Slow draining toilets/draining sound from yard

[lacolem1]

For the past week or so, there's been cold weather, rain, and ice in my area. As a result, there's a lot of water in my yard. Shortly afterwards, both toilets started to drain slowly. Of course, my first instinct was that the water level in my yard was higher than that of the septic tank, causing the slow drain, and I figured I'd have to just wait it out.

However, I just so happened to be outside last week when, out of the blue, there's a distinguishable sucking/draining sound from my yard (near a huge puddle and my water meter). The puddle in my yard instantly started to subside, and when I went inside the toilets were working again.

The slow draining has returned, unfortunately, along with the puddle of water in my yard. Am I missing something or was my original instinct correct?

 

[Zanne]

Hmm.. Good question...

Does the puddle have a smell to it?

Do you have a mechanical system for your septic tank or some sort of effusion?

Generally the soil should have a good enough drainage to allow the septic tank to release the water. If the ground became too saturated and the septic tank was unable to drain, then it is possible for it to become backed up.

If you have a mechanical system there might also be some failure there somewhere.

If its just natural draining then you might have an insufficient drain field.

You could have a percolation test done (or do one yourself).

If I'm wrong on this, someone let me know.

 

[lacolem1]

Hmm.. Good question...

Does the puddle have a smell to it?

Do you have a mechanical system for your septic tank or some sort of effusion?

Generally the soil should have a good enough drainage to allow the septic tank to release the water. If the ground became too saturated and the septic tank was unable to drain, then it is possible for it to become backed up.

If you have a mechanical system there might also be some failure there somewhere.

If its just natural draining then you might have an insufficient drain field.

You could have a percolation test done (or do one yourself).

If I'm wrong on this, someone let me know.

Yep, sewage smell.

I'm not sure what kind of system the septic tank has.

 

[Zanne]

Yep, sewage smell.

I'm not sure what kind of system the septic tank has.

Ok, then you probably need to contact the department of health to find out if they have a record of the permits for the septic tank and what type of system was put in. It helps to know these things for repairs and maintenance.

If its a mechanical system I'm thinking that the mechanical part stopped working or is not working efficiently.

I had to have my septic tank and field lines replaced not too long ago so I went through all of that and tried to learn as much as possible to avoid the problems-- toilets backing up and sewage overflowing in the bathroom.

The previous owners put additions on the house without upgrading the septic tank to accommodate more bathrooms (and thus higher usage) and the field lines were done incorrectly so they ended up just clogging up.

I'm trying to figure out if you would need to have the health inspector come look at it or call a sewage sucking/septic tank draining professional to come look at the situation and try to figure out what is going on.

I would suggest you do it soon because that sewage can start making you sick.