For those relying on a septic tank either for their household or their business property, it is important to know when your septic tank is full or close to being full. The last thing you want is for your septic tank to overflow, causing costly damage to the septic tank and surrounding area. Luckily, there are various different signs you can look out for which indicate your septic tank is full, which we are going to outline in this guide. Read on for an outline of all the full septic tank symptoms that will help you determine when your septic tank is full.
The first symptom to look out for that may suggest your septic tank is either full or reaching full is slow drainage. You may notice that your sinks, toilets, showers or baths are draining a little more slowly than normal or seem to be draining at an inconsistent speed. This could be a sign that your septic tank is filling up, so the wastewater does not have much room to flow through the pipes due to the pipes being clogged up with waste that should be in the tank. While slow drainage may well mean your septic tank is full, it is important to note that other factors can cause slow drainage like grease, hair or soap scum build-up in your pipes.
One of the most obvious signs your septic tank might be full is if you’re hearing gurgling sounds when draining wastewater from sinks, baths and toilets. This is another sign that water is not flowing perfectly through your pipes and into your septic tank system. The gurgling noises are usually caused as a result of trapped air within the pipes, which is a symptom of your septic tank being full and wastewater struggling to make its way through the system. That said, such noises may also indicate another blockage of some kind within your pipes or even a leak.
A really blatant and concerning sign that your septic tank is full is that sewage is backing up within your property. When a septic tank is full to the brim, wastewater will not be able to flow into the tank and through your usual drainage system, causing the waste to back up to where it came from. This will often be visible in toilets, baths or floor drains if your property has them. Backed up sewage can not only cause costly damage to a property but is also a serious health hazard for anybody inside. This is one of the reasons why regular septic tank emptying and desludging is essential.
Another visible sign that your septic tank is full is pooled wastewater. This may accumulate around your septic tank itself or the drain field it flows into. It’s a clear sign that your septic tank system is overwhelmed and unable to cope with incoming wastewater. The drainage field is unable to absorb all the water it needs to from the septic tank, because the tank is clogged up and requires emptying and desludging. This pooled water can be a real environmental hazard, contaminating the soil and groundwater on your property, affecting both flora and fauna.
We’ve covered visible and audible signs your septic tank is full, now let’s consider the olfactible sign – foul odour. Having a repugnant smell around your property is one of the most unpleasant issues you can encounter and it is often an indication of an issue in your septic system, likely that your tank is full. The smell is caused by the waste held within the tank or through held wastewater beginning to decompose. It will be most pungent around sinks, drains and plugholes, but the smell can soon affect your entire property. It’s important to get a sewage professional out as soon as such a smell is observed on your property, who will be able to check the cause and empty the septic tank where required.
In this guide, we have detailed five common signs your septic tank is full – slow drainage, gurgling noises, backed up sewage, pooled water and foul odour. These are five considerations to remember when trying to work out how to know when your septic tank is full and needs emptying, cleaning and desludging.
Owls Hall Environmental is a leading sewage and wastewater company in the South East of England with decades of experience servicing and maintaining septic tank systems. If by reading this guide you have concluded your septic tank is full and in need of emptying, contact us today. You can also visit our online store for new septic tanks and other sewage treatment products.
