6 Problems With Eljen Septic System (Explained)
One of the most important systems in a home is the septic system. Septic systems are responsible for dealing with wastewater and sewage, so it’s important to make sure they are functioning properly. If you’re having any problems with your septic system, be sure to call a professional immediately.
The Eljen septic tanks have a proprietary two-stage Bio-Matt™ desludging process, allowing them to dislodge more efficiently than their competitors. While the Eljen septic tank may be more superior and cost-effective than other septic systems, there are still some common problems that you may experience with them.
6 Problems With Eljen Septic System
1. Septic Tank Leaks
Depending on the size of your septic system or drain field(s), you may experience a foul odor coming from your septic system. The cause of this odor is that some of the contents leak into the drain field, causing bacteria to multiply. A leak occurs when cracks develop in the leach field or the septic tank overfills.
If your septic tank has a crack or hole in it, you may notice an increase in your home’s water bill and that you have small puddles of water beneath your bathroom sinks. It can cause mildew and mold to form on the sub-flooring of your home, as well as rotting the framing around basement windows and doors.
If you have odors or water problems in any part of your home, contact your septic system service right away. If not remedied quickly, these problems can cause severe damage to your septic system and the surrounding areas of your property.
2. Septic Tank Backup
When the volume of wastewater getting into a single septic tank is larger than the volume that the septic tank can treat, a problem called ‘backup’ occurs. This problem happens when the bacteria in the septic tank cannot break down the many solids within.
When this occurs, all of the material in your system will start to overflow into your drain field. Soil and other debris at the bottom of your septic tank will cause flooding of your lawns and gardens.
If this becomes a severe problem, your septic system will overflood, and you will need to call a septic service technician to dig out your drain field.
The color of the water coming out of your system will be foul-smelling and may have an odor that smells like raw sewage. If this occurs, it won’t necessarily kill the bacteria in your septic tank, but it can cause damage to your septic tank, which may require significant repairs and service.
3. Septic Tank Overflow
When the volume of wastewater getting into your septic tank is larger than the volume that the septic tank can treat, a problem called ‘overflow’ occurs.
It happens when there are many solids in your system that bacteria cannot break from within and must be pumped out to prevent them from entering your drain field or becoming a serious problem.
These problems can occur without any signs of leakage at all. Several things can cause your septic tank to overflow:
- When the septic tank overfills with waste
- When you have too much water in your system
- If you have an improperly functioning leach field
- Unmanaged drain field deterioration
- The use of the wrong type of septic tank
- Improper operation of the onsite pump
- Unbalanced installation or design of the system
The first thing to do is reduce the flow of fluid coming out of the septic tank. To do this, you will need to reduce the amount of water with your wastewater.
You can install secondary piping or a separate pump for wastewater. Alternatively, using a higher efficiency filter or activated carbon can help you reduce the number of solids in your wastewater.
Depending on the cause of the overflow and its extent, repairs may involve installing a new pump and piping or working with excavation specialists to repair the leach field.
4. Septic Tank Bubbles
Sometimes you will notice bubbles coming up through your septic system’s drain field when it rains heavily or if runoff water enters your drain field. Septic tank bubbles occur when rainwater enters your drain field, flattening out the suction keeping your effluent on top of the drain field.
The bubbles could be a sign of a crack in your leach field, which may eventually cause a backup. If you notice these bubbles, it can mean that your septic tank is not holding enough effluent to prevent the excess from entering into the drain field. This excess then leaves through the holes in the bottom of the septic tank.
5. Slow Sewage Disposal
If you find that your system is taking longer than usual to drain, it is possible that the piping from the septic tank to the drain field has been damaged from tree roots or other foreign materials. It can occur when too large a volume enters the septic tank.
A crack in the leach field could allow excess water to enter your system and slow the drainage process, or if your drain field is next to a roadway, it may cause the water to collect on the road and cause other problems like flooding.
6. Septic Tank Odor
The septic tank is self-cleaning as long as there is no blockage in the soil absorption field. The gas generated by the decomposition of solid waste in the septic tank breaks through the surface of the liquid in the septic tank and escapes.
However, if your system smells like rotting eggs, sulfur, or other foul odors, it might mean that your bacteria need some help breaking down your solids. Your septic tank may have a blockage, the pipe from your home to your septic tank may be too small, or you may not have enough sewage going into your septic tank.
If you are getting a foul odor in your home, you will want to look into it immediately. Having a bad smell in the house can cause headaches and nausea and be very unpleasant.
How To Deal With Septic Tank Problems
When you have a septic tank problem, you will want to contact your septic service provider right away. You must take action immediately and call for help so that these problems do not become worse and cause damage to other parts of your house or property.
Often preventative maintenance measures are taken when there is little to no schedule for periodic pumping or cleaning of your septic system, but this can lead to significant problems in the future. When you note things are beginning to go wrong with your septic system, you will want to schedule a pump out and inspection or call your septic service provider right away.
Septic tank problems will vary depending on the size and type of system, the age of the system, and the number of solids in the system. In some cases, septic systems tend to become clogged up with solids creating a blockage in their drain field that may cause overflows or over-pressured conditions.
Be sure to contact your local municipality and let them know about the problem so that they can stop any rainwater from entering into the drain field and causing more problems.
Septic tank problems can be risky to try and fix yourself as you may have hazardous gases escaping from the septic tank, and there are many dangers inside the tank. If you have a septic system problem, you will want to call your local septic service provider.