Slow shower drains, clogged toilets, and backed-up sinks are certainly reasons to complain. If you have a septic system, you might be wondering—should you call a plumber or a septic service to resolve the problem?
The answer depends on where the clog is located. If hair, grease, or a foreign object is lodged in your pipes, you need a plumber. After all, plumbers specialize in the piping that runs throughout your house, delivering fresh water to your taps and draining wastewater away.
On the other hand, if the septic drain line, effluent filter, outlet baffle, or the tank itself is clogged or overflowing, you need a septic service provider. Here’s how to tell where the clog might be located so you know who to call for repairs.
- Count the number of backed-up drains: If the problem appears to only affect a drain or two, the clog is probably nearby. In this case, a plumber is the best person to call. However, if multiple fixtures start backing up all at once, especially those located in the basement, the clog is likely in the septic line. You’ll need a septic service to fix the issue.
- Listen for gurgling sounds: If the toilet bubbles when you run the sink or the shower drain gurgles when you flush the toilet, this is a sign that you need septic service.
- Consider the tank’s age and level of neglect: Proper septic maintenance includes using septic-safe toilet paper and cleaning products, being careful about how much water you use each day, and pumping the tank every two to three years. Follow this regimen, and the system should last at least 25 years. If you have been taking proper care of your septic system and it’s not very old, your best bet is to call a plumber. If your tank has fallen into disrepair or is reaching the 25-year milestone, you may need septic service.
- Inspect the septic system cleanout: Find the short PVC pipe that connects your house to the septic tank. Remove the cap and look inside. If you don’t see standing water, the issue is probably somewhere in the house, meaning you need a plumber. If you do see standing water, the blockage is most likely in the tank or the pipe running to it, meaning you need septic service.
- Survey your yard: If you notice a sewage odor or soggy patch above the tank buried in your yard, the septic system is likely overflowing. This means you need help from a septic service.
Have you determined that a septic service provider is probably the right company to call? If so, please get in touch with Trinity Liquid Waste. We are a family-owned company with 25 years of experience based in Pleasanton, CA. We are confident we can diagnose your septic problem and offer a feasible solution. Contact us online or by phone at 510-874-6489 to request a septic repair in the San Francisco Bay Area.
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