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Common Septic Issues

Common Septic System issues and diagnoses:

Fixtures are clogged and or Toilet won’t flush, or flushes and backs up
STOP USING WATER. Check drainage in sinks and the bathtub, faucets, and washer below the highest point of the identified clog. Work your way down from the clog and if everything is blocked, it is a clogged line or issue with your septic system. If other drains work, the toilet or drain itself is most likely the problem. Contact Superior Septic Service Specialists for a professional diagnosis.

Water is backing up
STOP USING WATER. Check drainage in sinks and the bathtub and faucets below the highest point of the identified clog. Work your way down from the clog and if everything is blocked, it is a clogged line or issue with your septic system. If other drains work, the toilet or drain itself is most likely the problem. Contact the Superior Septic Service Specialists for a professional diagnosis.

Septage is surfacing in the yard
STOP USING WATER. Check for any blocks or backups in the house, lift station or pump station alarms and contact Superior Septic Service Septic Specialists immediately at 425-905-2485 for a professional diagnosis.

Lift station alarm activated
STOP USING WATER. Check for any blocks or backups in the house and contact Superior Septic Service Specialists at immediately at 425-905-2485 for a professional diagnosis.

Residential Septic Service offered:

  • Septic inspections and certifications
  • Septic system pumping
  • Maintenance plans with1, 2 and 3 year service reminders
  • Installations
  • Repairs
  • Line cleaning
  • High velocity water jetting
  • In line Camera
  • 1, 2 and 3 year service reminders
  • Underground tank and pipe locating services
  • Filter cleaning
  • One stop Septic service company
  • Best Prices

To order residential Septic Tank services, contact us.

Superior Septic Service LLC is fully insured and bonded and we are committed to being the best at customer service and awareness for the environment and community.

Septic Odors

There are several locations within an onsite system where odor can be an issue.

  1. In the house
  2. Around the septic tank
  3. Close to a pretreatment unit
  4. Near the soil treatment area
  5. Out in the yard

1. Odors in the House

Odors in a house are typically an indication of a plumbing problem. A very common problem is the drying out of a trap in a basement floor drain allowing gases from the septic tank to vent back into the home.

Solution:

Make sure all floor drain traps are periodically filled with water. Also, the cleanout access plug inside a drain may be loose and could allow for sewer gas to escape.

A second common problem is the plumbing vent located on the roof, which allows the pressure in the drainpipes to equalize as wastewater flows through them. Without this vent, sinks, tubs, and toilets gurgle, traps dry out, and odors come into the home. These plumbing vents can freeze closed during prolonged cold periods or get clogged with leaves or other debris.

Solution:

Leaves will need to be cleaned out.

2. Odors around the septic tank

An occasional weak odor near the septic tank may be quite normal. But, if there is a particularly strong odor around the septic tank(s), the first step should be to make sure all manholes and risers are securely covered. Typically, a concrete lid covers the tank manhole, although other materials such as plastic and metal lids are used. The septic tank manhole can be covered with a maximum of 12-inches of soil or can come to the surface. The newer plastic lids have a rubber seal which helps keep odors in the tank. They must also be properly secured in place with lag screws or other fasteners. If a concrete lid is leaking odors out of the manhole, weather stripping or other materials can be used to create a temporary seal that will contain odors but still allow for proper maintenance of the tank. This seal will need to be replaced after maintenance.

3. Odors close to a pretreatment unit

If an odor is persistent around one of these pretreatment units, a licensed onsite professional trained to maintain the specific type of unit should be called.

4. Odors near the soil treatment area

If there are strong odors in the soil treatment area (around an in-ground drain field, bed or mound), it can indicate a problem with that part of the system. All inspection pipes should be checked to make sure the pipes are not broken and that they are covered. A visual inspection of the entire area should be performed to determine if there are any wet or spongy soil areas indicating that sewage is coming to the surface. If any of these conditions are found, humans and animals can come in contact with it. This is considered an endangerment to public health and should be corrected immediately.

5. Odors out in the Yard

If the yard in general smells of septic gas, it may be that the plumbing vent pipe (described in # 1 above) on your house or a neighbors house needs to be extended to diffuse the odors. Homes located in valleys, forested areas, or low areas may not have appropriate wind patterns to carry the odors away from the living areas and the yard. As the wind blows over the house, the air currents that are supposed to carry the gases up and away can instead carry the sewer gas down into the yard. Extending the vent pipe can help diffuse the odors carrying them away from the yard. Carbon filters can also be placed on the top of the vent to help control odor. The filters need to be changed regularly (every 1 to 5 years) to be effective.

 

 

For All Your Portable Toilets & Porta-potty Rental Needs Visit Our Sister Company, Superior Restrooms

  • Standard Portable Toilets
  • Flushable Portable Toilets
  • Handicap Accessible Units
  • Handwash Stations
  • RV & Boat Pumping
  • Luxury Portable Restrooms