Catch it early

A septic system usually gives warnings before it fails completely. Catching them early can be the difference between a simple fix and replacing the whole drainfield. Here's what to watch for.

Inside the house

  • Slow drains everywhere. One slow sink is usually a clog. When every drain in the house is slow, the problem is likely the septic system.
  • Gurgling pipes. Gurgling from drains or toilets when water runs can mean the system is backing up.
  • Sewage backups. Water coming back up in the lowest drains of the house, like a basement floor drain or shower, is a sign to act right away.
  • Smells. A sewage smell inside, especially near drains, isn't normal.

Out in the yard

  • Wet or soggy ground over the tank or drainfield when it hasn't rained
  • Standing water or pooling near the drainfield
  • Grass that's greener and faster growing over the drainfield than the rest of the yard
  • A sewage smell outside near the tank or drainfield

Lush green stripes over the drainfield in a dry summer can look nice, but they often mean effluent is coming up too close to the surface.

What to do first

  1. Cut back on water use. Spread out laundry, shorten showers, and fix running toilets to take pressure off the system.
  2. Have the tank pumped and inspected by a septic pumping company if it hasn't been done recently. An overfull tank causes many of these symptoms, and the pumper can often tell whether the problem is in the tank or out in the drainfield.
  3. Keep vehicles and equipment off the drainfield. Heavy weight crushes pipes and packs the soil.

When it's the drainfield

If the tank is pumped and the problems keep coming back, the drainfield is often the issue. Over time, the soil can stop absorbing water, pipes can break or clog, or roots can grow in. Depending on what failed, the fix might be repairing a section, replacing damaged lines, or building a new drainfield.

In Montana, repairs to a septic system and new systems generally need a permit from the county, so any major work starts with that step.

Where we come in

We install new septic systems across Ravalli and Missoula counties. We don't do repairs or pump-outs, but if your system has reached the end of its life and needs to be replaced, call us and we'll walk you through a new install.