Why is my septic tank smelling so bad?

There are few things that smell worse than a stinky septic tank. When you catch a whiff of raw sewage coming from your yard or in your home, you need to contact a septic and sewer service right away. The faster you get to the bottom of the smell, the fresher your home will smell. The good news is that many of the solutions for a smelly septic tank are straightforward and don’t take much time at all. Keep reading to learn more about the main reasons for a bad-smelling septic system.

Dry Drains

All drains need to have water moving through them to prevent them from going dry. Why does this matter so much? When there’s water in pipes and drains, sewer gases are trapped, and they don’t enter the home. Dry drains happen when there’s a clog in the septic system line that’s not letting water through and sewer gases are getting out. This is the foul smell that has permeated your house.

Blocked Venting Systems

Did the foul odor suddenly become noticeable after you landscaped or had other work done around the house? If so, the problem could be that the venting system has been blocked. You want to get this checked out right away because when septic vents don’t work right sewer gases get trapped in the wastewater and lead to toxic situations. Trapped sewer gases are highly flammable and can cause serious damage. The best way to prevent this from happening is to mark the vent locations prior to having work done to avoid accidental blockage.

Dirty Septic Tank

While dry drains and blocked vents do cause foul odors, the most common reason for a smelly septic system is a dirty septic tank. Your septic system has a tank that collects solids and hold them until they are removed. Solid waste can’t be treated and released into your yard. Instead it needs to be pumped out of the tank and removed by septic tank pumping companies like Septic Specialist Inc. The raw sewage is then treated at an off-site location.

To prevent raw sewage smells in your yard or home, you must adhere to a regular septic pumping schedule. This means having pumping services done on average once every 3-5 years. If you have a home that’s used as vacation property or second home and isn’t occupied often, you may not need pumping services as much. Likewise, if you have a large household and a home with several bathrooms, you may require pumping service more frequently. The exact pumping schedule should be decided upon by you and your plumbing professional.

Do you need septic tank pumping in Bloomington, IL? To keep your septic system free of damage and to minimize bad odors, it’s important to work with an established pumping company. Doing so ensures that your septic system will work as it was intended without interruption for many years to come. It also means you won’t have to worry about clogged drains, overflowing tanks, and other problems associated with overfilled septic systems. To learn more about septic pumping services, contact the pros at Septic Specialist, Inc., today!

Don’t Damage Your  Septic System! Avoid DIY Drain Cleaning and Call the Professionals

Drain cleaning is one of those plumbing tasks that many homeowners think they can do themselves. It’s not like septic pumping that requires special tools and a big pumping truck, right? True, drain cleaning isn’t as complex as septic and sewer services, but it still requires a professional touch to make sure your pipes are protected and the problem is solved the first time. Keep reading to learn more about why you should avoid DIY drain solutions and instead call for professional drain cleaning in Bloomington, IL.

DIY Solutions Could Damage Your Pipes

Most people deal with clogged drains by using chemical drain cleaners, especially when plunging and snaking the drain don’t do the trick. These chemicals are highly acidic, and when used frequently, actually do more harm than good. Repiping a home is not an inexpensive plumbing job. Unfortunately, many people find themselves in this position after years of using chemical drain solutions.

Septic tank pumping companies also warn against using chemical drain cleaners because the chemicals affect the balance of bacteria in the septic system. In order for a septic system to work correctly, there must be bacteria in the tank. This is what aids in the wastewater process.

DIY Drain Solutions Don’t Touch Deep Clogs

Do you have a sink or toilet in your home that keeps clogging? Have you tried every do-it-yourself solution, but can’t go a long without reaching for the plunger? Next time this happens, reach for the phone instead and call for professional drain services. The reason the clog won’t go away could be because the blockage is deep in the pipe. It might even be in the sewer line. Nothing you do is going to make a difference with a deep clog like this.

You need a professional sewer service to come out and run a camera through the line to figure out what’s causing the problem. You might have tree roots in the line or there could just be years of waste built up in the pipes. Residential sewer pipes are only 2-3 inches wide, so it doesn’t take much waste to cause a lot of problems.

For home that use a septic system, the problems might be associated with a dirty tank. When was the last time you had septic tank pumping service? If it’s been more than 3-5 years and you’re experiencing frequent clogs, contact a septic service to have your tank, the drain field, and its other parts inspected.

Professional Tools Work the Best

Homeowners don’t have access to the same type of equipment that drain contractors have, such as hydro-jetting equipment and sewer and septic cleaning equipment. Renting these tools is far too expensive and dangerous. If you’ve never operated the hydro-jetter, you could end up harming yourself or damaging your home’s pipes.

It feels good to make home repairs yourself. It’s a sense of accomplishment that puts smiles on many faces of homeowner throughout the state. However, it’s important to know what home projects are ideal for DIY repair and which ones require a professional touch. When you can’t solve your drainage issues with a plunger or hand auger, it’s time to call for professional drain cleaning services. For drainage issues, including septic and sewer problems, contact Septic Specialist, Inc.

How are clogged drains a health risk to your family?

There’s no argument that a clogged drain is a serious issue. When toilets clog and sinks back up, it makes it difficult, if not impossible, to use your plumbing. Luckily, with services like professional drain cleaning in Bloomington, IL, these matters can be taken care of right away.

While it’s true that clogged pipes cause usage problems, did you also know that consistent drain clogs also affect the health and wellness of those living in your home? It’s true. There are health-related effects that accompany chronically clogged drains. Keep reading to learn how these issues affect your family’s health.

Contaminated Water

Clogged sewer and septic systems don’t affect your drinking water, but they still carry health risks. That’s because when the sewer or septic lines become severely clogged, this creates pressure on the pipes. Eventually, the pipes break and start to leak. The first place you’ll likely notice leakage is the yard. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Have I noticed soggy spots int he yard near the sewer or septic line?
• Does the yard smell like waste?
• Is the grass greener near the underground pipes or the septic tank?

Answering yes to any of these questions means your sewer system may have developed a leak. It also means that contaminated water, water that contains raw sewage, is in the yard where children play and the pets run around.

How do you prevent this type of drainage problem from happening? If your home operates on a septic system, regular septic tank pumping is a great preventive measure to take. For households that use a sewer system for waste removal, contact your local sewer service in Bloomington, IL, for annual sewer line cleaning services.

Bacteria

Another health-related consequence of clogged drains is standing water in the home or on the property. When you have clogs that cause standing water in toilets, sinks, or even around floor drains, this is a health hazard. Any person or animal that comes in contact with stagnant water is at risk of becoming ill, because lots of different bacteria thrive in standing water conditions. Even if it’s in an out of sight place like the basement, garage, or a bathroom that never gets used, you still need to take care of this problem. Stagnant water also attracts insects and can quickly cause an infestation problem in your home or yard.

Sometimes it’s not easily noticeable that there’s a problem with clogged drains if this problem exists in an area of the house that isn’t heavily trafficked. That’s why septic tank pumping companies recommend that you make it a habit to have your home’s drains cleaned regularly. This includes the septic or sewer system.

Respiratory Illness

Clogged drains don’t smell great. That’s a fact, and if you have someone in your household who suffers from respiratory problems like allergies and asthma, congested pipes and drains make these problems worse. Breathe easier and have a cleaner smelling house by taking care of backed up sinks and toilets right away.

The good news is that taking care of clogs is affordable and easy when you work with reputable plumbing companies that offer sewer services, drain cleaning, and septic pumping. To schedule a service call, contact Septic Specialist, Inc. today!