Septic Pumping And Tank Cleaning Is Important For A Healthy Home

Septic tanks are used to treat household wastewater. That's everything from toilet tissue and bath water to cooking grease and floor drain water. These tanks function by separating the wastewater from the solids. When wastewater sits in a septic tank, microorganisms break it down into a liquid called effluent that is filtered through the soil at the drain field.

The process of breaking down waste in a septic system seems pretty simple, but septic tank pumping is a crucial part of the job. Thus, you want to know about septic system pumping to keep it in good health.

Signs of Septic System Problems

The most important sign of septic system problems is a bad smell. This is a surprisingly common problem, and it's very easy to fix. If the septic system is poorly designed or poorly installed, a lot of waste will escape into the environment. The issues are often due to seepage and the waste not going where it is supposed to.

There are several solutions to these septic system problems. First, you can separate the shower and bathroom water from the rest of the water going to the septic system. This greywater is a major cause of septic system overburden. Using the greywater from showers and appliances can help reduce strain on the septic system and smells that come from overburden.

Second, you can empty the septic tank more often. If this isn't possible, you could install another tank. If your septic system is large enough, you may be able to add a second tank. Adding a secondary tank can be expensive, and more frequent pumping might be a better solution to the problem.

If the problem is slow drains, you probably also have an aerobic septic system. An aerobic septic system has less impact on the environment if it fails. An aerobic septic system relies on bacteria to eat waste. If there is too much waste, the bacteria can't keep up. So sometimes, a septic system is the victim of too much waste.

The other problem with aerobic septic systems is that they can clog. If enough waste builds up, it forms a plug that blocks the flow of wastewater and effluent to the drain field. Pumping the tank will solve most of these problems.

Basic Components of Septic Systems

A septic system consists of three main parts: the septic tank, the distribution box, and the drain field.

Septic Tank

The septic tank is an underground tank that collects all the wastewater from your house, including toilets, sinks, showers, and laundry machines, and separates solids and liquids. The liquid parts are pumped out through the drain field while the solids settle to the bottom of the tank.

Distribution Box

The distribution box helps to evenly distribute liquids to the drain field. It can consist of a small tank with a pump that is connected to individual lines of the drain field. Most often, the distribution system is a simple conjunction box that collects all the drain field lines.

Drain Field

A drain field is a large, shallow pit filled with gravel, soil, and sand and is designed to collect the wastewater from the leach field. The gravel and sand allow the wastewater to seep into the ground. The soil also filters the wastewater, and as it settles, it removes some of the solids.

The Complete Waste Treatment Process

The drain field is where most of the wastewater is treated. The wastewater leaves your house and is pumped into the drain field. The wastewater flows through pipes filled with gravel, sand, and natural or artificial soil in the drain field. The wastewater seeps into the soil and is filtered by gravel, sand, and natural or artificial soil. The wastewater is then absorbed into the earth, where it is filtered and broken down.

It is important to know these components of your septic system because they could be the cause of problems, causing you to need more frequent pumping of the tank.

Keep your family and your environment safe by keeping your tank clean. Contact a septic pumping service to help with the maintenance your septic system needs.