Are you in the middle of a septic emergency? If your sinks and toilets are backing up and not draining properly, that’s a situation that needs to be taken care of as soon as possible. It could be a clog in the drain, or somewhere down the pipes. Or it could be a bigger issue with your septic system. Since you can’t know what the problem is without knowing what to look for, let’s find out what could be causing that backup and how to deal with it!
It Could Be a Clog – Or Much Worse
What you’re experiencing might be the result of a clog. Then again, it could be something more than a clog. You need to act quickly to get it fixed, but knowing what’s wrong with your septic system will help get the job done more effectively. Knowing how to tell a serious septic problem from a minor clog can only work to your advantage, so let’s go through what you can do when you’re experiencing septic issues.
It’s important to understand that distinguishing major issues from minor clogs might prevent the problem from escalating into something even worse. It’s also much less expensive in the long run to fix smaller issues.
Sinks and Toilets are Backing Up
Sinks and toilets tend to back up when they fail to drain. In many cases, the reason is a clog, as this is one of the most common problems in all drains, toilets, showers, and sinks alike. Almost every sink has a U-shaped pipe under it. This is what’s known as the P-trap and every drain has one.
It’s a common style of water trap in most homes but there’s one little problem here: it’s the best place for collecting debris. When there’s a large mass of items and sludge in a water trap, it clogs the drain. The best thing you can do to prevent this is by not putting anything but water down the sinks and toilets.
If only one device is backing up, it’s probably just a clog. This can be dealt with by simply removing the P-trap, even though doing this without professional help might damage your plumbing. Once you’ve removed the P-trap, you’ll be able to see if it’s clogged. If you can’t unclog it, let professionals take care of this issue for you.
If multiple devices are backing up, that means that the problem is deeper in the plumbing – quite possibly a septic system issue – and this is a job for a professional.
Preventive Maintenance
It’s possible to prevent main line clogs by filling up and draining your sinks at the same time. This should become a routine. Pipes in your home can get filled of debris; regular flushing can help them clean.
In most cases we recommend calling a professional, as fixing things on your own without the necessary knowledge might just do more damage than good. Septic emergency means a high concentration of toxic chemicals, nitrogen, phosphorus, as well as disease-causing organisms, so letting professionals deal with it is the best way to go.
Let the Pros at D&L Help!
If you’re experiencing a septic emergency, you need a professional to deal with your septic system issues!
Contact D&L Environmental Services today. Our team of professionals can inspect, repair and/or clean your septic system.