Most adults are familiar with handling common indoor plumbing problems such as a clogged toilet. Yet, moving to the country might have thrown you a new thing to learn about in life. Septic systems are your home's lifeline for eliminating wastewater safely, and regular maintenance goes a long way towards making sure they don't break. However, you'll still want to keep the number to a company that provides 24-hour septic system services to help you maintain these aspects of a safe and healthy homestead.

Protect Your Drinking Water

Living outside of city limits often means having to rely on well water. While you'll need to arrange for regular testing to make sure that the well water is clean, the results could clue you into a developing septic system problem. If the well water test results show high levels of nitrates, then it is possible that you might have a full septic system leaching into the groundwater. You'll need to arrange for septic system services to get the water back to healthy levels again.

Prevent Exposure to Pathogens

Noticing that sewage is pooling near or around the drain field is a sign that you'll need to call a 24-hour septic system service right away. With a functioning septic system, the wastewater should slowly move through the drain field or remain in the tank. Once you see pooling, this usually means that a clog has developed. Where you see wastewater, you can bet there are harmful pathogens that expose you and the other people who visit your property to the potential of falling ill. Having a septic service technician correct the problem also prevents the pooling water from expanding further onto your property where people may be used to walking on.

Stop a Sewage Backup Fast

It doesn't typically take a pro to realize when sewage is coming up through the pipes. Seeing black, smelly sludge flow up into your showers, sinks or toilets is a serious sign that something has gone terribly wrong. With a major sewage backup, you'll need to immediately stop using the plumbing, and you may even need to vacate your house. Fortunately, you'll usually notice more subtle signs of clogs before it reaches this point, such as hearing gurgling coming from the drains. But, if you do have a backup suddenly happen in the middle of the night, knowing who to call can restore your ability to maintain a sanitary home faster.

For more information, contact a 24-hour emergency septic system service near you.