Have you ever had to have your septic system replaced? It isn’t a fun experience but sometimes it needs to be done. Here are some things to think about that may keep you from having a septic emergency.

Age

Each independent part of the septic system should have its own warranty. But very seldom do systems last less than thirty or forty years. The good news is if you are building your own home, the septic system should last well past your mortgage payments are done. However, if you’ve bought a pre-owned home, you have to know how old the system is and how well it was taken care of.

Water Usage

The more water you use, the more work your septic system has to do. Generally, septic systems are built based on the size and occupancy of your home. If you do anything to increase water usage, this could cause a need to increase the capacity of your septic system. This is something to take into account before making any major changes to your home.

Slow Drains

Is your entire house draining slowly? This could be an indication of your septic system causing issues. This would not normally be the problem if only one or two drains are slow. Also, there are other issues that can cause slow drains throughout the house. Our suggestion is to work your way from the inside-out. That means rule out issues at each of the troublesome drains then work your way to collectors, the main drain, and finally the septic system.

Standing Water

Once you start getting standing water from your septic system, it will only get worse. Actually, very few problems with home ownership can be handled by ignoring it and hoping it goes away. This is one of the reasons why once you get standing water you handle it immediately. With any luck, you will be able to just do some repairs that will not cost nearly what a full replacement would.

Contaminated Water

Are other water sources becoming contaminated? This could be caused by a problem in your septic system. This is an issue you need to have taken care of immediately, as contaminated water supplies can cause health problems for you and your family.