogging drains is eliminating it. After getting rid of existing soap scum build-up, apply car wax to the sink’s surface. This will keep soap scum from returning. When using the toilet, only flush toilet paper, water, and waste. Even wipes labeled “flushable” can eventually clog your septic system. Preventive measures include not flushing:
- Cat litter
- Cigarette butts
- Dental floss, cotton swabs, and bandages
- Excessive amounts of toilet paper
- Feminine hygiene products
- Wipes (baby wipes, bleach wipes, etc.)
Smell Sewage or a Foul Odor Nearby the Septic Tank? Time to Pump Out
Using your senses of sight and sound aren’t the way to notice a need to pump out your septic tank. Before seeing standing water or hearing gurgling, smelling sewage or foul odors might reveal a septic system pump out necessity. A weak sewage odor near the septic tank is normal. Sometimes the sewage odor can seep into the house.
If the sewage or foul odors are too strong, pour ¼ cup of baking soda down your kitchen sink’s drain. Leave the baking soda in for about 10 minutes. Follow it up with one cup of vinegar. Allow the baking soda and vinegar mixture to fizzle and work for a few minutes. Finish by turning on the water and running the disposal to clear out any leftover food waste.
For more information on septic system services, give A-Affordable Sanitation, a call at (724) 763-1449. Like us on Facebook to stay up-to-date with the latest news and information. We are happy to discuss more about more signs that your septic tank needs pumped out.
