A septic tank holds wastewater for treatment and disposal. Solid materials like grease and lightweight material float to the top, while heavier particles sink to the bottom and form a layer known as sludge.
Bacteria in the septic tank breaks down these solid waste particles. Then the sewage drains through the tank and into an absorption field or lateral field. Contact Septic Tank Armadale now!
Septic tanks allow wastewater to undergo a settling process, separating solid matter and sediment from the water. Heavier materials, such as oils and greases, sink to the bottom of the tank, where bacterial digestion breaks them down into sludge. Lighter masses, such as scum and floatable wastes, rise to the surface. The clear liquid in the middle, known as effluent, exits the tank through an outlet pipe and into a drain field area.
The septic tank does some biological treatment of the sludge and scum layers, but most of the treatment happens when the effluent seeps into the soil, absorbing and treating disease-causing bacteria and other organic material. It also helps to filter out some of the heavier materials that can clog pipes and cause wastewater to flow back into the house.
Your septic tank has a partition wall (also called baffle walls) that separates the different compartments inside the tank. The wall allows sludge and scum to remain in the first compartment, while the liquid flows to the second. The outlet baffle draws the liquid from mid-level and directs it to your septic system’s drain field. This design keeps sludge and scum from leaving the tank and clogging your drain field or other components.
As wastewater enters the septic tank from your home, it mixes with the sludge and scum layer until the two are separated. The inlet and outlet tees ensure that the separated wastewater is pushed out of the tank into your drain field on a daily basis. If a lot of water is used in your home over the course of a day, however, hydraulic pressure may push wastewater out of the septic tank before it has had time to settle. This can lead to a septic tank overflow and the unpleasant odor that accompanies it.
To avoid this, make sure to limit the amount of water you use in a single day and be careful what you flush down your toilets. Non-biodegradable wastes like cigarette butts, cotton swabs and menstrual hygiene products can clog your toilet and your septic system. Instead of flushing these items down the drain, you should dispose of them in a garbage can or at a hazardous waste facility.
Septic Pumping
Septic tank pumping removes the accumulated solid waste and sludge from your septic system, preventing it from overflowing into the drain field, where it can cause clogs and environmental contamination. A professional technician will use a specialized truck equipped with a vacuum hose to enter the septic tank through the access point and begin pumping.
As wastewater flows into the septic tank, solid waste settles to form the sludge layer while grease and other lightweight materials float to the top of the liquid wastewater (effluent). A series of baffles in the septic tank helps prevent the sludge from flowing out of the tank into the drain field.
The septic tank also helps eliminate pathogens from household wastewater before it filters through the soil in the drain field. When the septic tank is full, the liquid wastewater exits into the septic tank outflow pipe and into the soil absorption field through a series of pipes that are often bedded in gravel. The septic system’s soil microbes finish the treatment process by breaking down any remaining toxins in the wastewater.
Most septic systems need to be pumped every three to five years, depending on the number of people living in the house and the size of the septic tank. The more people in a home, the faster the septic tank will fill up, which is why it’s important to monitor your septic tank and call for service when you notice that the level of sludge has reached about a foot of sludge.
Once the septic tank is pumped, the professional will clean and flush the septic system to ensure that all of the sewage has been removed from the septic system. If you want to check how much sludge is left in your septic tank, try this at home: Use a long stick and lower it into the dark sludge in the tank until it hits the bottom. Then, pull up the stick and look at the velcro strip to see how many inches of sludge remain.
Before the professionals come to pump your septic tank, it is helpful to locate the septic tank and drain field, and clear the area surrounding the septic tank and drainage pipes to make it easier for them to access the tank. It is also a good idea to note when the last time was that you had your septic tank pumped, so that you know when it needs to be done again.
Septic Inspection
A home inspector can tell you a lot about your septic system without even taking the lid off it. They will flush toilets to make sure everything is working properly and walk around the yard to see if the drain field has any standing water or other signs of failure. However, that is a very limited check of the septic system and doesn’t give you an accurate picture of its reliability. A full septic inspection is needed for that.
A septic tank is the holding tank for all wastewater from your household. Wastewater is put into the septic system when you wash laundry, flush the toilets, and take a shower. The wastewater flows into the septic tank where bacterial action processes it. The resulting septic tank effluent is a filtered combination of floating scum, solid sludge, and clear liquid. There is also a small amount of gas produced from the anaerobic decomposition of the organic solids. These gases are vented and dispersed into the atmosphere without any noticeable odor or ill effects.
Septic tank inspection includes a visual examination of the septic tank and its components. This includes checking the condition of the riser lids, which connect to the inlet and outlet pipes in the septic tank. The inspector will also verify the operating liquid level, which should be at a specific height for proper functioning. The inspector will also run water in the house and inspect the flow of the wastewater from the home to see if it is making it all the way to the septic tank and into the absorption area.
The inspector will also dig up the access covers to the septic tank to check for cracks, corrosion, or other problems. The inspector will examine the inlet and outlet baffles, as well as the distribution box on the leach field. If the septic tank is located within a fenced-off area, the inspector will also remove the fence to look inside.
It is extremely important to note that only a licensed, equipped professional should enter the septic tank. Solid waste in the septic tank can produce toxic fumes that can cause asphyxiation. In addition, the septic tank is extremely heavy and could collapse in an unprotected environment.
Septic Repair
The septic tank is a large concrete box that holds household waste until it can be safely broken down by bacteria and yeast. Once broken down, the waste runs into the soil absorption field through a series of pipes bedded in gravel. The absorption field removes the remaining germs from the wastewater and treats it into a usable liquid called effluent. The septic tank also keeps solids from reaching the drain field, which prevents clogs and failure of the system.
The most common reason for a septic tank repair is that the septic tank itself has reached capacity and no longer has room for more waste. This is a very dangerous time to continue using the system and can lead to sewage backups into the house. When this happens, it’s essential to call a professional Cleveland plumber to have the tank pumped as soon as possible before there’s a crisis.
Other signs of a septic system problem include:
A foul smell around the toilets and drains. Sewage has a very pungent odor and can lead to serious health issues if exposed for extended periods of time.
Grass that is greener than other areas of the yard, as well as standing water or soggy soil near the septic tank, are also indications of a problem with the septic tank and/or the drainfield. Often, this is caused by a clog in the system that needs to be repaired immediately.
If the septic tank is older and has a very low capacity, it may need to be replaced with a larger one. This is a costly repair but can extend the life of your home’s septic system by decades.
To help maintain the performance of your septic system, never flush anything other than toilet paper and avoid overloading it with laundry and dishwashing loads. Keep pets, children and other people away from the tank and its drain field. Don’t park or drive over the drain field and avoid planting trees or other long-rooted plants close to it. Also, be sure that gutter downspouts are directed away from the tank, pipes and drain field.
