When you flush your toilet, take a shower or wash clothes wastewater enters your house’s interior plumbing and flows to the septic tank outside. The septic tank holds household waste and sewage until microorganisms break it down. Contact Septic Tank Armadale now!
The weight of solid matter and sludge sinks to the bottom of the septic tank while floatables (fats, oils and greases) rise to the scum layer. Liquid wastewater exits the tank through a buried drain field.
The purpose of a septic tank is to remove solid wastes from household wastewater. The liquid portion of the sewage, called effluent, flows from your home into a soil absorption field where secondary treatment occurs. The bacteria in the soil performs the final deactivation of any disease germs that are left behind from the sewage. To prevent the solids from clogging your leach field, it is important to limit the amount of non-biodegradable or slowly biodegradable solids that go into the system. Ideally, solids should be reduced to less than 10 percent of the wastewater stream.
It is essential that your septic tank be pumped periodically. This removes the sludge layer and any fats, oils and grease that have collected at the top of the tank. It also ensures that the septic tank’s ventilation ports are not blocked by the sludge and that gasses, such as methane, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide, can escape from the septic system.
When it’s time for pumping, a truck with a large tank and special equipment will arrive at your house. The professionals will hook a hose to the tank and then a suction line will be lowered into the septic tank. Once the septic tank is completely pumped, the professionals will replace the lid and return to their truck. The pumping process usually takes 30-60 minutes. To prepare for this, it is a good idea to clear out the area around your septic tank. This can include removing any weeds or shrubs that need to be cut back to allow the truck access to the tank. It is also helpful to have an idea when the last septic tank cleaning or inspection was performed.
When the septic tank is being pumped, you may notice that your home or yard smells like sewage. It is important that you not use any drains or toilets during this time. Using the drains or toilets forces more wastewater into the septic tank which can overload it. Also, you should not plant any trees or park any vehicles near the septic system until it has been inspected and pumped by an experienced professional.
Cleaning
The septic tank is the central part of your septic system. It receives wastewater from all the household drains that connect to it. As sewage enters the septic tank, it separates into three general layers: solids (known as the sludge layer), floatables (called the scum layer) and a relatively clear water zone. Microorganisms living in your septic tank break down and treat this incoming sewage. The oxygen-free environment also deactivates some disease germs in the sludge and scum layers.
This process is aided by baffles or tees in your septic tank that ensure that only the liquid portion of sewage flows out into the drain field. The solids remain in the septic tank, where they decompose further. If a septic tank isn’t pumped regularly, the sludge layer can build up and prevent wastewater from flowing properly through your septic system.
Besides being an ecological disaster, this can lead to costly and dangerous septic tank failures, including sewage backups into the house and health hazards from contaminated waste. The best way to avoid this is by scheduling regular septic tank cleaning and inspections.
Septic tank cleaning is a messy job, and it requires special equipment. A septic service professional will locate the tank, uncover its access lids and assess the levels of sludge and scum. This assessment will help determine the cleaning and pumping needs of the tank. It may also reveal issues that require further inspection and repairs.
Once the septic tank is pumped out, it will be transported to a government-chosen disposal site. Then, the lines leading to the septic tank will be rinsed with water and inspected for any blockages.
Some homeowners use home-based cleaners to help break down solid waste in their septic tanks. However, these cleaners can be harmful to the bacteria that naturally live in a septic tank and help it work correctly. They can also be harmful to the health and safety of children and pets. As a general rule, you should avoid flushing household chemicals, antibacterial soaps and other non-organic waste. Other items that can cause problems include baby wipes, feminine products and cooking oils. These items can overload your septic tank or clog pipes.
Inspection
When a home uses a septic tank, it relies on natural and mechanical processes to treat wastewater. The septic tank sits underground and contains a large amount of waste and sediment, called sludge. Heavy solid materials like sand and clay sink to the bottom of the septic tank, where bacteria work to break down the sludge over time. Eventually, the septic system removes all solid material from the water, leaving a clear liquid behind called effluent. This liquid flows out of the septic tank into the drainage pipes and soaks into the soil and grass above.
A septic tank must be pumped regularly to keep it in good condition. Getting it pumped removes the sludge and sediment, which helps to avoid clogs in your drains and prevents wastewater from entering your home. A septic tank typically needs to be pumped every two or three years. A professional can help you determine how frequently you should have it pumped.
Keeping the septic system in good condition will also reduce your cost of maintaining your home. Having the septic system inspected by a professional will help you spot small issues before they become major problems, saving you money and ensuring that your family stays safe and healthy.
Some local communities require that you get a septic inspection before buying a home with a septic tank. In most cases, this requirement is for safety reasons. The inspection will look for signs of a faulty system, such as leaking or clogged pipes. The inspector will also examine the septic tank and drainage field to ensure that they are in good working condition.
The inspection will also check for septic tank baffles to make sure that they are in place and functioning properly. Having the baffles in place will ensure that sewage does not flow back into the house, which could cause serious health problems. The inspector will also examine the septic vent to make sure that it is in good condition and not blocked by any trees or shrubs.
To maintain your septic system, you can add 8 to 12-inches of mulch around the septic tank and pipes. The mulch should be made of organic material, such as straw or leaves. Avoid adding any wood mulch, which can cause the septic system to malfunction and lead to costly repairs.
Maintenance
The septic tank is the heart of your septic system and removes solid waste from wastewater. The soil absorption field (also called a drain field or leach field) filters, treats and disposes of the septic tank effluent. Keeping the septic tank free of solid waste protects your home plumbing and the septic system from clogging and early failure.
A septic tank is a water-tight, underground container made of concrete, fiberglass or polyethylene. It holds the wastewater long enough for solids to sink to the bottom and form a layer of sludge, while oils and grease rise to the top in a layer of scum. Bacteria in the septic tank digest these materials and liquids, leaving behind a clear zone of liquid wastewater. The liquid wastewater leaves the septic tank through a pipe to the drainfield.
As bacteria break down the wastewater contaminants, they produce gases. The most common is hydrogen sulfide, which smells like rotten eggs. To avoid a build-up of pressure that could stop or reverse the flow of wastewater, these gases are vented through a vent in the septic tank lid. Other gasses, including ammonia, nitrates and sulfur dioxide may be produced as well.
These gases should be checked regularly for leaks. If the gas levels are too high, it may be necessary to replace the septic tank baffles and/or tees. This can also be done in conjunction with the pumping procedure.
Whether you own a septic tank or a conventional sewer system, it is important to keep the drain field free of solid waste particles. This is the best way to ensure that the septic system works as intended and prevents groundwater contamination.
If your septic tank is not pumped regularly, the septic system’s drainfield will become full of solids and clogged, resulting in the septic system failing to function as designed. To avoid clogging the drain field, keep up with pumping frequency, repair leaking toilets and faucets, use water-conserving devices in bathrooms and kitchens, and divert roof rainwater into soil or downspouts away from the septic tank and drain field area.