When anything goes wrong with a septic system in winter, it is a catastrophic event. Freezing temperatures and snow complicate septic repair in Prior Lake, MN, and that can be time consuming and costly for you. That is why it is important to detect problems with your septic system as early as possible. If you see any of these five signs, call a septic repair technician immediately:
- Ice spots: You do not need water buildup to create ice. Excess moisture of any type can create icy spots where you never saw them previously. If barren areas with few plants suddenly become hazardous slip-and-fall areas, that means water is leaking from your tank and pipes and freezing once it seeps to the surface. While there is a chance that excess ice could be due to weather conditions, if it is building up around your septic system, be safe rather than sorry and have it checked out.
- Smells: The crisp winter air will never hide a septic tank problem. You will almost always smell it before you see it. Odors rising from the drains or ventilation system suggest a disaster in the making. Normally, you discover a rotten egg smell, which is the methane gas escaping from the system. This indicates blocked drains and bad pumping, so call a service provider before you arrive home to a yard full of sewage.
- Slow drains: When pipe snakes do not solve the problem, no matter how hard you work, your septic tank is likely to blame. Slow drains indicate that septic systems have a full tank or pipe damage. If water gurgles as it slowly drains, it is likely that waste and water are not flowing freely, which is never a good sign. When drains fail to respond to the usual clearing methods, you need a septic repair technician to visit as soon as possible.
- Toilets fail to flush: Beware the malfunctioning toilet! On city water, this would be an irritation, but with a septic system, the situation is dire. Frequent backups, overfilling, floods and difficulty creating a complete flush indicate many septic issues. It could be clogged drainage, a breached tank or a bad leach field. None of these issues are do-it-yourself projects, and they can become unsanitary very quickly.
- Skipping required maintenance: If your tank was due for a flush last summer—or worse, the summer before—you already have a red flag. Your septic system may work well, but the risk is great. Without a regular flush or cleaning, you are more likely to experience leaks, sewage backups and frozen pipes. This one bit of maintenance prevents many problems, so stay on schedule with it every one to two years. Your attempt to save money will eventually result in future inconvenience.
If you need maintenance or septic repair in Prior Lake, MN this winter, call Mike’s Septic & McKinley Sewer Services. We offer affordable, reliable service that will keep your septic system functional throughout the year.