Septic systems are incredible pieces of technology. All their moving parts work together completely independently to collect and remove sewage waste from your home, and all without you even having to think about it.

That’s most of the time, though. Even the greatest machinery is still just that: human-made technology that does break down once in a while. As with anything, you can always work to reduce incidents of total part replacements by keeping up with regular maintenance, but sometimes, age or condition just prove too much.

Your septic pump is that way. It works its tail off to move the wastewater from your septic tank into the ground above.

Your pump will do that every day probably for years before needing maintenance. Over time, however, your septic pump will probably need replacing.

Avalanche Services sees this kind of problem all the time. How do you know you need a septic pump replacement? Here are four signs.

1.) You See Pooled Water in Your Drainage Field

The way that septic tanks work is pretty simple. The solid waste, called sludge, is kept in the septic tank until it’s ready to be pumped out. Meanwhile, the wastewater is pumped out of the tank into your drainage field. It leaves the tank but stays underground.

If you see pools of water in your yard above the drain field, though, that’s a tell-tale sign that your septic tank isn’t being pumped the right way. You should never see standing water in your field when the tank is working as it should.

If you do, give Avalanche a call, and we will come by to assess what is going on with your septic pump.

2.) You Smell Bad Smells Outside

This sign is a common one that our customers report to us when they have a septic pump problem: they smell the incredibly strong smell of sewage outside their house. It’s a smell you’ll know immediately.

When this happens, look to a malfunctioning septic pump or other issue with your system. The smell results from the tank’s excess wastewater pooling up in your yard, as we just mentioned. If for any reason you fail to notice the pooled water, you likely won’t be able to escape the smell.

Not to worry, though. We see this issue all the time at Avalanche and will be able to fix you right up, whether you ultimately need a septic pump replacement, drain cleaning, or another septic service.

3.) Your House Drains Go Down Slowly

A septic pump that needs replacing will not empty your tank, as we noted. In that case, another problem you might notice is that all the drains in your house are going down slowly.

So, if you flush the toilet, use the sink, or take a shower, you will probably notice the water collecting around the drain and only going down after you let it sit for several minutes.

Of course, it’s worth noting that slow drains could be a sign of another problem, too, such as a line clog. If you’re unsure, give us a call. We will figure out exactly what the problem is.

4.) Sewage Backing Up

This sign piggy-backs on the previous one.

If you notice that your wastewater is not only draining slowly but actually backing up into your home again, this could actually be a sign of numerous problems, from a septic pump needing replacement to your tank itself requiring pumping.

As we said above, a septic pump will move wastewater out of the septic tank and into the drain field. When the pump isn’t working, though, the tank stays full and can’t handle any more.

As a result, anything you try to flush into it is just going to follow the path of least resistance and come back up the line.

If you can’t put any wastewater down your drains without them backing up, you’ve got a real problem on your hands. That’s where Avalanche Services can help. Whether you need septic tank pumping or a new septic pump, we will handle it for you.

Call Avalanche Services for Professional Septic Pump Replacement

When everything’s working as it should, septic systems are the perfect machinery. But a pump in need of replacement can wreak considerable havoc on your home.

When you notice one of these tell-tale signs of a septic pump having an issue, call Avalanche Services immediately. We will assess the problem and fix it up for you the right way.

Get in touch with us now.