If you own a property in a beautiful rural area with no sewage connection, you ought to have a septic tank to rely on, and most importantly, the one that works properly. However, suppose you happen to notice unusual occurrences such as unpleasant smells or nasty stuff bubbling in your garden, the toilet not flushing properly, etc. In that case, it’s time to react – and do it quickly. Several septic problems might occur; some of them are preventable, while others are not. We’ve asked specialists who offer the service of septic tank cleaning in Miami to tell us about the most common septic problems and the solutions to them, and here they are:

Septic Problems

1. Damages caused by nature

Determining where to place the septic tank is extremely important because roots from trees can cause severe damage to it. If your tank is placed near the trees, its roots can start growing through its walls, damaging the construction, soakaway, and pipes. If this happens, the nasty stuff from inside the tank may leak out. The water from the ground can get into it. This occurrence creates a terrible mess in the area where the system is placed but can be avoided by correctly positioning it. On the other hand, you can’t prevent the ground movement, but since it puts a lot of pressure on the tank, it can cause fractures in its walls. When this happens, you may notice your septic tank needing to be emptied more often.

2. Collapsed baffle

A baffle is essentially a barrier inside the tank, and it prevents lumpy stuff from escaping to the soakaway. Since soakaway systems can only deal with liquid waste, it’s crucial to stop anything chunky from getting into it. This is how it works: you flush down, and the waste travels to the tank and then separates into three layers. The heavy, lumpy stuff goes to the bottom, and fats get to the top. The liquid stays in the middle and later on travels to the soakaway, and it provides a sort of treatment of the waste (since it is safely dispersed into the surrounding soil). You see, if the baffle is damaged, the lumpy stuff can freely get to the soakaway and prevent that treatment from happening. As the soakaway system gets blocked up, the waste can easily find its way back to your household.

3. Damaged dip pipes

Depending on the type of your tank, it can either have a baffle, dip pipes, or both. A dip pipe ensures that only the correct type of waste from your septic tank goes into the soakaway system. It should be placed correctly during the installation, but unfortunately, it can get knocked off during an emptying. If it’s found resting at the bottom of the tank, it means that the wrong stuff has gotten into the soakaway, and the system has become choked. If this happens, the nasty stuff might find its way back to your property or the surface above the soakaway.

4. Lack of maintenance

Here’s the one that’s up to you. Emptying the septic tank regularly is your responsibility. Because you’ll be the one that schedules it with the local tanker company. Based on your tank type, you should know how often it needs to be emptied; it’s usually every year.  

5. Vehicle damage

Most septic tanks and soakaways are placed in the countryside. And, since they’re put under the ground, people can’t tell where they are. Pressure on the tank occurs when heavy farm vehicles (such as tractors) drive over the land that covers the tank, and it can cause the system to collapse.

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9 Comments
  • Claire Masters

    It’s really enlightening to know how a septic system works and how waste is actually stored in a three-layer structure and if the top layer collapsed, it can cause a failure in the system. This will be especially helpful knowing that my house and the tank itself are already old and some of the parts needed to be renovated because it has been so rundown. I will keep my eye out for these types of cases so that I can have them repaired right away.

  • rachel frampton

    My dad would like to have his septic tank cleaned since it’s already clogged. Well, I also agree with you that regular maintenance is needed since this will avoid chunk build-up. It’s a good thing that you clarified here the heavy rides must never park on top of the tank too.

  • taylor hicken

    I appreciated it when you shared that it is important to schedule septic tank cleaning so you can ensure that the system will work well. My friend just mentioned the other day that he is worried about his house as the septic tank seems to be causing some issues. I will suggest to him looking for a reliable service that can help clean it.

  • Septic Tank

    We recommended pumping your septic tank every two to three years. However, small septic systems require yearly attention. With that, you get to avoid issues with the entire septic system, which results in a lot of inconveniences. When full, scum and sludge tend to form on the inside, resulting in clogs, and that alters the system functionality. Also, your home risks exposure to raw sewage because of poor drainage. Call or email us today, and let our experts expound more on the septic tank services we offer!

  • Wow, I never knew that a simple lack of septic maintenance could cause so many issues. I do feel like this is something that I should try and solve as early as now to prevent any dangerous issues with our fixtures that could ruin a family gathering. I’ll go around and look for any septic tank experts that can help us out with maintenance starting today.

  • Eli Richardson

    I’m glad you talked about septic tanks and how nature damages them. Recently, my wife and I decided we’re leaving in a few weeks to visit some family. We want to be sure we leave our home in good shape, so we’ll be sure to inspect our septic tank too! Thanks for the advice on septic systems and how to keep them clean and safe.

  • Tex Hooper

    Great tip about how tanks need to be assessed often to make sure they don’t burst. My new house has a septic tank and I need it cleaned. I’ll have to hire a plumber to do an inspection.

  • Great advice on how you should not overlook a septic tank’s routine maintenance because it might cause serious backflow problems! My friend wants to try owning a house, and most of the listings he’s interested in come with a septic tank. I think it would be wise for him to invest in septic tank services after finalizing his move as a preventive measure.

  • rachel frampton

    My sister noticed that her septic tank is already leaking, which is why she has decided to start looking for a cleaning service. Anyhow, you made a pretty good point that it would be smarter to inspect the tank’s pipes too. Thank you for sharing here as well the importance of inspecting whether the pipes have chunks in them already.

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