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Septic Tanks.. When Do I Call A Plumber or A Septic Tank Pumping Company

Issues With Your Septic Tank? Do You Need A Plumber or a Septic Pumping Company

Are you experiencing issues with your septic tank? Are you wondering do I call a plumber or a septic tank pumping company? Now I’m not a septic expert. I’m a plumbing expert. So when it comes to septic systems, I rely on professionals like Priority Pumping. Being in plumbing you do learn a few things about septic systems. The most common questions we’re asked is “Is this a problem with my plumbing or my septic tank?”

Here are some signs you may need to have your septic tank pumped.  

Slow Drains 

• Slow drains, especially at low points like tubs, showers and gurgling toilets can be a sign that your septic tank is full.  This can be a sign also of a main line stoppage on your sewer system. If you know you’re on a septic system, have you had it pumped in the last year or so? If not, those slow drains could be a clear indicator it is time to call a professional pumping company to take care of your septic system.  

Stoppages 

• Stoppages aren’t always a sign of a full septic. They can be an underlying issue with your drain lines or a blockage. Lets’ say you have a stoppage and you know you haven’t flushed things you shouldn’t. If your sewer line is in good condition this could be a sign that your septic tank is full. At this point, your septic tank can no longer handle water and waste debris.   

Sewer odors 

• Sewer odors can be a sign of a problem with your plumbing system. A loose seal at a toilet p-trap that is dry can be a sign of a plumbing problem. It can also be a sign of gases escaping your septic system because it is full. In theory this shouldn’t happen. The p-traps in your home should have water in them to stop sewer gases from escaping into your home. If you have a drain that you don’t use often enough to keep filled with water you may smell the sewer odors coming from your septic system.  These sewer odors are dangerous. You should have the septic system addressed right away as well as the drain issue that is allowing the sewer odors to escape into your home.  

Water spots in your yard 

• Water spots, or standing water in your yard are often a plumbing or irrigation issue. But if your plumber says you don’t have a leak on your irrigation or domestic water line then the next step is that your septic system. Checking your septic system could require maintenance.  A full septic tank can lead to the water going somewhere. This can lead to nasty pools of waste water in your yard.  This water is breeding grounds for all of the horrible things in life like misquotes, flies and is a health hazard.  For the most part, the way to understand if this is a plumbing issue or a septic issue is to see if your meter is moving when nothing is on.  If your meter is moving, you could have a leak on your water line or irrigation line.  If your meter isn’t moving it could be a septic issue.  

Overgrown green grass 

• In the Phoenix area overgrown green grass and healthy plants take a LOT of work. If you have healthy spots of green grass or spots of very healthy vegetation, well, it’s probably not a miracle. Healthy vegetation spots are generally a sign that there’s an issue with your septic system.  Vegetation loves water and fertilization and that’s exactly what a septic tank offers when it needs to be pumped or repaired.  

What should you do if you don’t know if the problem is a plumbing problem or a septic problem? 

We don’t work on septic systems, so you might be surprised by my answer.  If you’re not sure if the issue you’re experiencing is a plumbing issue or a septic issue, if you haven’t had your septic system maintained in more than a year, we recommend that you call a septic company first.  Even if the issue isn’t your septic, the investment in maintaining your system won’t be a wasted expense but rather a necessary investment.  Many licensed and professional septic companies can take care of secondary stoppages that may have been caused by a septic tank being full or even take care of a stoppage while they are on site maintaining your septic tank.   

If you have a problem, like an odor, stoppages or water pooling in your yard and your septic tank has been pumped and serviced it’s time to call a licensed plumbing professional to get to the bottom of the issue.  

Services in Phoenix & Beyond

When you’ve found yourself in need of plumbing services in the Phoenix, Glendale, Scottsdale, or Chandler area, you can trust Robins Plumbing. We will provide you with prompt and expert care.  Contact our team today! We offer a variety of residential and commercial plumbing services, including: drain cleaning, water heater repair and replacement, sewer camera inspection and locating, backflow prevention, commercial and residential jetting, water treatments, and more. Visit our reviews online to see what others have to say about our local plumbing company!