There are some noises you won’t even think about hearing until you hear them. And if your septic tank is gurgling, it’s not a pleasant noise. You might need septic tank pumping in Vallejo, CA or there could be other things causing the noise. But once you hear it, you can’t unhear it and you need to get to the bottom of what is making the noise before things get much worse. Here are a few things that can cause your system to make gurgling noises.
Why is My Toilet Gurgling on a Septic System?
With the warm weather we’ve been having lately, rainy days could cause a lot of bacteria to grow in the plumbing system. These storms create more sludge at the bottom of your septic tank, which disrupts the natural flow out. Consequently, air bubbles travel back into your toilet and you get that loud gurgling sound.
- It’s usually a sign that the septic tank is full and needs to be emptied. When this happens, the septic tank will gurgle, burble or make other untoward noises below ground level for a few hours before eventually going back to silence. It may also be just one of those things that comes with living in an old house and it is nothing to worry about. If it doesn’t go back up after a day or two then it might need emptying.
This might be an indicator that it is time for a pumping. A professional can come in to pump out all of the built-up sewage from the pipes below to alleviate any further problems and clean your system with fresh water for good measure! This should make everything run smoothly after this point. It may be recommended that you have periodic servicing as well by a professional plumber.
How Do You Fix a Gurgling Septic Tank?
Fixing a septic tank is as simple as adding some bleach to your drains in order to kill any bacteria. You can also skim out the sludge, decompose it, and put it on your garden. The problem with gurgling or growling tanks is often either too many solids in the tank or not enough water pressure filling the tank back up. When you have more solids filling up a certain volume of water, there’s simply less space for that same level of liquid. So when you turn on just one faucet at a time or flush just one toilet at a time, there’s always going to be more air bubbles mixed in with the rest of the wastewater being treated for sewage disposal.
Gurgling Drains Septic System
There are various techniques on how to fix a gurgling septic tank that will depend on the reason for the noise, but generally, it takes three steps in order for the problem to be fixed:
- Ensure there is no blockage in your home plumbing or toilet by making sure all water has flowed smoothly and without backup. This can often be done by doing a ‘flusher snake’.
- Ensure all connections from your house and drain field pipes are sealed up securely.
- Add enough new filter material to push down below 20 feet of water column pressure as well as adding some clean sand to improve its drainage capability. Having good quality filter material also assists with reducing bad odors coming from the tank.
Blocked Drains
If your drainage pipe is blocked, it could make the draining slower into the septic tank, which could give you a gurgle in your fixtures when they try to flow out that drain. That’s easy enough for a plumber to fix for you without too much of an issue.
Blocked Sewer Pipes
A bit more concerning is when the sewer pipes are blocked. These are the pipes that are used to connect your home’s plumbing to the septic system. Any blocks between them and the tank mean that larger amounts of water can’t get past the block at once, which causes the gurgling noise and a decreased drain speed. You might need a tank pumping or just a de-clogging.
Drain Vent Problems
The drain vents remove the sewer gas from the pipes, and they can also make a gurgling sound if they are having any issues. The system could be broken or not doing a proper job if you hear that noise when you shower, use the sink, or flush the toilet.
The Septic Tank Is Full
One of the most common causes for the gurgling is when the septic tank gets full. Tanks need to be pumped out every 3-5 years, depending on the size of your home and family. The tank won’t drain right if the water can’t flow out because there is too much in the tank for it to operate properly. Get the tank pumped out at a regular interval so you can avoid gurgling noises in the first place. If you hear them and it’s been awhile, consider getting the tank pumped.
Hear Gurgling? Act Now
If you hear a noise you know you shouldn’t’ be hearing, it’s not smart to wait around and see if it happens again or if anything else occurs. That can just make things worse in a variety of ways. Instead, you can try a few home remedies, like using a plunger on a few drains to get a clog to move along. Otherwise, you should call a professional as soon as you notice the problem to prevent the issue from spreading further. The experts at American Sanitation Inc are here to help with septic tank pumping in Vallejo, CA, or whatever else might be causing the gurgling noise to occur around your home. Call us at (707) 554-8258 or visit us at 1729 Action Avenue Napa, CA 94559 and we’ll help you get your septic tank working smoothly for the best interest of your home and family.
