Septic systems play a vital role if you live in an area without a proper sewage connection.
However, there are certain instances when a septic tank might malfunction, causing sewage overflow in your home, which can be inconvenient and pose a health hazard.
You can avoid problematic septic tanks if you follow a few practices to maintain the septic tank’s condition.
Keeping this in mind, we have compiled this brief yet informative guide to highlight the typical septic tank problems and their solutions.
8 Common Septic Tank Problems
1. Improper Installation
Discover what a septic system is and how it works, and only employ professional services to install your septic system and plumbing fixtures.
Setting up septic systems is probably the most challenging plumbing task for many homeowners since there is a high chance of human error. If the septic tank is installed incorrectly, it can cause many problems, severely damaging your property. Moreover, you might have to replace the entire tank or reinstall it from scratch to function correctly.
Therefore, two factors should be considered while installing a septic tank to prevent system failure.
- Always make sure that the installed tank clears the percolation test.
- Ensure that the installation complies with Australia’s safety standards.
2. The Tank Is Old
Another common reason that can cause the septic tank to malfunction is when the tank gets old. Modern tanks have plenty of new features that help control the levels of sewage water, but these features are lacking in older models.
For instance, an older model might not have dip pipes or a double chamber structure; you might experience overflowing problems during the rainy season. You may even deal with sewage in your yard.
In addition, it might be prone to other issues such as damage, corrosion, and clogs, which can cause a lot of inconvenience.
3. Ground Movement
Most septic tank systems are installed under the ground. As a result, subtle ground movements can put a lot of force on the system. It can cause the tank to back up, so you must empty it more frequently and have your tank pumped. The ground movement can sometimes cause the dip pipes to dislocate from their original place.
This can cause cracks and fractures in the wall of the tanks, which can lead to the following problems:
- Groundwater will make its way into the tank and cause it to overflow.
- It will also prevent the tank from efficiently separating solid from liquid household waste.
- It might require a replacement of the entire tank.
4. Damage From Plant And Tree Roots
As we have mentioned, most septic tank systems are installed under the ground. This leaves the septic tanks prone to getting damaged by tree roots. Additionally, it is tough to predict where the tree roots might grow. As such, you can never avoid this problem if it occurs.
Besides, the tree roots can penetrate the drain pipes and prevent the wastewater from flowing efficiently into the tank. Nevertheless, you can reduce the chances of this problem by installing the system away from the plants and trees.
5. Damaged Dip Pipes
Most manufacturers these days include dip pipes as an essential feature of the septic tank system. The main purpose of the dip pipes is to ensure that the correct type of waste flows into the soakaway system. This prevents lumpy stuff from accumulating within the system, which can cause it to get blocked.
On the contrary, the septic tank might malfunction if the dip pipes get knocked off while emptying the tank. As such, lumpy and unwanted waste will be collected in the septic tank soakaway system.
6. Collapsed Baffle
A baffle serves a similar purpose as dip pipes since its primary role is to prevent lumpy waste from reaching the soakaway system. It acts as a barrier in the tank that filters out unwanted waste and lumpy stuff before the wastewater can reach the tank.
If the baffle collapses, it will not be able to prevent the solid waste from reaching the soakaway system, which can further result in a blockage. So, all the wastewater will be backed up in your house rather than collected in the tank, and backflow can occur in this case.
Contact a professional if you don’t have a backflow preventer or need backflow device repairs.
7. Lack Of Maintenance
If you want your septic tank to perform optimally, you must maintain it regularly. For instance, you must empty the tank on time to prevent the wastewater from overflooding the system. If you notice any damaged components, you should replace them immediately to ensure the system works correctly. And if your sewer drain is blocked, don’t wait until there’s standing water near the drain field or tank to waste time. Contact a professional for a drain field replacement and handle it.
If you have a busy schedule, we suggest hiring a regular septic tank expert to clean the tank. They will also perform regular maintenance and inspection of septic systems and drain systems as required.
8. Hydro-static Pressure
Although it is a common misconception that the problem is rare, it is not. Hydro-static pressure causes the tank to pop out of the ground instead of staying submerged. It is usually created when the water below the tank is very high.
If this problem occurs in your house, you should immediately contact a professional since it requires technical knowledge. Solving it yourself can cause more damage to your property.
You Can Prevent Septic Tank Problems From Happening
With that, we have reached the end of this informative guide. We want to share a few tips to help prevent septic tank problems from occurring in the future.
We recommend emptying the tank regularly whenever it gets full and performing routine maintenance when required. If you notice any damaged parts, replace them immediately; otherwise, it can cause severe damage to your property.
Lastly, there are certain instances where you might be unable to resolve the problems. In such cases, we suggest hiring a septic tank expert since they will have the required knowledge and skills to fix the issues.
Contact Fixed Today if you need help with your blocked sewer drain and septic tank system. Our skilled team can handle this urgent job and keep your home safe and clean.
