Diagnose Clogged Drain vs. Septic Backup or Failure
Septic System Issues
You may think of your septic tank as a singular element, but it is a system that involves waste pipes, absorption fields into the earth, and the tank itself.
Absorption fields. Does your problem occur during rainy weather? If so, you may need a professional inspection. Your septic tank absorption field should be about five feet below the top of the high water table. If this field is improperly installed, it may be that the field is flooded and cannot take on the outflow from the tank. If so, you may contaminate the local groundwater with pathogenic materials that flow from the tank. This is not a DIY fix. Contact Benjamin Franklin Plumbing in the Bay Area. We’ll send an experienced and highly trained septic tank system pro to evaluate your situation and suggest a cost-effective solution.
When an absorption field fails, there are only two options: build an entirely new drain field or add more branches to the existing area to increase capacity.
The sludge in the tank can form a layer of biodegradable material below the pipes, preventing the water from leaching into the ground. The standard for septic tank maintenance recommends pumping out the tank every three years so that this doesn’t occur.
The septic tank has been pumped, but backups still occur. This may indicate that the pipes from the fixtures that flow to the septic tank are blocked. The first thing to do is have these pipes professionally cleaned out. Our plumbers can run a camera down the line to locate any blockage due to sludge, breaks, cracks in the pipe, or roots. This procedure may also determine if the septic tank is functioning correctly.
Isolating the problem as being between the building and the septic tank, you find standing water in the pipe between the two. In addition to the causes noted above, the drain pipe may collapse from earth shifts, power snake damage, or corrosion. In cases like this, the tank scum (top) and sludge (bottom) levels are often above their limit, and the septic tank must be pumped out immediately.
The lines are clear, and the septic tank has been pumped, but there is still a backup into the building. This is usually a drain field issue. The effluent sludge in the tank rises, leaves the tank, and flows into the drain field, plugging the area and causing the flow from the tank to back up. This can happen when the field is improperly pitched or laid out, becoming a magnet for rainwater and groundwater. As a result, the waste flow is prevented from adequately leaching into the field as it should.
The septic tank backs up during a party or when guests visit or stay over. This is usually a situation where the septic system cannot accommodate the additional multiple gallons of water generated by the sudden rise in facility use. It is a high wastewater volume issue complicated by a tank that was not empty enough to accommodate the extra input. Very high wastewater volume over a short period can cause a flood in the drain field, leading to a backup of the waste line into the house.
