A septic system is necessary for the wastewater treatment process of a home. When it fails, it may cause different issues. Below are five warning signs indicating that your faulty septic system needs to be addressed appropriately.
- Slow or Clogged Drains
A typical symptom of a malfunctioning septic is that slow or blocked drains. This happens when materials such as grease, hair or dirt build-up, resulting in blockages. However, if unaddressed, these problems can result in sewage backups and overflows that pose a lot of health risks and damage to the environment. Such blockages are preventable with regular septic system cleaning and maintenance. Maintaining the system’s efficiency can be achieved by eliminating harmful chemicals or debris from being dumped into it.
- Unpleasant Odors
Another symptom of a failed septic system is the offensive odours around the tank or drainfield. However, if the system fails to decompose the waste effectively, it produces hazardous gases and microorganisms. Some of these can cause strong odours, and poor septic system installation may cause this. These smells can become more pronounced, especially during or after heavy rain. The water may cause the system to back up and release odours. Detecting and addressing these odours promptly is vital to prevent further issues.
- Wet or Soggy Areas
This could indicate a problem if you see wet patches in your yard, particularly over the drain field where your septic system is located. Picture the grass as a sponge, or it is always moist. This may indicate that the drain field does not work correctly – it absorbs water from the septic system, but not as well as it should be. This can result in the contamination of the ground and water around it. Not only is it a wet yard, but it may also cause your faulty septic system to back up, which is when you can smell a foul odour. It is crucial to identify these wet areas and take action to stop things from worsening.
- Dangerous Gases
With the proper handling, our septic systems release some gases that might harm us. Hydrogen sulphide, ammonia, and carbon dioxide, if we inhale them, may lead to undesirable effects. It is straightforward to imagine pain in the mouth, nose, or throat; you may even experience difficulty breathing. These gases can also damage our lungs or make us pass out. The risks can increase if the septic system doesn’t let these gases out correctly or is not working well. We must regularly check and fix our septic systems to ensure our homes stay safe.
- Biological Contamination
At times, tests conducted by health professionals may indicate that the water emanating from our septic system has some pathogenic bacteria. These small items can infect us with many diseases, such as hepatitis A, polio, or even stomach upset. This happens because our septic system should be able to break down waste like it should. Instead of keeping the bad stuff away, it lets bacteria and other nasty things into the environment.
Conclusion
A healthy home requires regular monitoring for signals such as slow drains, bad smells, wet areas, dangerous gases, and biological contamination. If you see any of these, don’t waste your time. Speak with an expert in the septic systems. Periodic checks and timely repairs can make sure that our homes are safe and the septic systems function correctly as they should. Septic system care means taking care of our health and also the environment.
