Oh no! Your septic tank is leaking. Why? Septic tank leaks have caused thousands of households to have their foundations, their vehicles, and the surrounding areas contaminated with the sewage waste that once flowed through the septic tank. But one may wonder what may have caused the septic tank to leak.
5 Reasons Why a Septic Tank is Leaking
The following are five of the most common reasons why your septic tank might leak, and what you can do to avoid having the same problems in the future.
- Broken Backwater Valve
The backwater valve is a separate underground pipe that connects your home to the septic tank. When the backwater valve is installed correctly, it will provide a means to drain your home’s sewage directly into the septic tank. Without the backwater valve, the sewage would backflow into the drain field, causing damage to the drainage field and contaminating the ground around the tank.
Over time, the backwater valve can become clogged with sediment or the rubber gaskets that seal the valve can dry up and crack. If your backwater valve is not maintained properly, it can become a source of sewage leaks.
- Damaged Baffle
The baffle is placed in the middle of the inlet and outlet pipes to slow down the movement of the waste from the inlet to the outlet. This means that it has to be strong enough to hold back the flow of the waste, but it also has to be draining enough so the tank does not fill up too quickly. Damages can be caused by roots, rocks, and branches that are flushed into the septic tank. It is also possible to damage the baffle if someone is cleaning the tank using a jet pump. These cause the leaking of a septic tank.
- Broken Drain Field
If the soil around the tank is not draining properly or is saturated with water, the soil around the tank can become waterlogged. When this happens, the waste that is entering the drain field will not be able to properly drain out.
This problem is more likely to occur when there are slopes around the tank. As the soil becomes saturated, the water will flow down towards the lowest point in the soil. Since the drain field will usually be at the lowest point in the soil, it will receive the most water flow.
The water that pools at the bottom of the drain field will not be able to drain into the tank, which will cause the septic tank to overflow.
- Clogged Separator
The separator is an underground chamber used to remove sludge from the wastewater as it enters the tank. This prolongs the life of the septic tank because solids in the wastewater will eventually clog the tank, which will cause the tank to overflow.
The tank has gravity to help the wastewater flow through the separator, but it will not be able to effectively remove all of the solids. Over time, the solids that are not removed will build up and clog the separator. When this happens, the wastewater will no longer flow into the tank, which will cause the tank to overflow.
- High Water Level
If the water level of the tank is too high, it can prevent the tank from properly draining. The water that is in excess of the top of the tank will not be able to drain into the drain field, which will cause the tank to overflow.
Water levels can be raised when there is an overabundance of incoming water into the septic tank. This can happen during heavy rains, or if someone is using the toilet and washing machine more often.
Your Septic Tank is Leaking, what is next?
If you want to avoid the thousands of dollars in repair costs, then you need to take preventative measures. By having the tank inspected on a regular basis, you can prevent septic tank leaks from doing damage to your home and vehicle.
If you’re seeking septic tank services in the Bay Area, then choose A-1 Septic Tank which has been providing excellent septic pumping and other reliable services over the years. Let us handle your septic tank problems and save you all the hassle and money! Call us today to get started!