You Just Had Your Septic Tank Pumped and It’s Full Again. Now What?
Get to the bottom of your too-full septic tank issue
Highlights
When working normally, septic tanks collect and dispose of your home’s waste.
If your tank is full, your drains might slow down and back up.
Septic tanks need to be pumped every few years to get rid of built-up sludge.
Drain field issues and clogged pipes can fill up your tank again after a pump.
Using too much water could also increase your tank’s liquid level.
Normally, emptying your septic tank every few years is enough to keep sludge from building up and backing up your septic system. But what happens if you just had your septic tank pumped, and it’s full again? In that case, there could be a few issues at play—and the solution depends on the specific cause. Keep reading to learn more about what might be going on and how to fix it.
How Does a Septic Tank Work?
A septic tank is the central component of a septic system, which removes waste from your home if you don’t have access to the public sewage system. The tank collects any water and human waste that goes down the toilets, drains, washing machines, and other plumbing fixtures in your home.
Inside the septic tank, bacteria consume the solid waste. Meanwhile, the liquid wastewater exits your tank through underground pipes and seeps into the surrounding soil in an area known as the drain field.
To keep your septic tank working correctly, you should have it pumped by a septic pro every three to five years. On average, septic tank pumping costs around $400. You may need to empty your tank more often if it’s on the smaller side or if you have lots of people living in your house.
Reasons Why Your Septic Tank Might Be Full Again (and What to Do in Each Case)
There are a few reasons why your septic tank might seem like it’s full again—even if you pumped it recently. However, since septic tanks typically only need to be emptied every few years, your “full septic tank” might actually signal a different problem with your septic system. Here are a few potential causes.
Your Drain Field Isn’t Working Properly
In a septic system, the drain field (also known as a leach field) plays a vital role: carrying wastewater out of your system and transferring it into the soil underground. By design, your drain field should absorb the wastewater—but in some cases (like if you’ve just had heavy rainfall), it can’t. In those situations, your drain field might be too wet to soak up any more liquid, so the wastewater will go back into your septic tank and fill it up again.
If you suspect that there’s a problem with your drain field, it’s best to contact a pro. Drain field issues can be minor or major, but all of them require specialized experience to fix. Typically, drain field repairs cost between $2,000 and $15,000.
Your Pipes Are Clogged
Pipes run to and from your septic tank, transporting waste in and out of your septic system. If one (or more) of these pipes get clogged, waste could build up in your tank instead of going into your drain field. If this is the case, you might notice your drains backing up, making gurgling sounds, or slowing down.
While you can try to clear a main sewer line clog yourself, it often isn’t worth the hassle. Your best bet is to reach out to an expert who can pinpoint the exact problem and resolve it quickly.
You’re Using Too Much Water
Your septic system doesn’t immediately empty itself; it needs time to collect the wastewater from your home and redistribute it into the earth. If you’re using a lot of water in a short period of time, your septic tank might not be able to keep up. As a result, the liquid level can rise inside the tank.
If your water consumption is filling up your septic tank, cut down on your usage and see if that helps. You’ll also want to check your toilets and faucets for leaks. If there’s still an issue, contact a plumber or septic pro.
How to Maintain Your Septic Tank
Septic tanks are durable, with many lasting up to 30 years. However, in order to extend the lifespan of your tank, you need to maintain it properly. Here are some tips for taking care of your septic tank.
Schedule professional pumping and maintenance. In addition to getting your tank pumped, it’s also important to book a professional septic tank inspection every two to five years.
Be mindful about what you put in it. Flushing anything other than septic-safe toilet paper and human waste is a big no-no. Never dispose of paper towels, diapers, baby wipes, or other bulky items in your toilet. Similarly, avoid putting harsh chemicals (like paint thinners and bleach) down your drains.
Keep your drain field clear. Don’t park any cars or leave any lawn equipment on top of your drain field; otherwise, the weight and pressure could damage your septic system.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
If you’ve just had your septic tank pumped and it’s full again, it’s a sign that something isn’t quite right with your septic system. Because of this, it’s best to hire a local septic tank repair company to take a look at it—rather than trying to troubleshoot it yourself.
It could either be a quick fix or a major overhaul, depending on the problem. Septic tank repairs generally range from $630 to $2,970, while a replacement septic system costs between $3,460 and $11,360.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can shower if your septic tank is full, but it’s not the best idea. That’s because showering pushes more water into an already full tank, and with nowhere to go, that water can creep back into your house, leading to sewage backups and slow drainage. To avoid this, make sure you’re emptying your tank every few years.
Some of the biggest symptoms of a drain field failure include a foul stench, backed-up toilets and drains, and mushy grass or standing water on top of the drain field. Also, if the grass above your leach field starts suddenly growing faster and looks thicker or healthier than the rest of your lawn, it could be a sign that it isn’t getting rid of waste properly.
It only takes a few days for a septic tank to fill with water after a pro has pumped it. This is completely normal, and the water is a vital part of your septic system’s wastewater treatment process. The water that fills your tank days after pumping is not the same as the tank being filled with waste. You shouldn’t have to pump your septic system more than once every three to five years unless you have a tank that’s too small for your home’s water output or there’s a problem with your leach field.