If you are unfamiliar with a septic waste system after having lived in a Chappaqua, NY, home with access to municipal sewage, how will you know if you have a problem in need of repair after a septic installation? These signs can show you whether it is too soon for septic repair or if you need to call a professional ASAP.
Related: 5 Warning Signs That You Need A Septic System Replacement In Tarrytown And Chappaqua, NY
How a Septic System Works
When you are used to flushing and forgetting, paying attention to septic system health can seem odd but the reality is that you recently installed a wonderful, environmentally positive waste system that seldom needs intervention. Everything that goes down the drains of your home ends up in the septic tank where it separates into three layers.
The solids sink to the bottom where they are decomposed by beneficial microorganisms, the watery fluids sit in the middle, and the oils and grease float on the top. The watery fluids filter out through a pipe that allows the liquids to slowly filter back into the ground through a leach bed. As they seep slowly back to the water table, the pollutants and solids are removed naturally by the soil.
Signs Your Septic System Needs Repair
Here are some signs that your septic system is not functioning at maximum efficiency and needs an evaluation from a professional.
Slow drains: If your drains are moving slowly and taking a long time to filter out the water, this can be a sign that something is wrong. Normally, a septic system receives the water from the drains quickly and without any problems but when the water is sitting in the sink or overflows from the toilet, you have a problem that needs professional attention.
Bright green patch of grass: When you notice a bright green, tall patch of grass in the landscape when there has been little rain and the rest of the grass is a normal height, this can indicate that you have a leak in a pipe that takes the waste from your home to the septic tank. If a pipe develops even the tiniest leak, tree roots will often grow toward the seeping water and work their way into the crack. From there they just keep growing into the pipe, causing a back-up in the drains.
Foul odor: Your septic tank is an airtight tank that emits no smells at all but if you notice a foul odor inside your home or outside, there is a chance that your tank has damage and is letting the gases out. This can happen when you accidentally park cars or trucks on the tank and the weight causes a crack.
What Not to Flush
Flushing the wrong things can also lead to septic issues. You should not flush the following items: feminine products, cigarette butts, cat litter, chemicals, grease and oils, paint, paper towels, among others. These things not only do not decompose and stay in the tank to fill it up unnecessarily but they can clog the pipe that filters out the watery liquids, causing the tank not to operate properly.
When you flush the wrong things down the drain and into the system, this will require a professional assessment from a septic expert to recommend the right fix to get your system up and running well once more. A little attention to your septic system can go a long way toward septic system health.
Related: What Are The Logistics Of Septic Installation In 2021 In Tarrytown And Pleasantville NY Areas?
