Septic Tank Maintenance – Three Essential Factors for Proper Septic Systems

Typically, a septic system combines the septic tank and the drainfield, a distributed arrangement that helps to drain the wastewater through the drainfield uniformly. Thus, for keeping a healthy, robust septic system, it is fundamental for homeowners to take care of the entire procedure through effective steps and management. Generally made of concrete or fiberglass with inlet and outlet pipelines, the septic tank is a watertight tank that takes in wastewater, flows through the sewer pipe from home.

On natural treatment of the wastewater including solids and liquids inside the tank, it gets parted in three layers. While the heavier solid settles at the bottom forming a sludge layer, the middle layer is occupied by wastewater and the portion of greases float as a layer of scum. What the bacteria contain of sludge and scum works naturally to break down the solids within wastewater, and that remain in the tank until it’s pumped.

Here comes the necessity of septic tank maintenance, which typically includes scheduled pumping of the tank by professionals in 3-5 years intervals followed by a needful inspection. Notably, the frequency of pumping the septic tank depends on three factors:

Household size/ septic tank size

Wastewater generated for the household purpose

The volume of solids particles in wastewater

Guidelines to Maintain the Efficiency of Septic System

1. Well-Scheduled Pumping

A septic tank also contains a T formed outlet that controls sludge and scum from flowing out of the septic tank and mix in the drainfield area. As per thumb rule, once the scum layer bottom is found within 6’’ of outlet (T) bottom, or the upper level of sludge is within 12’’ of the outlet, it’s the time; your tank needs to be pumped. This requires you to obtain septic tank maintenance service providers who inspect and check the level of scum and sludge and suggest you for pumping. It is recommended that you keep the record of the last pumping out of the septic, which helps for future reference.

2. (a)Efficient Use of Water

A simple equation is the more water you can conserve; the less enters into the septic system. Thus, efficient water usage should be taken as a priority in your program that makes your septic system optimally functional and lessens its failure rate. Take the following steps:

 Unlike the conventional toilet systems, the highly efficient newer ones use 1.6 gallons or its less water per flush. So, by replacement of outdated toilets with the latest series, you can brilliantly lessen the amount of water entering into the septic system.

 Use of innovating showers and faucet aerators that restrict water use, as you foster water conservation equally, your endeavor makes it possible to stop entering excess water into the septic systems.

 Choosing smaller loads of laundry on the washing machine and extending its use all through the week is a better choice than having huge loads and carrying out the whole laundry in a single day which might harm your septic system. It can increase the time of treating waste and cause a flood of the drainfield.

(b)Proper Disposal of Waste

Remember, your septic system is not any trash bin. Other than flashing human waste or toilet papers, never flash anything like cooking oil, photographic solutions, sanitary napkins, condoms, floss, cigarette butts, diapers of any kind of pesticides, paint, etc in the toilet. Equally, for effective septic tank maintenance, stay away from discarding toxic cleaners, grease, and other kinds of wastes in the sink, bathroom, or basins since they follow the same routine and increase the volume solid inside the septic chamber. To maintain a healthy septic system, flashing down such elements likely to destroy the biological agents or lessen their potency to treat and also clog the outlet pipes.

3. Maintain Drainfield

Given that, drainfield is an integral part of your septic system, aside from septic tank maintenance, it is essential to retain the draining field or disposal ground stable and undamaged that can cause unwanted seepage or leaching of wastewater. Prepared with a series of perforated pipes buried 1-3 ft below the soil surface that runs through the gravel and soil layers, a drainfield typically works as a great biological filter. So, as it’s not recommended to drive heavy trucks, cars over the drainfield, make sure not to plant any plant in the field since its roots can get into the lines and block them. Leaving the absorption field as grassland is a consistent choice rather than having concrete driveway or patio on it, that helps stop the erosion of the pipelines under the bed with increased water removal.