A septic tank doesn’t usually back up, but when it does, it can make the whole house extremely smelly. If you want to know why this happens and how you can fix it, keep on reading to find out more. In case the issue is severe, consult a septic tank service.

Causes Of A Septic Tank Backing Up

Here are some common causes of a backed up septic tank.

There’s Greenery Around The Tank

One of the things that is said over and over again about septic tanks is the fact that there should never be any trees, greenery, or plants surrounding the tank. Trees and shrubs have roots and they can crack through anything and everything and a septic tank is no exception.

The concrete of the septic tank can get cracked and then a lot of things can fall into it. This can cause the tank to overflow and the drain line can get clogged too. This is very common to occur, especially if you haven’t maintained your tank in a very long time. So, eventually, the tank can get clogged and back up.

The Drain Line Is Clogged

The drain line is essentially the part of the septic tank that’s responsible for keeping the level of the liquid waste in check. When the waste exceeds a certain level, the tank will drain by itself through the drain line. However, sometimes, the drain line can get clogged too.

Since it is a mesh-like opening, there can be things stuck to it, so if it’s left unnoticed for too long, then it can lead to the tank backing up and eventually overflowing.

There Is Soil In The Tank

Sometimes, there can be loose soil deposits in the tank. A septic tank isn’t meant to have soil in it because soil mixed with watery waste can turn rock solid and it will clog the tank and cause backing up. This can happen if there’s been a flood recently or if the tank was never cleaned or maintained before. This can cause the septic tank to back up.

Removing soil is important, but you will need to call in professionals for it because you won’t be able to remove it all on your own. This is why regularly maintaining the septic tank is a must.

There Is A Construction Fault

Sometimes, the septic tank can have construction faults. Whether the tank was built way too long ago and there haven’t been any repairs, or pipes are severely clogged and corroded to no end and there is just overall neglect, from every angle, can lead to the tank backing up and overflowing.

Sometimes, the tank might be made out of substandard materials and this can cause premature cracks in the tank and it can also lead to overflowing and clogging in the tank. This is why it’s really important to think about the construction and the material selection of the septic tank. Everything needs to be very durable and corrosion-resistant. If you’re buying a house with a pre-installed septic system, consider a septic tank inspection.

There Is Solid Waste In The Tank

If you have a habit of flushing down tissues, sanitary napkins, and other solid things that are not meant to be flushed down the toilet, then it can lead to the septic tank backing up. This is also another common issue and a lot of people tend to make this mistake, however it can lead to very detrimental consequences.

The solid waste can accumulate at the bottom of the tank and it can lead to clogging of the drain line, ultimately causing the backing up of stinky wastewater in the septic tank.

How To Fix A Backed Up Septic Tank

Now that you know why a septic tank gets backed up, here are some things you can try to fix it and prevent it from happening in the future.

Stop The Water Supply

If you see that your septic tank is backed up and it’s on the verge of overflowing, then you want to cease water use immediately. Whatever water you use now will go into the tank and it will only make things worse. It is inconvenient, but you need to be safe than sorry and do something about the backed up septic tank first, before anything else.

Things like flushing, leaving the tap running, etc., need to be stopped immediately. You’ll thank yourself when your house doesn’t get smelly from all of the waste in the tank, brimming on the surface.

Snake The Drain

This is a great thing to do, especially if your drain line is clogged and you can see it. Snaking the drain is a great way to bring the level of the septic tank waste down and slowly remove the obstacles that are causing it to back up in the first place.

You can get a drain snake from any hardware store, or if you have one lying around, then that’s even better. You can use the drain snake to poke the opening of the clogged drain line and if something is blocking the way of the water, then it can be removed.

Get The Tank Pumped

To prevent your septic tank from backing up, you need to make sure that you’re maintaining it from time to time. This calls for septic tank pumping every 2 to 4 years. This is important because it keeps the tank clean, and free from any clogs and everything will drain out smoothly without any standstills.

Pumping the septic tank takes from 45 minutes to an hour, but it will save you from a major problem of backing up in the future. So, when maintenance is due, you need to get it done.

Maintain The Tank

Speaking of maintenance, you must keep the septic tank in good condition to make it work flawlessly for years to come. You don’t want to leave maintenance for the last minute. Since the septic tank stores waste from all over your house, it’s even more important that you take good care of it.

If you see any trash lying around the septic tank, then clean it up, because if it finds its way inside the tank, then it will certainly cause a lot of problems. So, little things like this can make a huge difference.

Avoid Throwing Solids

You want to avoid flushing solid things down the toilet. Small ornaments, toys thrown by children and especially sanitary napkins and pads are not only going to clog the drain leading from the bathroom to the septic tank, but it will also cause backing up of the tank in no time.

Solid things like tissues, bottle caps, and napkins should be thrown in the trash, and always keep the toilet seat covered so that nothing can accidentally fall into the toilet bowl and eventually reach the septic tank.

Conclusion

A septic tank should never get backed up otherwise everything from your toilets to the sink will regurgitate and you don’t want that. Well, now you know why it happens and how you can fix it. So, if you’re experiencing these issues, find septic companies that provide septic pumping, cleaning, and maintenance services. You will have to spend some time in finding the right one. However, if you invest some time in the hiring process, your septic system will be handled by skilled professionals.