Signs your system needs a repair
- Slow drains, or toilets that gurgle when the washer drains
- Sewage backing up into the lowest tub or shower
- A sewage smell near the tank or in the yard
- Wet ground over the tank or lateral lines
- Problems that come back within days of a pump-out
Common repairs
Baffles and outlet filters. They keep solids in the tank and out of the lateral lines. A broken baffle is one of the most common and least expensive fixes.
Lids and risers. Risers bring buried lids up to ground level, which makes every future pump-out faster and cheaper, a real advantage on steep or rocky lake lots.
Lines and distribution boxes. Roots, settling and freeze-thaw shift and crack the pipe between the house, the tank and the field.
Pumps and alarms. Many lake homes sit below or above the field and rely on a pump to move effluent. Floats, pumps and alarms wear out.
Diagnosis first
A good contractor opens or pumps the tank before quoting a big repair. If the lateral field itself has failed, see lateral line repair and replacement.
Common questions
Can I keep using water while I wait?
As little as possible. Skip laundry, the dishwasher and long showers until the system is checked.
Do additives fix a failing system?
No. They do not repair broken parts or a clogged field. Pumping on schedule does more good.