What Are the Signs That Your Septic Tank Is Full?
Septic tanks are an essential aid when your property – for whatever reason – is not connected to the main sewer system. All the waste water that most of us just wash down sinks, showers and baths or flush down the toilet, never to be thought of again, is instead sent to a large container that is usually buried beneath the ground.
Septic tanks are not infinite, which means that every now and then they need to be emptied and the waste taken away to be disposed of safely and legally. But how do you know when your tank will need emptying and how often is that likely to be?
The Need a Tanker team is here to answer all your questions.
Common signs that your septic tank needs to be pumped
Slow Drains
If the water you’re trying to empty from your bath or a sink is taking longer to drain away than usual, it could be because your septic tank is full. There are other possible causes, however, such as a blockage somewhere, so don’t assume you have a full tank if this is the only sign.
Sewage Backup
If your tank is full and your waste water has nowhere else to go, it may start to back up through low drains on your property – not something anyone wants to have to live with.
Pooling Water
If you notice pools of water accumulating in the drain field or around the septic tank itself, it may indicate that your tank is overflowing and in urgent need of emptying.
Foul smells
One of the earliest common indicators of a full septic tank is the unmistakable smell of raw sewage in the air. Again, this isn’t necessarily a sign of a full tank on its own, but you’ll want to investigate the source, because that’s not something you want in the background as you go about your life.
Healthy grass (or weeds)
Waste water makes for excellent fertiliser, so if you notice that the area around your tank is looking unusually – and otherwise inexplicably – lush, it may be that your tank is leaking into the soil and giving any grass, plants or weeds there a really good feed.
How often does a septic tank need emptying?
How often septic tanks need emptying can vary depending on how big the tank is and how much waste the property it is attached to produces. The latter is usually going to be affected by how many people are living or working there. In general, though, you can expect to need to have it emptied every one to two years.
For more information on how often you need to have your septic tank emptied, read our previous blog on the subject.
What happens if you don’t empty a septic tank?
All those signs of a full septic tank that we mentioned earlier will come about eventually if you don’t deal swiftly with the issue. And while you may like the sound of your garden looking healthier than it would have done if left to your personal care alone, it will only look good in a very specific and relatively small area.
After that, everything else that happens is going to be bad – not just unpleasant, but also potentially a significant health hazard if it involves raw sewage coming out of your drains.
That means that staying on top of your septic tank emptying and servicing is absolutely essential.
Can you empty a septic tank yourself?
Unless you have a licence to legally dispose of septic tank waste – together with the specialist equipment to do so safely and in line with the complex regulations that are in place to ensure the environment is fully protected – then the simple answer is ‘No’.
Emptying a septic tank and disposing of its contents requires expertise, experience, equipment – and the right accreditations and licences. Illegal disposal of such waste could lead to substantial penalties. For instance, in 2022, two men in Cornwall were fined £240,000 for illegally injecting septic tank contents (and other waste) into agricultural land – with prison sentences to follow if the fines were not paid within three months1.
Here at Need a Tanker, we are licensed waste carriers supporting septic tank owners right across the UK with a full range of professional waste tanker services, including septic tank cleaning, emptying and maintenance. As a family-run business, we care about always delivering exceptional customer service at a fair price.
Get in touch now to find out more to request a visit from one of our friendly and experienced engineers.
- https://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/20077281.carnon-valley-transport-waste-sentence-illegal-dumping-cornwall/