Ever wonder how your septic system actually works? Right- few of us understand that. But an expert can explain the process to you, and they can help you find out how to prevent some of the major issues that can occur.
Your septic tank and septic system is engineered to handle only certain materials, and anything else that is introduced into the system will cause it to malfunction. However, accidents happen, and if your septic tank or system is causing you problems, call us to service it.
Some examples of poor construction processes that contribute to septic drain field failure include insufficient or inadequate fill at sites with a high seasonal water table. The lack of elevation can lead to regular system flooding and repairs will be needed.
Your septic system functions like any plumbing system, even though it’s configured differently. If your sink or shower is draining slowly, you should have the tank inspected, but it’s more likely a clog has formed and needs to be cleared from the line.
While most municipalities and regulatory agencies require a septic tank to have a 1000 gallon capacity, that is not a hard and fast requirement. The number of people using the system and location-specific codes could require a greater capacity tank.
A septic tank is a buried, watertight container made of concrete, fiberglass, or polyethylene. In a septic system, the tanks job is to hold the wastewater long enough to allow solids to settle to the bottom while oil and grease floats to the top. The remaining wastewater is then released to the drain field.
To keep your septic tank in peak condition, experts recommend septic system owners use biodegradable cleaners. Oxidized bleaches, borax, vinegar, and baking soda are effective cleaning agents that are milder on your septic tank system and the environment.
When making repairs or replacing parts to your septic tank, it is a good time to have the tank pumped out. You should also check to make sure that groundwater is not entering the system at any of the various entry points, as it shortens the life of the drain field.
So how often should you have your septic tank pumped? This will depend on several factors, including the size of the tank, the number of people in the household, and whether the home uses a garbage disposal or not.
Care to guess how many homes in centrally located cities across the U.S. have septic systems instead of using city managed sewer system? That would be almost 750,000 homes.
Did you know that the less water your run through your septic system, the better the system will be able to treat wastes and remove pollutants? One of the best ways of maintaining your septic system is to conserve water.
One way to keep your soil absorption pit from failing is to have our professionals maintain it regularly, as regular maintenance is much less costly than repair.
Septic systems differ from cesspools in that a septic system has a tank for collecting solid waste matter in which it settles and begins to decompose. A cesspool is a pit where solids collect and is a leaching system for liquids.
If there is an old septic system on the property, or you will no longer be using the system that exists, the tank must be put out of service correctly. For this, there are two options. It can either be removed completely, or it can be backfilled with concrete, depending on code requirements.
Mechanical septic drain field repair involves physically creating space for the wastewater to drain from the septic system. First, the soil is fractured using compressed air to create the space. Then the space is injected with beads that will keep the gaps open even when the ground is compressed.
In a septic system, pretreated wastewater is discharged to the drain field, where the porous surface allows the water to filter through the soil. After the soil accepts, treats, and disperses the wastewater, it ultimately filters down into the ground water.
Did you know that many suburban neighborhoods built before the 1970s originally did not have central sewer service and thus relied on septic system? This is why so many homes today have abandoned septic tanks that need to be removed for safety reasons.
So what exactly is the sewer line? Your home’s sewer line is the part of the plumbing system that’s buried underneath your property and carries waste water out of your home. All of the drains in your home lead to the sewer line, which is why sewer problems can affect multiple areas in your home simultaneously.
A good way to look at a septic system is as a complete wastewater treatment plant that works on a small, single building scale. When all of the parts are working together perfectly, wastewater goes in, and treated water goes out into the drain field.
Your septic system first sends the wastewater to the septic tank. From there, it goes to the distribution box, then to the pipes in the drain field where it’s absorbed into the soil. If that soil can’t absorb the wastewater, then the whole system can have problems.
One of the best things you can do to prevent costly repairs to your septic system is to have the system inspected regularly. It’s imperative that you regularly have a professional check the sludge level in the receptacle; when tanks are overfilled they overflow, and this can be costly to clean up.
If you have a septic system, regular maintenance can keep it fully operational and prevent backup problems. Because usage varies from home to home, we will work with you to establish a pumping and cleaning routine that is best for you.
Experts cite improper maintenance and overloading as primary reasons why septic systems and drain fields fail prematurely. To prevent this, they recommend having the septic tank, piping and drain field inspected, maintained and repaired on a regular basis.
When replacing damaged septic tank baffles with new inlet and outlet tees, it is also recommended to check that all access areas and covers are safe, sound, and, most importantly, childproof. If the baffles need replacing, it is likely that these sections need to be addressed as well.