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Yes, a septic tank can get full. If this happens, you might run into issues flushing your toilets or draining your sinks. You may also notice your pipes making gurgling noises or the smell of sewage floating around your house. Other signs of a backed-up septic tank include water pooling or fresh, healthy grass growing above your drain field.

It is generally safe to stay in a house that smells like sewage for a short time, but you should get the problem fixed as soon as possible. While the level of sewer gas is usually low enough to only cause minor symptoms, prolonged inhalation can lead to headaches, nausea, or respiratory irritation. High levels of gas exposure can be more dangerous, and high concentrations of methane—a component of sewer gas—can pose an explosion risk in enclosed spaces. If you smell sewer gas in your home, ventilate the area and call a professional to locate, assess, and fix the problem, as it will not go away on its own.

Costs depend on tank accessibility, size, and local rates. Regular service serves as preventive care, averting costly emergency repairs or system replacements.

While homeowners connected to a municipal sewer line still have to keep up with plumbing maintenance, the downside to a septic system is that all the maintenance falls on the homeowners. Not calling in a pro to pump the tank every few years or accidentally flushing or draining the wrong types of materials can quickly cause clogs, which can back up into drains around the home.