Warning signs your septic system is failing
9 signs that mean call this week, and 4 that mean you have weeks before things get expensive.
What you'll learn
- The difference between a single slow drain and a system-wide problem
- What gurgling toilets are actually telling you
- Why a wet patch over the drain field is more serious than a smell
- How to triage on the phone before calling for service
Step by step
- Check whether slow drains are house-wide or single-fixture.
- Walk the area above your tank and drain field, looking for wet spots and lush grass.
- Smell test the area near the tank lid and drain field surface.
- Listen for gurgling at toilets and lowest fixtures.
- If 2+ symptoms are present, schedule service this week. If sewage is in the home, call now.
Safety note
About 85% of septic emergencies were preventable at the previous routine service visit. Watching for these signs is the cheapest insurance you can buy.
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