Your septic tank had to work hard during the winter holidays, but it may need to work even harder during the summer. That’s because people go outside more, and when they’re outside, they tend to enjoy things that can make them pretty filthy, such as playing sports. They also entertain more with dinner parties and outdoor barbecues. When they come inside, they quickly wash their clothes, their dishes, and their bodies. This might put too much stress on your septic tank, causing it to act up. Here are some of the signs.

Your Drains Smell Bad

If terrible sewer smells are coming from your drain, it’s a sign that the bacteria helping to break down the raw sewage entering the tank are failing. This is usually because too many of the wrong materials, such as harsh chemicals or even house paint, have been flushed down the drain. The problem can even be that too much water has been flushed into the system, disturbing its ecosystem. The smells come because the bacteria can no longer break down the sewage properly.

Backed-Up Drains and Toilets

A sure sign that your septic tank needs attention is if your toilets and drains back up. A clog can also cause this, but if it’s happening in every toilet and drain in your home, it’s most likely due to a problem with your septic tank.

Drains Are Slow

One slow drain could mean that it’s clogged, but if all the drains in your home are slow, it points to a problem with the septic tank. The overall drain slowdown is a sign that the pipe that leads directly into your septic tank is clogged with something. This could include hair and soap from showers, bits of food from the garbage disposal that shouldn’t have been put in there, and waste that shouldn’t have been flushed down the toilet but was flushed anyway.

Gurgling Noises in the Pipes

Another sign of a problem is a gurgling sound in your pipes. Like slow drains, gurgling is a sign that the inlet pipe to your septic tank is clogged. It can also mean that the drain or leach field has failed, which is a much more serious problem. Your leach field helps to clean the liquid that comes from the septic tank’s effluent chamber. It then returns it to the groundwater or releases it into the air as vapor. If the field is gurgling, there’s a possibility that raw sewage has entered it.

Call Us if There’s a Problem With Your Septic Tank

If you recognize one or more of the problems mentioned, your septic tank might need attention. Don’t hesitate to call our professional plumbers at Billingsley & Brooks Septic Tank Co. of Greensboro, North Carolina, for septic tank services.