A healthy septic system is a must for a sanitary home as it holds all the wastewater from your house. When it’s no longer functioning properly, it can cause several problems. Here are some of the most common signs it’s time for a septic inspection.

1. Bad Smells

Your septic tank holds all the waste matter from your toilet, sinks, bath, and washing machine. As such, it shouldn't come as a surprise when a tank that has a lot of dirty water built up smells bad. Regardless of how clean your home is, if you have the scent of rotten eggs or sewage throughout, it's likely because of a problem with your septic tank.

2. Slow Drains

Your drains can become slow if they're clogged with hair or food particles you may have inadvertently put down there. What if you know for certain you've never let anything go down your drain because you've been very responsible using drain protectors? Or, instead of instantly draining out, does your shower or bath take 10 minutes to finally drain out? Has water begun to pool in sinks without draining? Whatever you do, don't be tempted to solve any of these problems yourself with chemical cleaners. Those over-the-counter cleaners will hurt your pipes, damage your septic tank, and possibly cause leakage into the environment. For unexplained slow drains, get a septic inspection.

3. Gurgling Sounds

When you flush the toilet or let water go down the sink, is it noisier than usual? In other words, are you hearing loud gurgling as the water goes down the drain? You're hearing the sound of water struggling to go past an obstruction such as air or a clog. It could also mean that the tank is running out of space.

4. Flushing Issues

Imagine not being able to flush the toilets in your home. Needless to say, it would be a major health hazard. If you're in a situation where one or more toilets are inexplicably no longer flushing, that's usually a sign of a septic problem. If you don't get the problem rectified soon, you may have overflowing toilets.

5. Super Green Drainage Field

As you look at your drain field, do certain patches appear extra green? It may be because that area has an extra dose of fertilization from the sewage leaking out of your septic tank. That area may also be soggier than normal.

6. Pooling Water

Another thing you should look out for in your drainage field is a pool of water. If the weather is hot, you may notice a bunch of mosquitoes buzzing around that area, since those flying vermin are attracted to standing water. If you don't handle the situation quickly, you may have a mosquito infestation on your hands, since they're known to lay up to 100 eggs in one sitting, according to the EPA.

7. Overgrown Tree Roots

Do you have trees on your landscape? Are there any trees with roots that are getting out of control? Overgrown roots are something to be aware of, especially if they're creeping toward your home's foundation or septic tank. Overgrown roots are known to puncture septic tanks and cause a major contamination issue. In addition to calling a local arborist, you can call for an inspection to make sure your septic tank hasn't been punctured. According to the EPA, gravelless drain fields have been widely used for over 30 years. If you think your system has been around long enough for tree roots to have encroached on its territory, don't hesitate to reach out for help.

8. Time Passing

Do you remember the last time you had a septic inspection? According to Bob Vila, you should have an inspection and septic tank pumping about every three years. If you reach the three-year mark or are approaching it, you should get an inspection even if your septic tank doesn't appear to have anything wrong with it yet. It's always best to stay ahead of the game and ensure everything is functioning, as opposed to waiting for a problem to start.

As you can see, you have many ways to tell if your septic tank needs some extra care. While you could normally wait three years for an inspection and pumping, sometimes your inspection time may need to be more frequent, especially if you notice the above issues. If you need a local professional to handle the situation, call our team at ProSeptic today for a septic inspection.