If your home depends on a septic system to eliminate sewage, it’s important to keep an eye on your tank and drain field for signs of trouble. Septic system failures aren’t just unpleasant; they can be hazardous to your health as well. Heavy spring rains can put additional stress on septic systems, so it’s especially important to be mindful of septic issues this time of year. Today we’ll look at a few of the most common early-warning signs of septic failures.
Foul Odors
This is often the first thing homeowners notice when they have an ailing septic system. Septic failures can generate some seriously bad smells that are hard to miss. If you notice a sulfurous, rotten-egg smell that gets worse as you approach your tank and drain field, it’s a safe bet that your septic system needs to be serviced sooner rather than later.
Patches of Bright Green Grass
Green is grass is ordinarily a sign of a healthy lawn, but if you spot isolated patches of bright green grass in your drain field, it may be due to wastewater effluent leaking into the soil in your yard. This could mean that your septic tank is full, or that the drain field is deteriorating and releasing sewage into your lawn.
Standing Water in Your Lawn
It’s normal to see a few puddles in your lawn after a long rainstorm, but if the standing water sticks around after the storm is over, your drain field may be saturated with toxic wastewater effluent. These pools of standing water are often accompanied by unpleasant sewage odors as well.
If you suspect your septic system might be in need of service, we can conduct a thorough inspection to find out for sure. Give us a call or contact us online today to learn more!
I do like that you bring up the fact that bright green grass can be a sign of trouble. After all, some homeowners may see the lush grass as a good thing. However, it could be a sign that your septic tank is leaking, so you’ll want to get it looked at.