Septic Tank Systems Experience Mold Issues

Mold is a problem that septic tank services in North Liberty, Iowa have to deal with frequently. Mold can cause issues with your tank operation and even end up getting into your home. Thankfully, you can take steps to avoid this problem if you are smart about your septic maintenance needs.

Problem 1: Tank Maintenance Failure

Have you called septic tank services lately to do maintenance on your septic tank? Most of the time, you probably don’t need to because your tank is designed to run smoothly and without issues for extended periods. That said, you will need to get maintenance from time to time to ensure that your tank doesn’t start growing mold because of leaks or other issues. The type of support and its time frame will vary depending on a multitude of factors, such as the type of tank you use.

For example, you should have a professional there to check on the state of your tank if you notice any nasty smells floating up through your pipes. You should also contact maintenance professionals if you haven’t had your tank inspected in the last 3-4 years. Once at your site, repair experts will do what is necessary to keep your system running, including fixing any leaks and flushing pipes of clogs if they are getting a bit cramped.

These maintenance steps are essential no matter what kind of septic system you have installed on your home. Just as importantly, you need to make sure that you hire professionals who can adequately handle these demanding and sometimes challenging processes. Never try to have somebody do them who isn’t sure what they are doing. And, just as importantly, make sure that you avoid doing them yourself, or you could run into even more complications than if you just left the tank alone.

Problem 2: Overloading the Tank

People with septic tanks may not realize that their tank needs to be drained from time to time to ensure that nothing goes wrong. Unfortunately, too many people make the mistake of either not draining it often enough or never draining it. When this situation happens, the tank is likely to spill out and contaminate the land around your home, which can lead to nasty smells and other problems.

Typically, this is when you’re going to start seeing a lot of mold growing in your tank. The fungus grows because the tank is filled with sewage which – while not precisely inviting as a dietary option for you – provides many nutrients that mold will love. And since there will be plenty of water in the tank as well, the mold will grow even more quickly and could even start growing up the pipe back towards your home.

As a result, you need to have septic tank services come to your home at least once a year to drain the tank. This process doesn’t take anywhere near as long as you might think and will minimize mold problems. And while they’re there, your professionals can inspect the tank for signs of mold and provide treatment options to reduce this danger and keep your tank running smoothly and cleanly for years to come.

Problem 3: Adding Improper Items

The toilet is not a magic disposal zone that can take any item in your home and get rid of it. However, too many people have a terrible tendency of forgetting this fact and flushing whatever item that they can find down the toilet. For example, you may flush leftover foods and other things down the toilet only because it seems easier than throwing them away. Unfortunately, you’re setting yourself up for mold issues.

For example, if you flush foods like coffee grounds down the toilet, they’ll likely sit in the septic tank for months and even years. And while they may be contaminated, mold will flock to these food sources and use them to grow even further in your tank. This problem gets worse if you continually flush food items down the toilet and allow a considerable amount to collect in the container over the years that you own your house.

So make sure that you only flush waste materials and toilet paper down the drain to avoid this problem. And also keep out items that otherwise don’t belong, such as paper towels and sanitary napkins. These items won’t break down in your septic tank and will provide mold a great place to grow. You wouldn’t believe how many thousands of pounds of these paper items that septic tank services have had to remove over the years.

Problem 4: Ignoring the Drain Field

Lastly, you need to pay attention to your drain field and any symptoms that it may be having problems. For example, your drain field may end up getting blocked by a variety of issues, such as excessive rain and snow or even tree roots. Roots have a nasty habit of growing towards septic fields because they are rich with nutrients and water. When this happens, your field will drain less effectively.

As a result, a backup of various sewage will occur in your field and may spread throughout your soil. This situation may trigger a variety of extra growth in your grass and other plants in the area. However, this sewage will also provide ample nutrients for the mold in the ground and will help it spread rapidly into your septic tank and throughout the rest of your septic field.

Therefore, you need to get your septic tank regularly inspected to avoid this issue. Septic tank services can check for problems, such as roots and clogs, and clean them out. Don’t assume that your field is safe from roots because you don’t have trees nearby: roots can grow for hundreds of feet and have the ability to seek out precise sources of liquid, including entering specific pipes on your septic tank.

Professionals Can Offer Great Guidance

If you need septic tank services in North Liberty, Iowa, please contact us at Brown Concrete & Backhoe today. We have years of experience working in this field and will do what we can to ensure that you don’t suffer from septic tank issues that complicate the health of your family.