Septic repair around Little Rock: backups, smells and soggy yards
Most septic trouble shows up in a short list of ways. EPA's warning signs make a good checklist:
- water or sewage backing up into toilets, tubs or sinks;
- drains that run slowly all over the house;
- gurgling in the plumbing;
- standing water or soft, damp spots over the tank or drain field;
- a sewage odor around the tank or field;
- a strip of grass over the lines that stays bright green and spongy even through a dry spell.
Any one of these is reason to have the system looked at.
Narrowing down where the trouble is
A septic system is a chain: the house sewer pipe, the tank, the outlet, a distribution box and the drain lines buried in the soil. A contractor works down that chain until the problem shows itself.
| What you notice | Where it often leads |
|---|---|
| One sink or tub is slow, everything else is fine | Usually a clog in that fixture's drain inside the house rather than the septic system |
| Every drain is slow and the lowest toilet backs up first | A blockage in the pipe to the tank, a plugged inlet or outlet, or a tank long overdue for pumping |
| The tank was just pumped, but water climbs back to the outlet quickly and the yard stays wet | A drain field that is no longer taking water |
| A sewer smell up near the roof line | Often normal: EPA notes roof vents release system gases by design, though a vent blocked by debris may need cleaning or raising |
| A buzzer or red light on a control box | A pump tank or aerobic unit reporting a high water level or a failed part; see aerobic septic service |
Repairs that come up again and again
- Inlet and outlet tees. ADH rules call for 4-inch or larger sanitary tees at both ends of the tank, with the outlet tee reaching down into the middle of the liquid so floating scum stays behind. When a tee breaks off, solids head straight for the drain lines.
- Effluent filters. The department recommends an approved outlet filter on every tank because it cuts the solids leaving it. A clogged filter backs water up toward the house; cleaning it is routine upkeep, and replacing a cracked one is a small job.
- Lids and risers. A cracked or missing lid is a fall hazard and makes every later pump-out harder. The rules call for watertight risers secured against unauthorized entry.
- The pipe from the house. Roots and settling can crack the line between the house and the tank. The rules require a 4-inch cleanout ahead of the tank, which is where a crew starts when that line plugs.
- The drain field. EPA explains that solids escaping an overfull tank clog the field, and that in fields more than 25 to 30 years old the biomat, the slime layer where effluent meets soil, can thicken until the ground cannot accept water fast enough. A failed field is often the biggest repair because it can mean new trenches. Arkansas lots permitted for septic are required to have a secondary absorption area set aside for that day.
Pumping first is often part of a repair, since the crew needs to see inside the tank; see septic tank pumping.
Arkansas permit rules for repairs
Under the ADH onsite rules, repairing, altering or extending a septic system needs a permit from the department or its local agent before work starts, and the installer must notify the local agent at least 24 hours ahead. The plan review fee for a repair, alteration or extension is $30 on the current ADH fee schedule. Emergencies are handled differently: when a malfunctioning system poses an immediate health hazard, the repair can begin right away as long as a permit is obtained within 10 working days. The rules' definition of an emergency repair leaves out altering existing absorption trenches or adding new ones. More on the paperwork in septic permits by county.
Help paying for a big repair
EPA's homebuyer guide warns that repairing or replacing a septic system can cost anywhere from thousands to tens of thousands of dollars. EPA also lists federal help for some households: USDA's Single-Family Housing Repair Loans and Grants program offers loans of up to $20,000 and grants of up to $7,500, with grants aimed at elderly very-low-income rural homeowners, and USDA's Rural Decentralized Water Systems program funds loans of up to $15,000 per household for septic and well work through nonprofit lenders.
If sewage has come into the house
Stop using water. EPA's cleanup advice: stay out of contact with the sewage because it can carry pathogens, wear long rubber gloves and a face shield, disinfect with a mix of 90 percent water and 10 percent household bleach, and keep the area out of use until it has been completely dry for at least 24 hours. Then call so a contractor can find out why it happened.
Questions people ask
- Will pumping the tank fix a backup?
- It relieves one right away, and if the tank was simply overfull it may be the whole fix. If the drain field is failing, water rises back to the outlet within days, and the field needs attention.
- Who can repair a septic system in Arkansas?
- Work that changes the system, such as new lines, a new tank or field work, falls under the ADH installer rules: a registered installer has to be present for every phase. Pumping is done under a separate septic tank cleaner license.
- Can I drive over the drain field to reach the backyard?
- EPA says no: most drain fields are not built for vehicles or heavy equipment, and the weight can break the pipes. Keep cars and anything heavier than a lawnmower off it.
Tell us where the tank is and what it is doing
This site is a referral line, not a septic company. A licensed, independent septic contractor picks up your request, quotes it and does the work. Sewage coming up inside the house? Quit running water and call right away.