A well-maintained septic system is a selling point for property. Regular cleaning and pumping removes accumulated solids that cause odors and prevents them from blocking your home’s drains.
Avoid parking vehicles or driving over septic tank and absorption field components to avoid damage. Also, keep structures and play areas away from the septic tank and distribution box to protect them from accidental damage. Visit https://septic-guys.com/ to learn more.
Septic systems are a lifeline for wastewater management in homes and other buildings that don’t connect to municipal sewer lines. But many homeowners don’t think of septic system maintenance until there’s an emergency, like sewage backups or foul odors. Regular maintenance services protect against septic system failure and costly repairs.
A septic tank is a large container that stores waste until it’s processed by bacteria. Bacteria digestion and liquefaction help to remove harmful pathogens, reduce odors, and keep waste from flowing into the environment. The septic tank also contains an outlet pipe that disperses the wastewater into your property’s drain field. The drain field, sometimes called an absorption field or leach field, is the area in your yard where the wastewater seeps into soil to be treated by microorganisms and natural processes.
If the septic tank fails or the absorption field becomes waterlogged, the entire system can fail to function properly. Excessive rain, rapid snow melt, or flooding can cause the drainage field to become saturated and prevent wastewater from reaching the tank. In addition, a septic tank that is overfilled may overflow into your home.
The septic tank’s biological process depends on bacteria, oxygen, and nutrients to break down waste and liquefy human wastewater. A septic system with low bacteria levels can’t digest and liquefy waste, leading to solids buildup that leads to clogged plumbing and offensive odors. To maintain a healthy bacteria level, avoid using chemical drain and toilet cleaners or other toxic household products. Instead, try installing efficient showerheads and faucets and washing your clothes over several days rather than back-to-back.
An untreated septic system can pollute groundwater and local water bodies, posing health risks to people and pets. Left unaddressed, septic tank problems can lead to expensive and disruptive plumbing repairs, sewer backups, or sewage spills that can damage your house or create hazardous conditions for children and pets.
With preventative maintenance, septic systems operate safely for many years. Keeping detailed records of inspections, pumping, and repairs will help you identify potential issues early, saving you money and potentially preventing a serious septic system failure. Managing these tasks with septic service software like Smart Service can streamline workflow, customer management, and scheduling. Get a free demo of the software today to learn how it can help you supercharge your business.
Inspections
Septic systems are used to treat and dispose of wastewater in homes that aren’t connected to public sewer systems. Wastewater flows from the household plumbing into the septic tank, where solids are partially broken down and separated from effluent (water). The effluent exits the septic system into the drain field, where it is naturally filtered by bacteria. Regular septic system inspections help to ensure that this process is working correctly and efficiently.
During a septic inspection, a qualified technician examines the condition of the septic tank, leach field and distribution box. They may also conduct a flow test, which involves running water through the system to observe its performance and check for any blockages or inefficiencies.
Inspectors will usually start by examining the surface signs of problems, such as ponding water and effluent seepage. They’ll also look for any odors or changes in water flow that might indicate an issue. If possible, the inspector will dig to expose and uncover the septic tank to inspect its interior, including checking for cracks or other issues. They’ll also look at the inlet and outlet baffles and evaluate the operating liquid level of the tank.
Once the septic tank is inspected, the inspector will move on to the leach field and distribution box. The drain field is responsible for absorbing wastewater from the house and redistributing it into the soil, so it needs to be in good condition. Inspectors will check the leach field for any clogs or plant roots, as well as assess the condition of the pipes that connect it to the septic tank and the drainfield.
Homeowners can do a lot to help their septic system work efficiently, including installing water-conserving devices in faucets and showerheads, fixing dripping toilets, and avoiding using drain and toilet cleaners that contain hazardous chemicals. They should also keep shrubs and long-rooted plants away from the drain field to prevent them from growing into and blocking the pipes. And it’s a good idea to map out the location of the septic tank and other components to make it easier to access them when performing yard maintenance or doing home repairs.
Pumping
A septic system must be regularly pumped to remove the solids that accumulate. A septic service technician stretches a large hose from a truck to an opening on the tank, which is usually outside the house. The hose vacuums up the liquid and the floating scum, as well as any sunken sludge.
This is a critical maintenance procedure that keeps sewage from back-uping into the home and drain field, which could also flood above ground, running off into creeks and rivers, or tainting groundwater. It can also help extend the life of the septic tank and prevent damage to the absorption field.
The frequency of pumping depends on the number of people in the household and how much water is used. It is recommended that households with three or more people have their septic tanks pumped every 1-3 years.
During the septic system pumping process, a septic service technician can inspect the tank, its baffles, sump pumps and the aerator shaft for any issues. In addition to cleaning and inspecting, a septic system professional can recommend any repairs or replacements needed.
It is important to keep grass and shallow-rooted plants away from the septic tank, distribution box and drainfield. These plants can grow into and clog the pipes, as well as block the drainfield. Parking vehicles or building structures, such as decks and swimming pools, over the septic system can also cause it to malfunction.
It’s also a good idea to map out the location of your septic system, either by drawing a diagram or marking components with stakes in your yard. This will make it easier to access the system during yard work and other home maintenance, and can help prevent damaging the system when doing projects such as landscaping. If you aren’t sure where your septic system is located, ask your local health department for help. They may have records from construction permits, and they can also help you find the septic tank and other system components. They may also be able to provide a list of certified pumpers and inspectors.
Installation
When a home owner wants to expand their plumbing or build an addition, septic system installation services are needed. This is a complex process that requires special equipment to dig trenches and place the new septic tank. The company that performs the installation can also handle all related permitting and inspections.
Having an improperly installed septic system can lead to costly repairs in the future and even environmental health hazards for the homeowner and the community. This can include the release of raw sewage into the soil, groundwater and surface water. The most common causes of septic system problems are overuse of the plumbing system, improper waste directing and inadequate septic tank ventilation.
Wastewater from toilets (called blackwater) and bathtubs, showers, sinks, washing machines and dishwashers (called greywater) run into a main sewer line that slopes downward toward the septic tank. Solid materials sink to the bottom of the septic tank and form sludge, while greases, oils and other floating materials float to the top of the tank and form scum. Anaerobic bacteria in the septic tank break down these materials to liquid wastewater that seeps through perforated pipes into a drain field, where it disperses into the surrounding soil.
Inspecting septic systems and getting them pumped regularly will help to ensure that they work properly for the long term. Some ways homeowners can prevent septic system problems are to limit the number of people using the plumbing system at one time, to wash clothes and dishes with cold water instead of hot, to take shorter showers and to use their garbage disposal sparingly.
Septic system repairs can be very expensive and should only be done by a licensed septic service professional. Homeowners can avoid costly repairs by having their septic tank pumped every 3 to 5 years and following tips to reduce the amount of wastewater entering the septic system.
Septic systems aren’t glamorous, but they’re essential to keeping homes sanitary and healthy. When a septic system breaks down, it can cause expensive damage and affect the value of a home. To protect their investments, homeowners should look for septic services companies that offer preventative maintenance, inspection and repair. Septic companies that use septic system software can streamline scheduling and customer management, helping their customers to keep their septic systems working at peak performance for years to come.