Your septic system is a natural sewage treatment and disposal system. It relies on bacteria to break down waste into liquids and gasses that flow to your drain field.
What you flush down your toilets or pour down your drains affects how well your septic system works. Avoid flushing cat litter, paper towels, coffee grounds, cigarette butts, diapers, and cooking grease or oil.
Pumping
The main function of a septic tank is to trap wastewater and solid waste until bacteria can break it down. Once the bacteria do their work, the sludge and effluent leave the tank to enter the home drain field. However, the septic tank must be pumped to remove the impurities that do not get broken down. Most systems need to have the sludge removed and disposed of every three to five years, depending on usage and other factors.
The number of people living in the home and the amount of wastewater that is used can affect how often a septic system needs to be pumped. People who flush a lot of toilets or run many dishwasher cycles are more likely to need frequent pumping than a household that uses less water. Other factors that can influence the need to get a septic tank pumped include using a garbage disposal, dumping oil and grease into the tank or sewer system, and flushing feminine hygiene products, cotton balls, “flushable” wipes, cleaning chemicals and paints down the toilet.
While getting a septic tank pumped regularly helps to prevent the sludge and scum from reaching the drain field, the biomat still must be reduced in the septic system to make sure it is working properly. This can take several weeks to accomplish, so homeowners need to ensure that the tank is pumped at the right intervals and use caution around septic system components.
A septic system that is not pumped frequently will overflow, and the result can be sewage backups and other expensive issues. When a homeowner is not able to avoid a septic tank overflow, they should call a professional to have it pumped as soon as possible.
When a septic tank is being pumped, the homeowner should uncover both the inlet and outlet access covers to assess the layer of sludge and scum. It is time to schedule a septic tank pumping if the sludge layer is within 3 inches of the bottom or scum line of the outlet device. Homeowners can measure this level themselves by building a simple tool from a stick and a piece of plywood.
Inspection
When a septic tank is not properly maintained, sewage can back up into the home. This can cause a health hazard and lead to expensive repairs. It is important to have your septic tank and leach field inspected by professionals regularly. This is especially important before selling a home. A thorough inspection will ensure that the septic system is up to code and able to handle the new owners’ anticipated daily wastewater volume.
The first step in a full septic tank inspection is to open the access covers and check the sludge and scum layers. The inspector will also look at the inlet and outlet baffles to make sure they are in good working order. The inspector will also inspect the drain field for wet spots and odors. If a two-compartment tank is present, the inspector will check that the second compartment’s sludge level is significantly lower than the first compartment.
In addition to examining the septic tank, the inspector will also examine the distribution box and inspect the pump and electrical parts. Inspecting the distribution box is particularly important, because a clogged or tilted box can disproportionately allocate effluent to parts of the drain field, which can overflow those areas and damage the septic tank and piping.
The inspector will also test the septic system by flushing toilets and running water to make sure that the septic system is functioning correctly. If the septic tank is leaking or the drain field is flooding, it’s likely that the septic system is old and needs replacing.
The inspector will check the septic system records for when the tank was last pumped. This will help the homeowner know how often it is needed to have the septic tank pumped. The inspector will also look at the number of people living in the home and their expected wastewater volume. This information will determine whether a septic tank is large enough for the home. If not, the septic tank can be enlarged. The inspector will also recommend other septic system maintenance, such as the installation of an effluent filter to prevent solids from clogging the septic tank pump and plumbing.
Maintenance
The septic system in your home is an important component of your waste management and treatment. If it fails, you could experience a wide range of problems from sewage backups to ground water contamination. These issues are costly, can lead to health risks and lower property values. Regular Septic Tank Maintenance can prevent such issues and extend the life of your septic system.
A septic system contains a large underground holding container where wastewater flows from your household appliances and toilets. This wastewater is treated by bacteria in the tank. Solids are deposited on the bottom of the tank, forming a layer of sludge that must be removed regularly to prevent clogs and failure of the entire septic system.
Each septic system has its own natural bacteria that breaks down and reduces the volume of solids in the wastewater. You can help this process by limiting what is flushed down drains and toilets. It is best to avoid flushing any products other than human waste and toilet paper. Never flush fats, oils, greases, non-biodegradable products, cigarette butts, dental floss, feminine hygiene products, pharmaceuticals and condoms down the drain or toilet.
It is also important to limit the amount of water that is used in your household. This will help the septic system to operate more efficiently. Water conservation can be accomplished by repairing leaky faucets and toilets, and staggering your household water usage.
Proper management of the surrounding area around your septic system is also essential to its longevity. Keep children, pets and vehicles away from the septic system drain field area. Do not plant any trees or shrubs close to the drain field because their roots may penetrate and damage the septic tank and absorption field.
It is also a good idea to have your septic tank inspected by a professional at least once every three years. The inspector will look at the sludge and scum layers to determine when it is time for pumping. He or she will also inspect the drain field to make sure that it is functioning properly.
Disposal
Most homes are not connected to public sewer systems and use septic tanks and drain fields to treat wastewater. These on-site sewage systems are called Onsite Sewage Systems (OSS) and they need regular maintenance for proper operation. Septic tank pumping and inspections help to prevent a failure of the system and pollution of waterways.
The septic tank is a large underground, watertight container that receives all wastewater from your home. Solid waste sinks to the bottom of the tank where bacteria reduce it to sludge. Oil and grease floats to the top of the tank where it forms a scum layer. Liquid wastewater or effluent exits the tank through a perforated pipe in a drain field, where it soaks into soil.
A septic tank should be pumped when the sludge layer is within 6 inches of the bottom of the outlet and when the scum layer is above 25% of the liquid level. A septic tank professional will monitor the sludge and scum levels during an inspection and note any repairs that need to be made. You can avoid overflow problems by keeping a schedule of pumping and by avoiding excess disposal of cooking oils and grease.
It is also important to not dispose of chemicals, paints, solvents, waxes or cleaning products down the drain. These can destroy important septic tank bacteria and contaminate ground and surface water. A septic tank can also be damaged by heavy vehicles or by building a pool, driveway or house near it.
In the past, septage or septic tank waste was buried in the ground. However, the newer technology of using the methane gas generated from septic tank breakdown to produce electricity is a more environmentally friendly way to utilize this resource.
To help protect your septic tank and system, install a garbage disposal that is sized for your household. You can also use drain strainers, hair and lint traps in sinks and tubs, and effluent filters at the tank and drainfield outlets to minimize the amount of solid waste that gets into the septic tank or drain field.
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