2 Above-Ground Mistakes You May Not Realize Are Damaging Your Home's Septic Tank
Even if you have recently had someone pump out your home's septic tank, you may have noticed that it is showing signs of leaking, such as a saturated ground with foul-smelling water. While a broken tank could be caused by any number of reasons, there are a couple of above-ground mistakes that you may be making that you do not realize are damaging your home's septic system.
1. Parking Vehicles or Placing Buildings on or near the Tank
One mistake you may be making that could adversely affect your system's tank is putting heavy objects on the ground above it. Since you normally do not pay much attention to the location of the underground tank, you may forget and park your car in the yard or even build a storage shed near its edges.
While it may not seem like these objects could do any harm to the tank buried beneath the ground, their weight will compress the soil under them. As the soil compacts, it will push against the tank's exterior as well as the adjoining lines. If this happens often, the sheer weight of the objects and the soil will eventually cause a rupture in the system.
Before you pick a spot to park your RV or build a structure on your yard, make sure you know the exact location of the tank. Anything you place on the ground should then be several feet from the outer perimeter.
2. Growing Deep-Rooted Trees, Bushes, and Plants above the Septic Tank
Another mistake that you may have made that has led to a damaged septic tank is planting deep-rooted trees, bushes, and/or plants above the tank and in the surrounding ground. Even if you were told that the vegetation yielded shallow roots, they will still make their way down to the tank.
Since roots are drawn to moisture, they will travel to a readily available source, which includes your septic tank. As they force their way through, they will bust up the lines and crack open the tank
If you have inadvertently been making the above mistakes, your septic system's tank may have been damaged if you are starting to notice sewage backing up into your house or a foul odor in the air. Contact a company that offers septic repair services to have them send someone to inspect the system and fix any issues with the tank that they may find.
