Understanding what is involved in septic tank pumping, it’s first important to understand what a septic system does and how it works. A septic system is an underground treatment system for household sewage. A typical septic system consists of 4 components: the pipe from the house, the septic tank, a drain field and the soil. Damage or malfunction of any of these components can cause the system to fail which can result in soil and drinking water contamination and costly repairs or replacements by the homeowner.
Contact Info:
Name: Billy Fowler
Email: [email protected]
Organization: ASAP Advanced Septic & Drainage, Inc.
Address: 5011 E Busch Blvd, Tampa, FL 33617
Phone: (813) 986-6070
Septic Tank Maintenance - 5 Essential Factors For Proper Septic Systems
Septic systems fulfill a crucial function for many homes and businesses, especially in rural areas, though many people are clueless as to how they work. While septic tanks are usually low-maintenance systems, they can become extremely tricky and expensive if something goes wrong. A basic knowledge is important to anyone wishing to avoid future problems with their septic tanks. What is a septic system? Septic systems are small-scale sewage treatment systems that are used in areas not connected to a sewage system operated by the government or a private company. They are often used by homes and farms in rural areas where it is too costly to connect to faraway sewage mains. Septic systems work by pumping wastewater from bathrooms, kitchens and laundry facilities into effluent tanks, which process the waste and then disperse it onto a septic drain field. What is a septic tank? What happens to waste that doesn't decompose? Some of the contents of the effluent tank will not decompose; therefore it is important to empty the tank occasionally. If tanks are not pumped the septic tank can fill with undecomposed substances that will be pumped into the drainage field. This can result in environmental problems as well as expensive repairs. How often the tank needs to be pumped clean varies depending on its size, the number of people using it and the outside temperature. Because there are so many variables, there is no rule of thumb for how often the tanks should be pumped: some need it every few years while other can go between 10 and 20 years without pumping. Have a professional inspect your tank to let you know when it needs to be pumped.
How it works
A very basic explanation of how the system works begins with waste water leaving the house through the plumbing network inside the house to the pipe leading to the septic tank. The tank is buried underground and is usually constructed in a water tight manner of concrete, fiberglass or polyethylene. It is intended to hold the waste water long enough to allow the solids to settle to the bottom (to form sludge) and the oils to float to the top (to form scum). Some of the solid waste decomposes as well. There are compartments and a “t” shaped outlet from the septic tank that prevents the sludge and scum from leaving the tank to travel to the drain fields. Once the liquid enters the drain field, it is filtered through the several layers of soil for the final treatment by removal of harmful bacteria, viruses and nutrients.
Tips for Maintaining Your Septic Tank
In order to ensure that your septic tank has no damages, you need to monitor it regularly. It is necessary to get in touch with the health department in your area to know about the regulations in terms of maintaining a septic tank. In case you face some septic tank issues, you have to hire a septic tank repair professional to take care of the operation. Your local health department can surely help you in finding the professional. But to make sure that your tank is working well all the time, here are some precautions that you can consider. Always Maintain Your Septic System There are many things that you can do to maintain your septic tank and you can go online to get some ideas. But one common way is to always be aware of how long you have last pumped your tank. Also, you have to know the last time you had issues with it. A lot of sewer and cleaning services stressed that it is necessary to your tank every three to five years. As a precaution to some tank problems in the future, you should know where your septic system is exactly located. Be Alert in Determining Trouble Signs Whenever you suspect tank leaking, you must contact your local health department immediately so the situation can be dealt with. Leakage signs include grass growth abundance in the drain field and overflow of water around the system. If your home is situated near a river or lake you observe that your friends or family have been experiencing illnesses after they swam into the water source, find a professional to test your water because it may be contaminated already. Be alert with unusual odors which could develop around the place.
Maintaining a regular schedule of septic tank pumping will help keep your system running efficiently and will save you hundreds of dollars in expensive system repairs.