Your septic system is important to the comfort, and even the safety, of you and your household. When septic tanks have a problem, the resulting issues can take a tremendous amount of time, money, and trouble to fix.
You should learn how to take good care of your system so you can avoid costly repairs. To help, we’ve put together a basic guide to what’s going on in your septic system.
What is the septic tank?
Your septic tank collects all the wastewater from your home’s drains. Everything from your laundry to your shower to your kitchen drain flows into this tank. The tank is divided into sections so that the solid items in your wastewater settle at the bottom, while the water stays at the top.
Down at the bottom, bacteria eats away at the solids until they are nothing more than gases and some sludge. This system works very well, but there are always some solids that don’t decompose efficiently in the tank.
You’ll need to have the tank pumped clean every three to five years, and more often if you have a tank too small for the load you put on it. This removes the solids that aren’t decomposing properly.
What are the other parts of the system?
In addition to your tank, you also have what is known as a drain field. This is where the waste water from the tank eventually seeps out and down into the ground. The drain field has perforated pipes laid along it on top of trenches filled with gravel.
Over time, the wastewater moves along these pipes, out of the holes, and gets absorbed into the dirt through the gravel. The gravel keeps this process from happening too quickly so that the ground doesn’t get saturated and soggy.
Your septic system might also come with a grinder to hel chew up larger solids so they degrade more efficiently. In some cases, the tank is built in a series of steps rather than one large container.
What happens if the tank isn’t maintained?
If your septic tank isn’t maintained properly or is regularly strained beyond capacity, the tank can leak or the pipes may be overloaded. Failed systems allow pollutants into the ground, and these can threaten your local groundwater.
A bad tank can also eventually back up into your home, causing costly damage to your property. It may also destroy your landscaping if the drain field becomes too wet or if the tank itself is leaking.
How to maintain your tank
Every year: Once every year, you should inspect the tank. You can do this yourself if you know how, or call septic tank cleaners to come have a look for you. Check that all the levels in the tank are ok; the bottom of the scum layer should never be within three inches of the outlet drain.
The top of the sludge layer should never be closer than a foot to the bottom of the outlet. If you notice either layer is too close to the outlet, it’s time to pump the tank. You should also check at least once a year that your drain field has no wet spots or unusual smells.
Every three to five years: Even if the levels of your tank seem ok on visual inspection, it’s still a good idea to get the system pumped out at least every five years. This is also a good time to check that all the pumps are working and that no cracks have developed.
Be sure to keep clear, accurate records of all the maintenance you’ve done on your septic tank. This helps professionals determine what’s going on when they come to work on your tank. It also protects you with your insurance company, in the event that the tank fails.