If you own a home with a septic system, you know how important regular septic tank cleaning and service is. These systems work twenty-four hours a day, treating and disposing of waste from your home.

When they’re neglected, they can lead to backflow issues, ground contamination, and system failures. These problems can all be expensive and harmful to your family and pets.

Clogged Drains

Everything that goes down your drains ends up in the septic tank, so the type of waste you use can directly affect how well it works. For example, fats, grease, oil-based paints, solvents, and photographic solutions destroy helpful bacteria and clog the system. Planting trees and vegetables in the drainfield area should be avoided as they snarl the pipes. It’s also a good idea to install inspection access risers so you can quickly get in and out of the septic tank.

If you notice gurgling in your toilets, a slow flow of water from sinks or tubs, or unpleasant odors around the home, these are signs that something is wrong with your septic system. It may be time to call a professional for septic cleaning Lake Villa IL. However, septic-safe ways to unclog your drains can prevent the need for emergency service. Try using a bent wire hanger or pouring boiling water down the drains to clear out small obstructions.

Clogged Tanks

Clogged septic tanks lead to sewage backup in the home and other expensive and unpleasant issues. Regular septic tank pumping prevents this by removing waste that would otherwise build up and clog the system.

A septic tank is like a quiet zone for sewage to collect and separate into things that sink and float (solid waste and sludge). When solid waste accumulates, it starts to decrease the tank’s working capacity. This clogs the drain pipes leading into and from the tank.

Some clogs can be remedied with boiling water or a hand-held drain snake, but septic system experts recommend avoiding store-bought chemical drain cleaners. These products may destroy the beneficial microorganisms that break down waste in your septic tank and increase clogging. Other common causes of septic tank clogs include putting too much waste down the drain, unnecessarily flushing, and using toilet deodorizers not formulated for septic systems.

Clogged Leach Fields

As we all know, your septic system helps safely remove and transport harmful wastes from your home. When it isn’t appropriately maintained, sewage can return to your home and create unpleasant situations.

The best way to avoid clogged leach fields is to use toilet paper and human waste and keep trees and other long-rooted plants away from the area. Regular septic tank cleaning can also help reduce the risk of clogged leach fields.

You’ll know you have a clogged leach field if you notice sewage odors in your house or yard. Another symptom is if you see puddles of wastewater on your lawn, the water can’t infiltrate the soil anymore, rising to the surface under pressure. A professional can unclog your leach field through shock treatment using bacteria and enzymes to break down the organic material faster. The process can take a few days or weeks to complete, but it will make your leach field function as intended again.

Clogged Pumps

Occasionally, your system will experience a failure. This can result from a tank leaking and filled with wastewater (septic tanks must be pumped regularly). Alternatively, your drain field may have failed due to improper design or installation or because it has become saturated.

Your septic tank is a settling chamber that separates solid waste and scum from the liquid effluent that flows into your drain field. Unfortunately, some solids do manage to move through the outlet baffles into the pump chamber, which can contribute to clogged float valves, a sticking float control, and other problems. The good news is that regular maintenance can prevent clogs and other problems with your septic tank. Learn how to perform some of the maintenance yourself and be ready for when it’s time to call in a professional. This will ensure you get the most value from your septic tank investment.