If your home has a septic tank, you're going to want to make sure that it gets periodic attention. Typically, you're going to want to have a septic cleaning company come in to inspect the system and pump out the tank.
To figure out the schedule for having your septic tank emptied, multiply the number of people in your household by 90 (this is the average number of gallons of water used each day), then divide the capacity of your septic tank by that number to arrive at how many days it takes to fill the tank.
Still thinking of delaying expert septic tank cleaning? You get to save more in the long run when you regularly hire experts to get the job done. That way, severe complications that require expensive repairs can be avoided.
One of the worst things that could happen to your septic system is for solid waste to infiltrate your leach field. To prevent this from happening, you will have to clean the tank out regularly to ensure that all solids that enter the tank are kept safely behind the baffles.
Planning to sell your home? Have the septic tank cleaned before you begin showing the house. In addition to preventing backup or overflow issues, it's also a good time to check for problems.
To prevent overloading your septic tank, consider running your dishwasher and washing machines later in the day, after everyone has showered or bathed.
When a septic tank is not pumped out regularly, there is not enough room for the solids and lighter elements to separate from the effluent, resulting in a contaminated or pipe-clogging discharge.
Bacteria is essential for the septic tank system to function properly. It helps create an environment that’s efficient in breaking down wastes. Sadly, even the most careful homeowners might unknowingly be flushing down substances containing chemicals that kill the bacteria.
If you have faucets that drip or toilet tanks that leak, you will need your septic system pumped more frequently. These seemingly minor problems add to daily water usage and contribute to more rapid filling of the tank.
Unlike a septic tank, whose function is to separate waste from effluent before it is discharged into the leach field, a holding tank only stores sewage. As such, they need to be pumped out more frequently.
There are three main components to a modern septic system: the tank, the drainfield, and the soil. Although they are all dependent on one another, each performs a specific role and must be properly maintained for efficient functioning.
Adding a gray water system to your home’s plumbing will improve the overall performance of its septic system. Gray water lines can be laid out so that your gardens, shrubs, and lawns can be watered by them.
Baffles on septic tanks are designed to prevent clogging of inlet and outlet liquid. If the original installation was improper or, as in the case of steel tanks, the baffles have rusted, consider replacing the damaged baffles with septic tee pipes made from plastic.
Lots of monitoring and evaluation are required to determine, locate, and address problems with your septic tank. Expert cleaning service providers conduct a thorough evaluation of your tank and will also give the best solutions to fix any issues.
If you have a septic system, do not allow chemicals such as anti-freeze, household cleaners, gasoline, or other toxic substances to enter. They can corrode the tank as well as permanently pollute the leach field.
Septic tanks have at least two chambers that work in unison to separate sewage from effluent before sending it to a leach field. If you notice an odor coming from the leach field, there is a problem somewhere in the system.
Be careful when planting trees on your property. If they are placed too close to the septic drain field, there is a tremendous risk of root invasion into the lines in the field. If this happens, either the trees will need to come down or the drainage field moved.
According to the USDA, the main reason a drainage bed fails is because of improper maintenance and cleaning of the tank. This, in turn, causes the soil absorption system to clog because of a buildup of solids throughout the system.
If you have faucets that drip or toilet tanks that leak, you will need your septic system pumped more frequently. These seemingly minor problems add to daily water usage and contribute to more rapid filling of the tank.
When properly maintained, a septic tank can last for fifty years. One way to keep it in good working order, besides regular service, is to ensure the access point is above grade to prevent the infiltration of dirt, debris and water.
If the septic tank is suspect, whether due to age or capacity, you should have it pumped out before and after periods of heavy use to both avoid a backup and to restore the system to more manageable levels.
Among the things that should never be flushed into a septic system are: cat litter, diapers (cloth and disposable), dryer sheets, dirt, last night’s stew, cotton swabs, cigarette butts, and a host of other materials. They will either clog the system or interfere with its natural decomposing processes.
If your septic tank is constantly filled to within a foot of the top, it may be time to consider replacement. Cleaning it out is only a temporary fix and, besides delaying the inevitable, more serious problems could arise.
Be careful with what chemicals enter your septic system. The wrong ones will not only kill the bacteria needed to break down the effluent in the system, they will also permanently damage the leach field.
If your septic tank fills with silt after a heavy flood, you're going to want to have it cleaned out as soon as possible. Using it in that state is definitely something you shouldn't do as its significantly reduced capacity may cause wastewater to back up and overflow.
If your septic tank is due for cleaning, you should also take the opportunity to have the system inspected thoroughly. Leaks in particular, should be dealt with immediately as they may cause dangerous pathogens to enter the environment.
Inadvertently driving over or parking on any part of your septic tank and system will damage it. The tank can collapse, pipes be crushed, or the leach field damaged. Each of these will require professional service and repair.
If your septic system uses a grinder pump, septic pump, or sewage ejector pump, even tiny, seemingly innocuous items like dental floss and cotton swaps can cause the motor to burn out, damage the impeller, and other expensive damage.
High levels of sewage in the septic tank are an indication that there is a blockage somewhere along the baffles or outlet pipe, the discharge pipe, or the drain field. Each section needs to be tested and serviced in order to clear the clog or block.
If you are putting your home on the market, it is always a good idea to have the septic tank pumped before you begin showing the house. Not only does this prevent back up or overflow issues, it is also a good time to check for any problems the system may have.
Periodic inspection and cleaning of your septic tank will ensure that it always works as it should. As such, it should be part and parcel of the upkeep of your home and not just something to attend to when problems arise.
Corroded, damaged, or failing baffle systems in septic tanks can contribute to other problems in the septic system since they will no longer prevent solids from flowing out into the septic absorption field.
While there may be a generally recommended pumping interval, that is not an absolute; the number of people in the household and the tank size determine how often the system needs to be pumped out.
For added protection to your drain field, as well as providing peace of mind, your septic system may benefit by installing a filter to the outlet tee in the system in order to reduce the amount of suspended solids leaving the tank.
If you are putting your home on the market, it is always a good idea to have the septic tank pumped before you begin showing the house. Not only does this prevent back up or overflow issues, it is also a good time to check for any problems the system may have.
Did you know that hefty septic tank repair costs are actually the result of the lack of regular inspection, cleaning, and maintenance? Regular septic tank cleaning offsets major costs linked to replacements and repairs.
Adding a gray water system to your home’s plumbing will improve the overall performance of the septic system. Gray water lines can be laid out so that your gardens, shrubs, and lawns can be watered by it.
Aerobic septic systems (aka Aerobic Treatment Units, or ATUs) operate through the introduction of oxygen (fine air bubbles) into the system, promoting the growth of beneficial, aerobic bacteria to improve the treatment of effluvia.
Never work around a septic tank alone. In addition, make sure that all covers and hinges are not damaged and in proper working order. This will prevent their failing to keep people and pets from falling in.
Never work around a septic tank alone. In addition, make sure that all covers and hinges are not damaged and in proper working order so that they will not collapse in order to prevent people and pets from falling in.
Be careful using anti-bacterial soaps and detergents in your daily routines. Their chemical makeup destroys the bacteria in your septic system that helps to breakdown waste materials. Using regular soap and rubbing thoroughly will do the trick and not inhibit the septic system.
If your area experiences serious flooding, you're going to want to check your septic tank for damage. Settling or floating in particular, can lead to pipe connections being severed, which will cause waste to leak out.
In general, there are three issues that create problems with the leach field of your septic system: the septic tank needs has overfilled and needs to be pumped, a pipe is blocked causing a backup of effluent, or the drainage field is clogged.
Garbage disposals are not recommended for homes with septic systems. The finely ground products will float on the surface of the water and make their way into and clog lines. Consider composting vegetable matter and disposing of animal by-products.
Aerobic septic systems (aka Aerobic Treatment Units, or ATUs) operate through the introduction of oxygen (fine air bubbles) into the system, promoting the growth of beneficial, aerobic bacteria to improve the treatment of effluvia.
As important as trees and shrubs are for the environment and for your home’s look, their roots can wreak havoc with septic systems. Before planting, locate the tank and lines. Then consider the species being planted and locate them far enough away from the system so its roots do not invade it.
Drain lines from the home to the septic tank can become clogged by waste material, roots, or from partial or complete collapse. Having a trained septic technician inspect the system is the most effective method of identifying the problem.
When a septic tank is not pumped out regularly, there is not enough room for the solids and lighter elements to separate from the effluent, resulting in a contaminated or pipe-clogging discharge.
If the septic tank is suspect, whether due to age or capacity, you should have it pumped out before and after periods of heavy use to both avoid a backup and to restore the system to more manageable levels.
In a properly working septic tank, there are three levels; on top is the scum – grease, oils, other materials lighter than water; a clear effluent in the middle; and solid waste on the bottom. Only the effluent should be exiting the tank.
Ever wonder what happens to the stuff from the septic tank? After we pump it out, we take the waste to a proper treatment facility where it is safely processed according to local and EPA guidelines.
The septic distribution box (aka D-box) connects the effluent line to the network of leach lines in the absorption system, or to seepage galleys or pits, and is used to regulate the rate of flow to the lines.
Because an inlet tee slows water when it enters in order to prevent agitation and disruption of the three layers in the tank, it is best to set the depth of the bottom of the pipe to just short of halfway into the tank. This should clear the scum layer yet not stir up the bottom sludge.
Before hosting a large party, have the septic tank pumped out, especially if it has been a while since it has been done. This will help prevent an accident as well as avoiding inadvertently overloading the system.
Ever wonder what happens to the stuff from the septic tank? After we pump it out, we take the waste to a proper treatment facility where it is safely processed according to local and EPA guidelines.
The septic distribution box (aka D-box) connects the effluent line to the network of leach lines in the absorption system, or to seepage galleys or pits, and is used to regulate the rate of flow to the lines.
For added protection to your drain field, as well as providing peace of mind, your septic system may benefit by installing a filter to the outlet tee in order to reduce the amount of suspended solids leaving the tank.
Contrary to myth and misunderstanding, the purpose of a septic system is not to dispose of waste materials. Its purpose is to treat contaminated water before it reenters the water system. If a system malfunctions, it cannot perform the job for which it was designed.
Because an inlet tee slows water when it enters in order to prevent agitation and disruption of the three layers in the tank, it is best to set the depth of the bottom of the pipe to just short of halfway into the tank. This should clear the scum layer yet not stir up the bottom sludge.
Before hosting a large party, have the septic tank pumped out, especially if it has been a while since it has been done. This will help prevent an accident as well as avoiding inadvertently overloading the system.
Ever wonder what happens to the stuff from the septic tank? After we pump it out, we take the waste to a proper treatment facility where it is safely processed according to local and EPA guidelines.
The septic distribution box (aka D-box) connects the effluent line to the network of leach lines in the absorption system, or to seepage galleys or pits, and is used to regulate the rate of flow to the lines.
