Of all disasters that come with homeownership, it is a septic tank backup that would make you hate your house. It is both disgusting and hazardous, and if you were to be exposed to it, you risk serious illness. When dirty water starts running up your bathroom, you will want to know what caused it and what to do next. Here are some reason why septic tanks back up:
Blocked pipe or baffle
A baffle is installed at the inlets and outlets to the tanks. If a blockage were to happen in one of the pipes leading to the septic tank, the whole drainage system would fail. This mostly occurs when solid items are flushed into the system and are among the most common causes of many septic tank backups. If this happens, it is better to look for companies offering septic tank services to come and unblock them.
Saturated drain field
A septic tank disposes of liquid and solid waste differently. Solid waste settles down and is broken down to form a sludge. In contrast, liquids flow out through special drainage pipes leading to the drain field, which then soaks up the liquids and distributes them.
The drainage field’s efficiency is determined by how much it can absorb. However, if the capacity is passed by, say, additional water from rainfall, it will impede the septic tanks’ ability to dispose of liquids leading to a backup. In some cases, the damage may necessitate septic tank replacement.
Broken sewer lines
If one of the pipes draining wastewater away from the home drainage system is under pressure, it could snap and cause a blockage. One probable cause of this problem can be driving or parking a car on top of the pipe. If this happens, the whole system will be blocked, resulting in a backup. The best way to prevent this problem is not to put heavy items on your septic tank. If you are unsure where your septic tank is, and there’s a chance you’ve been parking on top of it for a while now, perform septic tank maintenance to find out.
If you suspect that you might have an overwhelmed septic tank or drain field failure, get in touch with Better Homes & Windows for the best septic tank services in Nashville.
