5 Warning Signs of a Failing Septic System

May 2nd, 2019 Posted in Septic System
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Septic systems can last for decades when properly maintained. Even when something goes wrong, it can usually be repaired. However, there can be a point of no return if you do not recognize the signs of trouble, requiring you to build a new drain field. Here are five signs your septic system is having issues to give you time to have it repaired before it fails.

  1. The grass is greener. If the vegetation over your drain field is very different than the surrounding area, you may have trouble starting. This can mean the waste water is not filtering down quick enough or too much solid waste is escaping the septic tank.
  2. Slow drains in your home. One slow drain in your home is a plumbing problem. When all your drains are slow, it is likely a sewer line or septic issue.
  3. Sewage odors. When a septic system is working properly, you should never smell sewage. If you have bad odors coming from your drains or you smell sewage outside, there is a problem.
  4. Wet spots or pooling water near your septic system or drain field. Wet areas, dirt erosion or pooling water anywhere near septic system pipes, tank or drain field can mean trouble.
  5. Bio-mat formation. One of the biggest alerts of a problem is a bio-mat forming over your drain field. This is a scum layer of biological material that is caused by too many solids entering your drain field.

If you notice any of these warning signs, do not hesitate to call your local septic service company to schedule a septic tank inspection. Often, the problem can be fixed, and you can avoid the expense of installing a new system.

Posted on behalf of:
Seagraves Plumbing Sewer & Septic
4980 Plant Atkinson Rd SE
Smyrna, GA 30080
(494) 792-2221

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Tips on How to Handle a Broken Sewer Line

July 25th, 2018 Posted in Septic System
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One thing a homeowner doesn’t want to deal with is a broken sewer line, but it does happen. Sewer lines can last for decades without any issues, but even these durable pipes can eventually break. Tree roots, corrosion, pressure from vehicles/heavy equipment and other factors can cause a broken sewer pipe in your yard. When it does happen, knowing how to handle the situation can reduce the stress and cost of the repair.

Recognizing a Broken Sewer Line

First, you need to know how to quickly identify that you may have a sewer line problem. Most sewer lines are under the ground, so you may not know one is broken right away. Some signs you may have a broken sewer pipes include:

  • Wet spots in your yard
  • Bad odor outside your home
  • Backed-up drains in your home

If you notice any of these issues, it is time to act. Stop using your plumbing immediately and call your local sewer service company. If there is a sewer backup into your home, you may want to have any children or pets stay elsewhere until the issue can be resolved. Sewer backups contain dangerous bacteria and toxins that you do not want anyone exposed to, especially kids or pets. The mess will need to be cleaned up and the area disinfected before you bring your family back home.

The one thing you should not do is ignore a possible sewer line break. Even if the plumbing is working fine, don’t wait for a backup to occur. Call your sewer professional and have your sewer line repaired to limit the damage to your home.

Posted on behalf of:
Seagraves Plumbing Sewer & Septic
4980 Plant Atkinson Rd SE
Smyrna, GA 30080
(494) 792-2221

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Sewer Gas Smell In Your Home

March 15th, 2012 Posted in Sewer Lines
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If you think you smell sewer gas inside your home, your first step should be to make sure you are not smelling natural gas or propane.  Natural gas or propane has a distinctive “rotten egg” smell that can be mistaken for sewer gas.  If you even suspect that it might be propane or natural gas, leave your home immediately and notify the gas company or fire department.

If you have eliminated natural gas or propane as the source of the smell, you can start looking for the source of the sewer gas odor.  In most cases, the cause of sewer gas odor is a “dry trap”.  Every sink, tub, shower or other drain in your home has a short curved section of drain pipe shaped like a “P” laying face down.  This drain pipe is called a P-trap.

If you look under your kitchen or bathroom sink you will see the P-trap right under the sink.  Bathtub and shower stall P-traps are usually under the floor and not as easy to see.

The P-trap is meant to hold a little residual drain water in it to form a seal that blocks sewer gas from entering your home through the drain.  What often happens when a drain does not get used for awhile is that the water evaporates and allows the sewer gas to enter your home.

In most cases, simply running some water down the drain will refill the P-trap and stop the sewer gas smell.  If you don’t have any dry traps, you should call a plumber or sewer-septic contractor and have them check your plumbing.  You could have a broken or leaking sewer line or a cracked or broken sewer vent line.

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