A septic system is only efficient and safe if you take good care of it. Otherwise, the septic system might not handle all the wastes it should and might even become dangerous. Below are some signs and causes of septic system dangers.

Strong Odors

Strong septic odors are dangerous on two levels. Below is an overview of both.

1. System Damage

The odors point to a system malfunction that can only worsen with time. The location of the odor determines its origin. For example, septic gases inside the house might mean that:

• Something has clogged the drains
• Something has blocked the plumbing vent
• The drain line leaks

Odors outside the house might mean that:

• The manhole lid is missing or damaged
• Something has damaged the septic pipe or tank
• The drain field has failed

Such damages can allow effluent leakage and its related problems.

2. Health Risk

The air (because of its oxygen) is the only gas you should inhale. Septic odor is a mixture of dangerous gases that you should not inhale. You can inhale a considerable volume of the dangerous gases if the leak is inside the house and, say, you sleep in it overnight. The inhalation can affect your health.

Secondly, septic gases are explosive. A naked flame can ignite the gases and cause an explosion and its related injuries.

Damage, Wear, or Abandonment

Septic systems suffer wear and tear, just like other parts of your home. The systems are also susceptible to damage from improper usage, maintenance, or accidents. The risk of damage is high for abandoned systems since no one maintains or services them.

For example:

• A septic tank can crack or float out of the ground
• Tree roots can crack open the pipes
• Metallic parts can corrode and crumble
• Excavations can displace septic covers

Watch out for septic systems with visible signs of damage. Be careful with septic systems in homes that no one has occupied for years.

For one, such septic systems might leak their effluent and contaminate the environment. Remember that the septic effluent contains numerous microorganisms that might make you, plants, or animals sick. The leakages can even get to the underground water and affect others outside the bounds of your property.

You also risk falling into septic tanks with damaged covers. Apart from the physical trauma (such as joint sprains), you also risk exposure to germs and dangerous fumes if you accidentally fall into a septic tank.

Flooded Drain Fields

Lastly, you should also watch out if your septic drain field floods or saturates. Such a drain field cannot absorb more effluent from the tank. The absorption failure means that the effluent might:

• Stay on the drain field
• Overflow around the drain field
• Flow far, depending on the lay of the land

The flooding exposes the environment to septic wastes, and the exposure can trigger the dangers mentioned above.

Different problems can cause septic drain field flooding. For example, the drain field might flood if:

• You use too much water in your house and exceed the drain field's capacity. That might happen if you undersize the septic system or if your household has grown.
• Your water usage habits have changed, and you now use too much water at once.
• The ground slopes towards the drain field and floodwaters have flooded the field.
• The soil in the drain field is compacted.
• You have not pumped the septic tank for a long time, and the wastes overflow.

Anything that interferes with the drain field's ability to absorb water can cause flooding.

Dr. Flush Inc. understands the complex systems that septic systems are. We have 40 years of experience with different septic systems. Contact us for quotes on all septic services and enjoy our professional offers.