• Clogged pipes.

• Broken pipes.

• Damaged tank.

• Tipped distribution box.

• Clogged/broken soil absorption piping.

• Clogged absorption soil (grease & solids).

• Saturated soil absorption area.

• Driving over absorption system.

• Paving over the absorption system.

• Flooding the absorption system from roof runoff or poor drainage.

• Improper original construction.

• Tipped or flooded distribution boxes that result in uneven loading of soil absorption system lines.

• Use of additives which claim to extend the life of the system can cause many problems. Do not add treatments, chemicals, yeast or other treats to a septic system, in general they do not work and cause many problems.

• Rusting steel tank covers can cause death! Rusted covers can collapse and septic gases and waste water are highly toxic and can kill in just minutes of exposure.

• Concrete tank lids can be damaged by vehicle traffic, Heavy duty covers are available.

• Steel tank baffles can rust out and fall off, permitting solids to enter the soil absorption system.

• Steel tank bottoms rust out. For this reason a Metal tank cannot be re-certified in Maryland.

• Concrete tank baffles may erode from chemicals, detergents, bad concrete mix, poor maintenance and general use.

• Concrete tanks can crack.

• Summer homes or temporary built structures normally will have marginal septic systems.

• Age, eventually even a well-maintained system, will clog and have to be replaced.