Septic tanks collect wastewater from your home’s toilets, showers, and drains. Solid waste sinks to the bottom of the tank, and liquid flows out into a buried drain field.
Bacteria in the septic tank process the waste to separate it into scum, sludge, and effluent. The effluent flows to the drain field, where the soil purifies it further. Contact Septic Tank Armadale now!
When you flush a toilet, shower, or wash clothes, wastewater enters your home’s sewer line, which slopes toward the septic tank. The septic tank removes solid waste matter from the water and promotes bacteria digestion of some contaminants. The wastewater then flows into a soil absorption or drain field for further treatment.
When a septic tank’s bacteria digest contaminants, they release gases. These gases can cause clogs and leaky pipes, as well as an unpleasant odor in your home. To prevent these problems, the septic tank has a vent that allows the gases to escape. This vent must be properly installed and maintained to ensure safety.
As the septic tank fills, a layer of fats, oils and other solids forms on top of the wastewater. This layer is called scum. Special compartments and the septic tank outlet keep scum from leaving the tank with the wastewater. The wastewater layer on the bottom is called sludge. As the liquid from this layer drains into the drain field, a layer of uncontaminated soil filters and digests the pollutants. By the time it reaches groundwater, the wastewater is completely treated.
The septic tank also contains an inlet and outlet pipe, which is used to transport wastewater from the house. The inlet pipe enters the septic tank at one end, and the outlet pipe leaves it at the other. The septic tank is made from concrete, fiberglass or polyethylene. Concrete is the strongest and most durable material for septic tanks. Most septic tanks are located underground, which protects them from sunlight and temperature extremes that can crack plastic or fiberglass septic tanks.
Your septic system also includes a sludge separator, which separates the sludge from the wastewater in the tank. The sludge is usually transported to a landfill for disposal. The septic tank-soil absorption field system is the most common type of wastewater treatment and disposal system for rural homes.
If you want to extend the amount of time between cleaning your septic tank, use biological additives that encourage more microbes. Be careful not to overuse these products, however, because too many can actually upset the bacterial balance in the tank. You should also avoid flushing non-biodegradable waste items like cigarette butts, paint, dental floss, cotton buds or swabs down the toilet, as they can clog the system and lead to sewage backups into your home.
Septic Tank Design
A septic tank is a buried, water-tight container made of concrete, fiberglass or polyethylene. It collects wastewater from toilets and other household plumbing fixtures. The wastewater is held in the tank long enough to separate solids from liquids. Solid waste settles to the bottom, forming sludge. Oils and grease float to the top, where microorganisms break them down. The resulting liquid, called effluent, travels through a pipe into the drain field. A baffle keeps solids from flowing out with the liquid waste.
When you buy a home with a septic tank, it’s important that you find out who designed the system and if they followed state regulations. An improperly designed septic system can cause sewage to leak into groundwater and make people sick. This is why it’s so important to have a licensed professional design your system. A septic system with a well-designed drain field and properly sized tank will work for many years without needing to be pumped or replaced.
Septic tanks are designed to hold a maximum of about 900 gallons of waste for a single-family house. The size of the tank should be based on how many bedrooms are in the house and the amount of water used each day. The tank should be placed in a location that will not interfere with landscaping or driveways.
The inlet pipe, which transports wastewater into the septic tank, should have a diameter of at least 15 inches and have a slope of at least 2% all the way to the tank. The tank should also have a cover to prevent unauthorized access.
Once the wastewater enters the septic tank, the inlet and outlet pipes should be secured with an airtight seal to prevent leaking or clogging. A pump is sometimes installed to help move the liquid waste out of the septic tank into the drain field. This can be helpful if you have hard clay soil that cannot support a septic tank.
A drain field is a large area of soil that treats the septic tank wastewater. The drain field is made up of a series of pipes that filter the waste as it seeps into the soil, where microbes treat it further.
Septic Tank Maintenance
The septic tank is an underground sedimentation tank that treats household wastewater from toilets, showers, sinks and garbage disposals. It is used in areas where city sewers are not available or too expensive. A septic system allows sewage to be absorbed by the ground and evaporates without contaminating the water or causing odor problems. Septic systems are designed to use natural processes and proven technology to treat wastewater. There are two (2) main parts to every septic system: the septic tank and the absorption field.
The tank has a baffle that directs incoming wastewater downward toward the center. This helps to prevent surface scum from clogging the inlet pipe and makes it easier for solids to fall to the bottom of the tank and decompose. The septic tank must be pumped regularly to keep it from being full and overflowing into the drainfield. The pumping frequency depends on the size of the septic tank, how much is being used, and how much is being deposited into the tank. A high-level float is connected to an alarm that will notify the homeowner when the tank is close to being full.
If the septic tank is not pumped, it will eventually overflow into the drainfield, which will become saturated with sewage, which will block the soil pores and cause them to fail. It is the responsibility of the home owner to maintain their septic system.
Regular septic tank maintenance includes the inspection of the system by a licensed professional to verify that it is functioning properly. It also means limiting what is deposited into the tank, which will extend its life and reduce the cost of repair and replacement.
Do not flush chemical products, such as disinfectants, paint thinners, drain cleaners, floor cleaners, motor oil, antifreeze or pesticides, into the septic tank. Also, do not plant trees or shrubs too close to the septic tank or drainfield; their roots can penetrate and clog the system.
A septic system is an essential component of rural living, and it can save money on property taxes compared to homes hooked up to municipal sewer systems. However, if the septic system is not inspected and maintained, it can fail and cause costly damage to the surrounding environment, including the groundwater supply.
Septic Tank Repair
Septic tanks can be very expensive to repair if they aren’t maintained correctly. Depending on the type of septic system and how much work is needed to repair it, a homeowner may pay anywhere from $150 to $3,000 for a septic tank repair.
The first thing that a homeowner needs to do in order to save money on septic tank repair is to have their septic system inspected by professionals. A septic tank inspection can help homeowners learn a lot about their septic system, including whether or not it’s the right size for their home. Having an incorrectly sized septic tank is the most common reason that people need to replace their septic system.
A septic tank inspector will look for signs that the system is starting to break down. Some common problems include sewage leaking into the environment or into plumbing fixtures in the house. In addition, a professional will check the distribution box to make sure that it’s working properly.
If you notice a wet area or puddle located above the septic tank, it’s time to have your system repaired. Other symptoms that a septic tank might need repairing include gurgling in other drains and the odor of sewage in the yard. A septic tank also needs to be pumped out on a regular basis.
It’s important to avoid flushing non-biodegradable items into your septic system. Doing so will prevent clogs and waste buildup. Never flush cat litter, coffee grounds, condoms, diapers (even the “flushable” variety), tampons, grease, toilet paper, dental floss, baby wipes, or any other non-biodegradable items into your system.
Taking care of a septic system can save homeowners a lot of money over the course of its lifetime. The best way to do this is to have it inspected and cleaned on a regular basis. By following these simple tips, septic systems can operate without a hitch for their expected lifespans.
If you are looking for a trustworthy and knowledgeable team to inspect your septic system and perform maintenance on it, then contact John’s Plumbing & Pumps. We offer reliable septic tank repair services and can handle everything from a faulty septic alarm to an emergency septic system overflow. Contact us today to schedule a service.