Every time you flush a toilet, wash laundry or take a shower wastewater enters your home’s sewer line. This wastewater flows to your septic tank, where bacteria break down contaminants.

The septic tank undergoes a natural separation process, where solids settle to the bottom and scum floats to the top. This helps prevent a clogged and overflowing drain field. Click the Visit Website to learn more.

The benefits of a septic tank include providing homeowners with an effective method of pre-treatment for wastewater before it’s sent to an absorption field or other sewage treatment facility. This process reduces odor, prevents contamination of groundwater and minimizes disease-causing germs from entering the environment.

Wastewater flows into the septic tank through an inlet pipe, where it is collected until there is enough of it to reach its capacity. The septic tank is designed to separate the water into three general components — solids or “sludge”, floatables or the “scum layer” and a zone of relatively clear liquid called effluent. Anaerobic bacteria live inside the septic tank and perform the first phase of treatment, digesting and reducing solid materials and deactivating disease-causing germs.

After this initial treatment, the clear liquid called effluent exits the septic tank through a drainfield through perforated pipes. This untreated wastewater seeps into the soil to undergo a natural purification process as it filters through rocks, dirt and sand to remove any remaining pollutants.

A septic tank can last up to 40 years or more, especially if it is well-maintained and pumped regularly. A homeowner can avoid costly repair bills and repairs by having the septic tank pumped every 3 to 5 years as recommended by the septic system manufacturer.

Homeowners with a septic tank should also take care to avoid non-septic-safe items from being flushed down drains and toilets, such as feminine hygiene products, tampons, dental floss, condoms, paper towels, cigarette butts, diapers and cat litter. These can cause blockages and clogs in the septic system and surrounding pipes.

Lastly, homeowners should avoid planting trees or shrubs too close to the drainfield. Roots can enter and clog the drain lines, and driving or parking on the drainfield can cause damage to the septic tank or buried pipes.

Homeowners who are considering buying a property with a septic system should ask to have the tank inspected before making any offers. A contingent offer requiring the completion of a septic inspection will show that a buyer is serious about the purchase and willing to wait for the results of any required maintenance.

Installation

The septic tank is an efficient system for wastewater treatment, acting like a mini-treatment facility in your backyard. It separates solid waste into three general components: solids or sludge, floatables or the scum layer, and a zone of water. Anaerobic bacteria inside the tank break down the solids and liquidize the floatables. The resulting liquid sewage leaves the tank and flows into the drain field, where it filters through soil into groundwater and surface watercourses. This septic system removes disease-causing germs from the household and minimizes their impact on the environment.

Choosing the right septic tank for your house depends on the size of your home and how much water you use. The tank should be large enough to hold your projected amount of water for several years, but not so big that it will overflow. Overflowing a septic tank is a serious problem that could damage your home or infect neighbors with disease-causing germs.

When installing a septic tank, it is essential to follow all local regulations. It’s also important to hire a professional for installation and to have the system tested afterward to make sure it meets all requirements. A professional septic tank contractor will check the system to ensure there are no leaks, mechanical problems, flooding or drainage issues.

In addition to excavating and preparing the site, a septic tank installation company will install the inlet and outlet pipes. They’ll also install a distribution box, if needed. To ensure a long-lasting septic tank, the installer will ensure that the buried pipe sizes are correct. They’ll also recommend the proper backfill material, such as concrete, gravel or sand.

Once the tank is in place, it’s time to install the drain field. The drain field is a series of pipes that move pre-processed sewage to the soil. The installer will dig a trench that’s at least 18 inches deep and line it with sand or gravel before installing the pipes. It’s important that the drain field is installed in soil that drains quickly to avoid water pooling and clogging. After the septic tank and drain field are installed, they’ll be filled with backfill and compacted carefully to prevent damage.

Maintenance

A septic tank is a large underground container where wastewater from showers, sinks, and toilets goes when it leaves your home. It temporarily holds the waste until bacteria and other microorganisms break it down and process it. Then the sewage moves into a soil absorption field (drain field) where it is filtered and absorbed into the ground.

A home septic system requires regular inspection and frequent pumping to keep it functioning properly. If a septic tank fails, it may leak sewage into the soil or drain lines, contaminating drinking water and causing expensive cleanup. A properly working septic tank-soil absorption system can provide years of trouble-free service, with proper care and maintenance.

Several factors influence septic tank cleaning and pumping frequency. Household size and water usage contribute to the amount of wastewater and solids produced, which in turn determines how often a tank must be cleaned. In addition, septic tanks are designed to hold certain amounts of scum and sludge, and when these exceed their capacity, they will overflow into the drain field.

To maintain optimal performance, the septic tank should be pumped when the bottom of the scum layer is within 6 inches of the outlet tee, and the top of the sludge layer is within 12 inches. The tank should also be inspected during cleaning and pumping to ensure that baffles or tees are in place and intact.

It is important to have the tank cleaned by a licensed professional who will ensure that all solids are removed from the septic tank and not pumped back into the drain field. A professional will also check the condition of the tank to make sure that it is structurally sound and that all inspection ports are open. It is recommended to install a watertight riser over the tank and use it for inspections and pumpings.

Avoid dumping anything into your septic system other than household wastewater and toilet paper. Chemicals, sanitary napkins, and other products can overload the system and lead to failure. Keep cars and heavy machinery off the drainfield, and plant grass or other shallow-rooted plants to help protect it. Divert down spouts and other surface water away from the septic tank, drainfield, and repair area to prevent flooding.

Troubleshooting

There are many things that can go wrong with a septic system that are out of the homeowner’s control. However, there are also certain best practices that can be followed in order to prevent these problems from occurring. These include ensuring that the tank is pumped regularly, using only organic waste products and avoiding flushing wet wipes or other non-biodegradable items. Regular inspections are also essential.

Some signs that there may be a problem with your septic system include water or sewage backing up into your home’s drains and foul odors wafting through the property. If you notice these symptoms, it’s important to contact a professional septic tank service right away. Sewage backups can be hazardous to your health and could lead to costly repairs.

The most common issue with septic systems is clogged drains. This can be caused by a number of things, including the buildup of solid waste and other debris that doesn’t get broken down in the tank. It can also be caused by heavy rainfall causing the ground to become oversaturated and leading to an overflow of the septic tank and drainfield.

It’s also important to note that some clogs can be caused by the buildup of organic materials in the septic system itself. This is especially true if the septic tank is not emptied on a regular basis.

Other causes of septic tank problems can include improper installation. This can be due to a number of factors, such as not installing the tank at the recommended depth or not providing access points for inspection and maintenance. It can also be caused by improper slope of the sewer line to the septic tank.

Lastly, if the septic tank or drainfield are being used as a parking lot, it’s important to keep in mind that it can put a great deal of pressure on the drain lines and cause them to break. To avoid this, it’s essential to park vehicles and other equipment elsewhere whenever possible.