What Causes a Septic Tank to Back Up & How to Prevent Them
Dealing with a septic tank backup is one of those nightmares you hope to never face, right? But when it happens, it hits hard. You might be flushing the toilet, and instead of water going down, it will start coming back up. It's pretty gross, but that's not the only problem!
A septic tank backup can cause serious damage, health risks, and a lot of stress. Plus, it isn't cheap to repair. So, what's the way out? Well, these messy problems are completely preventable.
The right maintenance and knowledge can keep your system flowing smoothly without any problems. If you're curious to know more about what causes a septic tank backup and how you can prevent it, keep reading this blog!
Septic Tank Backup
What Is a Septic Tank Backup?
First, let's clear the basics! Your septic tank collects and treats wastewater that flows out of your house. It basically separates solids from liquid waste, allowing the solid waste to get settled at the bottom and form sludge, and the liquid waste to flow into the drain field for safe absorption into the soil.
But what happens when this smooth process suddenly stops working? A septic tank backup!
It happens when wastewater can't properly exit from the tank and flows back into your home through sinks, tubs, floor drains, toilets, etc. When it happens, it clearly means that your septic system is overloaded, clogged, or failing.
What Causes a Septic Tank Backup?
Septic tank backups can occur due to several reasons, and we've listed some of them here.
- Lack Of Regular Pumping - Your septic tank isn't a set-it-and-forget-it system. It needs regular maintenance, especially pumping. So, you need to pump your tank at least once every 3-5 years, depending on its size and your household consumption habits. If you skip this step, the sludge will keep on building up in the tank, leaving no room for more wastewater. The result? Well, there'll be a nasty sewage backup in your home!
- Flushing the Wrong Stuff - Flushing everything down the toilet can cause major problems! If you flush non-flushable items like wipes, diapers, paper towels, or even excessive toilet paper, they can clog your septic system fast and cause your septic tank to back up.
- Tree Roots Growing In Pipes - If you have a big, beautiful tree in your yard, there's a chance it’s secretly attacking your septic system. Tree roots love water sources, so when they find that in cracked pipes and septic systems, they'll grow towards it! This can crack, clog, or collapse your septic system over time, causing sewage backups.
- Rain/Flooding - You'll be surprised to know that even heavy rainfall can cause septic tank backups! Heavy rain can soak the ground so much that your drain field can't absorb any more water. When that happens, sewage might start backing up into your yard, or even your home.
- Improper Installation - In some cases, a septic system backing up into the house can be due to improper installation of the system. Your tank might not be installed the right way due to the wrong tank size, poor pipe layout, or bad slope. All of these issues can cause major problems in the future, and sewage backup is one of the most serious ones!
- Using Harsh Chemicals - Your septic tank uses anaerobic bacteria to break down solid waste in the water. But when you use harsh chemicals or antibacterial soaps, they can kill the bacteria and disturb the tank's biological process of waste breakdown. So, the solid waste inside the tank will build up fast and can eventually cause sewage backup issues.
Now that you know what causes a septic tank to back up, let's talk about how to spot the trouble before it turns into a messy problem!
septic tank backup prevention tips
How Will You Know Your Septic System Is About To Back Up?
Nobody wants their home's septic tank to back up and cause a serious problem, right? Besides the inconvenience, contaminated water from a sewage backup can cause waterborne infections like Hepatitis A, diarrhea, viral infections, and so on. Plus, fixing a backed-up septic system isn't cheap!
The average septic tank backup cost ranges from $300 to $500 for basic repairs, and that's if you catch it early.
But you don't need to worry, as most septic disasters give you warning signs before they go full-blown. So, here are some red flags to watch out for to know if your home's septic system is about to back up or not!
- Slow drains throughout the house
- Soggy spots near your drain field
- Water is backing up in your bathtub and sinks
- Bad smell of sewage inside your home or in your yard
- Gurgling sounds in the pipes
If you notice these signs, it's best to call a professional septic tank service company to inspect the problem and prevent backups!
How To Prevent A Septic Tank Backup?
You can stay ahead of the problem if you follow these simple, easy, and effective preventive measures!
- Pump Regularly: You can schedule the pumping of your septic tank regularly to avoid backups.
- Don't Use Toilets Like Trash Cans: You should flush only biological waste and toilet paper, and have a covered waste bin in the bathroom for dumping everything else.
- Protect Your Drain Field: If you avoid parking cars, building patios, or planting deep-rooted trees over your drain field, you can keep the area clear so water can properly filter into the soil.
- Use Septic-Safe Items: Instead of using harsh chemicals and antibacterial soaps for your laundry, you can use products that are "septic-safe" to avoid killing the good bacteria in the tank.
- Keep Rain from Ruining Your Tank: If you want to prevent septic backups during heavy rain or flooding, ensure that your yard drains water away from the tank and the drain field. Also, you can avoid overusing water during storms and pump your tank before the rainy season to reduce the risk of overflow.
- Have an Annual Inspection: Having an annual checkup can help spot small problems before they become expensive ones. So, call the septic tank service pros to take a look at your septic tank at least once every year.
Takeaway
Your septic tank can back up if you don't pump it regularly, flush the wrong stuff, or due to excessive rain, tree root invasion, or improper installation. But you can avoid these problems by practicing the right habits and proper preventive measures.
But the best way to ensure your septic tank works perfectly is by getting help from a septic tank service expert who can inspect the system and repair it early on before problems like septic tank backup show up.
For a Stress-Free, Honest, & Clean Septic Service, Advanced Septic Service, LLC is Your Best Choice!
Advanced Septic Service, LLC is your trusted local septic tank expert, and we're here to help you avoid costly backups! Our specialty is that we don't use any harsh chemicals to pump, repair, or service your septic tank.
Our technicians have the proper training and equipment to handle any type of septic service and maintenance needs using non-toxic materials. We're an A+ rated BBB-accredited business and are always there to provide you with the best quality service.
If you need a pumping, routine checkup, or any other service for your septic tank, call us right away at (916) 269-3411!
Our office is located at 7555 Auburn Blvd, Citrus Heights, California - but we proudly serve customers all across California. Whether you're in Rocklin, Granite Bay, Lincoln, Davis, Roseville, Placerville, Folsom, or Sacramento, just give us a call at (916) 269-3411, and we’ll take care of the rest!