Signs your septic tank is full, and what to do right away

A septic tank rarely fails overnight. Most problems give warning signs first, and acting on them early can save the drain field.

Warning signs inside the house

• Several drains are slow at the same time: sinks, tubs and toilets. One slow sink is usually a local clog; the whole house points to the septic system.
• Gurgling sounds in the pipes or the toilet when water drains.
• Sewage backing up into the lowest drain, often a basement floor drain or shower.
• Toilets that flush poorly even after plunging.

Warning signs outside

• Odors near the tank, the drain field or the yard vent.
• Soggy ground or standing water over the tank or the drain field, especially in dry weather.
• Grass that is much greener and thicker over the drain field than in the rest of the yard.
• An alarm sounding on systems with a pump tank or an aerobic unit.

What to do right away

1. Cut water use: postpone laundry, the dishwasher and long showers. Less water in means less pressure on a full system.
2. Do not open the tank yourself. Septic tanks contain toxic and explosive gases, and falling into an open tank can be fatal. Keep children and pets away from soggy areas, since wastewater carries germs.
3. Do not pour additives or chemicals to "fix" the problem. EPA notes that additives are not needed for a properly working system and that some can harm it.
4. Call a septic professional for a pump-out and ask them to look for the cause: a full tank, a blocked outlet or baffle, a failed pump, or a saturated drain field.

After the emergency

Pumping relieves the symptoms. If the tank was overdue, set a regular schedule. If the backup came back quickly, ask for an inspection of the drain field and the plumbing between the house and the tank. A well that is close to a failing system should be tested.

Describe the problem in the form, say whether drains are backing up now, and local septic pumpers get back to you.