You don’t have to be a septic system expert to know that you should probably get help if your system fails or starts malfunctioning. This is especially true in the case of emergency septic service.

Septic tanks have small openings called leach fields that allow waste to leave the tank and enter the ground. If these openings get blocked, or if there are too many solids in the leach field, waste can back up into your home or pool in your yard.

Here are four signs that you need emergency septic service:

1. Sewage Backup in Your Home

If you notice that raw sewage is backing up into your home, you need to call an emergency plumber immediately. This is a sign that there is a problem with your septic system and it needs to be repaired immediately. If you wait too long, the overflow could begin damaging walls, floors and other parts of your home.

2. Signs of Leaks in Your Septic

You may not know how often to have your septic tank pumped or if it needs any other maintenance until something goes wrong with it. If you notice changes in the way your toilet operates or if there are signs that waste water may be leaking outside of the tank (such as a wet spot on the lawn or near pipes), it’s time to call for emergency septic service.

3. Your alarm is going off

A septic system alarm can mean a few different things. It could be signaling that there’s a problem with the leach field or drain field, or it could be telling you that there’s an obstruction in the line somewhere between the tank and where it discharges into the ground. If your alarm goes off more than once in a six-month period, call us immediately. We’ll fix what we can, but if there’s something seriously wrong with your system, we’ll need to get it fixed as quickly as possible.

4. Nitrate concentration in your water

High nitrate levels in well water can indicate that your leach field has become overburdened with nitrogen from decomposing organic matter in it. This will eventually cause septic failure if not treated properly.

Routine Maintenance to Avoid Emergency Septic Service

Septic system maintenance is an essential part of proper septic tank operation, and it’s important to avoid emergency septic service due to negligence. To keep your septic running smoothly and avoid the risk of emergency septic service, consider these tips:

Carefully inspect your septic tank at least once a year for cracks, leaks or unusual deposits.
Keep the septic tank lid closed when it’s not in use (i.e., it shouldn’t be used as a storage area).
Don’t flush large items such as diapers, cotton balls or sanitary pads down the toilet. These items take longer to break down and can clog up the drainage field or septic tank.
Flush only human waste and toilet paper down the toilet – no feminine hygiene products, cigarette butts or other non-flushable items. These items can clog up the pipes and cause backups in your home or neighborhood.

3 Things You Can Do to Protect Your Septic System

If you live in a rural area or on a septic system, you know that it’s important to protect your septic system. Protecting it will also help avoid the need for emergency septic service in the future.

Your septic tank should last as long as your house, but it won’t if you don’t take care of it.

Here are three things you can do to protect your septic system:

Don’t flush everything down the toilet – Some people think that anything goes in a septic tank, but that’s not true. Any product designed for use in a city sewer system should not be used in a septic system, because it doesn’t break down as fast as it does in a city sewer. Also, avoid products that contain chlorine or heavy metals, which can harm the biology of your tank and cause sewage backups into your home.
Don’t pour grease down the drain or put coffee grounds down the garbage disposal – both are bad for your pipes and drains and should go into the trash instead. Grease clogs pipes and pumps in the sewer lines leading away from your house; coffee grounds clog filters in your water treatment plant or other municipal facility where they’re treated before being returned to rivers or lakes as “recycled” water (which is actually just treated sewage).
Have your tank inspected annually by a professional – If all is well, the inspector will sign off on the tank’s condition and recommend any necessary repairs or maintenance. If there are problems, however, he or she will let you know immediately so they can be addressed before they become bigger issues.

Emergency Septic Service in Broken Arrow You Can Count On!

The fact is that septic systems can fail. When they do, it’s important to get emergency septic service as soon as possible.

In an emergency, we are available 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Our professionals will come out to your home or business and assess the situation right away. If you need immediate assistance after hours, we recommend calling Mullin Septic at (918) 922-7867 in Broken Arrow, OK.

4 Signs You Need Emergency Septic Service