All the water you use in your home flows into your septic system, until the tank gets too full and cannot hold anymore. When this happens, you will need to get your tank pumped out by a plumbing or septic company. When a septic tank gets too full, you may start experiencing some problems or seeing signs that should alert you that your tank is full. Here are some of the signs that may indicate you need to get your tank pumped out.

Wet Yard

When a septic system is maxed out, one of the first signs people will notice is water in their yards. This is typically standing water in areas near the septic system, and the puddles of standing water will have a sewer odor. If you see or smell water outside near your septic tank, this will typically indicate that the tank is full or that the system is having problems operating properly.

Slow Drains

The second problem people often see when their tanks are full is slow-moving drains. A septic tank can usually hold around 1,000 gallons of waste. As the tank reaches this capacity, it will not allow anything else to enter inside, simply because there is no room left. When this occurs, the waste water from a home will have trouble flowing through the drain lines. Eventually, this waste water will end up coming back up through the drains into a person's home. If you see sewage backing up into your bathtubs or drains, you can be certain that you have an issue with your septic system.

You Cannot Remember the Last Time It Was Pumped

The first two signs are the most common ones that homeowners experience when they have full tanks, but there is one other way you can know if you should call to get your tank pumped out. This factor is the amount of time it has been since the last time it was pumped. If you cannot remember ever getting it pumped, you should call right away. A plumber can help you determine how often you should have this done, and he or she is likely to tell you that you should do this every two to four years, depending on your house and system. If you do this on schedule, you can prevent problems like the ones listed here in the future.

While these signs can indicate you need your tank pumped out, there is also a chance these signs may be present if you have a basic plumbing problem in your house. If you are not sure what to do, contact a plumbing company like John Manning Plumbing. They can determine if the problem is from your septic tank or your plumbing system.