Most people give little thought to their home septic systems. They’re crucial component of homes, but they’re also out of sight and out of mind. At least, that’s the case as long as they’re working properly. Many homeowners assume that if their drains are doing their jobs, there’s no real reason to worry about their septic tanks.
If your sinks, washing machine, and dishwasher start draining too slowly or flushing a toilet causes sewage to back up and spill onto your bathroom floor, though, your septic system quickly comes to the forefront of your mind. Like any component of a home, it requires routine maintenance to continue working properly. One of the most important steps in that respect is pumping your septic system. Failing to have the system pumped at the right times can cause serious damage. Besides that, it can lead to several potential health risks.
Exposing Your Family to Dangerous Bacteria
One of the most significant dangers of not having your septic tank pumped is potentially exposing your family to harmful bacteria. When a septic system backs up, untreated sewage can back up into your sinks, tubs, and toilets. When it does, it brings a long list of dangerous bacteria into your home. E. coli, Salmonella, and Streptococcus are only a few of them. In addition to bacteria, raw sewage is riddled with viruses and parasites, all of which can be exceedingly dangerous. Septic system pumping prevents backups, so it keeps your family from being exposed to those dangers.
Reduced Indoor Air Quality
If your drains aren’t working properly due to septic system backups, your home could be vulnerable to excess moisture as well. That, in turn, tends to lead to mold growth. Mold will damage your walls, flooring, and other components of your home. It’s also dangerous, especially for people with asthma, allergies, and other respiratory issues. Beyond mold, sewer gases from an overfilled septic tank can back up into your home. Those gases contain dangerous components like methane and hydrogen sulfide, which can cause respiratory issues, headaches, chest pains, and many other problems.
Environmental Concerns
The detrimental effects of delaying septic system maintenance can spread well beyond your home. Septic tanks that are leaking or overflowing can spread bacteria, viruses, and parasites, along with unpleasant odors, to surrounding properties as well. The resulting contamination can harm your neighbors and local wildlife. It may even make its way into local waterways and spread even further.
When a septic tank isn’t working properly, pathogens and other pollutants from it may not filter through the soil properly. As such, they may leach into the local groundwater supply and pose numerous health risks. Areas where people rely on well water are particularly vulnerable to this type of contamination, but it can have far-reaching effects even in other areas.
Preventing Safety Hazards With Septic System Maintenance
Septic systems work quietly in the background, ensuring wastewater drains out of your home properly. From there, they allow it to filter naturally through the soil before it reenters the environment clean and safe to use. If your septic system isn’t working correctly, though, it can expose your family, and potentially your entire community, to numerous safety hazards. Regularly having your septic tank pumped can prevent those health and environmental dangers while also protecting your home against unnecessary damage.