Some general warning signs of septic system failure are:

1) The alarm on your system goes off

2) Plumbing problems within the residence: Clogged or sluggish drain lines, Sewage backup in the drain lines and appliances and Gurgling noises in the pipes and drain lines.

3) Sewage or grey water on the surface of the ground in your drain field

4) Soft, mushy ground or thicker green grass around the system

5) Sewage odor outside of the residenceFailure of a system is normally caused by three factors: Inadequate maintenance of the system, Improper design and Faulty installationSystem Failures.

Factor #1 - Inadequate Maintenance

A correctly designed and installed system will not function without proper maintenance. It is vital to the life of your system that regular pumping and maintenance be performed on your system to help prevent system problems before they occur.

Your septic tank must be pumped on a regular basis. If it is not pumped, solids will accumulate within the tank and eventually flow into the drain field clogging the system. The baffles may also become damaged and eventually deteriorate within the tank allowing the scum to escape into the drain field. An average household with moderate water usage needs to be pumped approximately every two years.

The years between pumping are directly affected by the number of occupants in the household and the amount of water generated by items such as toilets, appliances and showers. Households with garbage disposals must be pumped more frequently due to the amount of solids that the disposal distributes into the tank.

Taking care of the area within and around your drain field can also help to prevent a system failure. Most vegetation will seek a source of water if it does not receive the amount it needs to grow. In search of moisture, trees and shrubs with deep roots can wrap around the distribution lines leading to the bed, clogging and damaging them. Therefore, always keep your drain field free of harmful vegetation. Another way to protect the drain field is to make sure no heavy vehicles or equipment are driven across the area. Excessive weight can crush the pipes and damage the drain field resulting in failure. It can also compact the soil beyond natural compaction and does not allow proper circulation or drainage within the soil. Surface water problems can also occur. Distribution pipes should always remain buried at a safe level beneath the ground. If they become exposed to the surface, freezing can occur causing the pipes to become damaged and blocked.

The last step a homeowner should take to prevent failures is to monitor water usage. A system is designed specifically to handle a certain amount of water based on the number of occupants within a home. If the number of occupants or water usage increases, then the tank must be pumped more regularly to dispose of the extra waste within the tank. Secondly, the extra amount of detergent, chemicals and cleaners that are flushed through the system also change the quality of the water and kill the bacteria cultures within the tank. The tank will not function without the bacteria. In general, a large number of occupants and a small, undersized septic tank that is not pumped regularly is a failure waiting to happen.

Factor #2 - Improper Design

The design of your system is based on percolation rates and the size of the household. It is important to have your percolation tests performed by a trained, licensed Sewage Enforcement Officer (SEO) to ensure that the results are accurate. Undersizing of any of the following items can be damaging to your system:

1) Drain field
2) Groundwater drainage
3) Septic tank

If percolation tests are not run properly, the drain field may not be sized or designed correctly. An undersized drain field will eventually lead to costly maintenance and an early system failure. The groundwater levels within your area also play an important role in the proper function of your system. If that factor is not taken into consideration, heavy periods of groundwater flow will cause the system to become saturated and can contaminate your wells and surrounding areas. An undersized septic tank will become clogged and pass solids into the drain field.

It should not take a backup of sewage within your home to show that there are problems with your system. Problems may already be occurring before you notice clogged pipes within your home. An improper design acts like a chain reaction resulting in one problem after another.

Factor #3 - Installation Failures

Again, it is vital that you have a trained, experienced professional install your system. Even if the tests are performed correctly by the SEO, the system can still malfunction if it is not installed properly. If the distribution lines are spaced unevenly or not placed on the right grade, the water will not be distributed evenly within the drain field. This imbalance can cause a hydraulic overload. As mentioned above, the weight from heavy machinery and vehicles can also damage the drain field. Be sure to rope off the area around your drain field when installing a new system or having work done on your existing system so that the ground is not disturbed.

Conclusion:

Proper knowledge, prompt, professional services and a little common sense can all help to prevent septic system failures. If you have any questions or would like to have your system inspected, call Kline's today to speak to one of our service representatives. Preventative maintenance is the key to the extended life of your system, and Kline's can provide the services you need.