Working closely with a local plumber should help you keep your septic tank in good shape, whether it’s a septic tank with a pump chamber, an 800-gallon septic tank, or an 850-gallon septic tank. This is because all septic tanks need regular maintenance in order for them to stay in their best shape and not fail unexpectedly. That said, the material that the septic tanks are made out of can dictate the care that needs to be taken of them. As such, you may have to find an expert who is knowledgeable about metal septic tanks if yours is made of metal.
By keeping up with preventative maintenance, you have the chance to extend the lifespan of your home’s septic tank. You can also avoid ending up with a failed septic tank, which could leave you with a number of issues to handle, none of which are enticing. When the experts inspect and maintain your septic tank on a regular basis, they can identify potential issues and deal with them long before they get out of hand and become costly to handle. They can also help you learn about the danger signs to watch out for so that you can take the right steps.
Over 60 million Americans, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), have septic tanks. If you fall into this category, you might wonder what your septic system is made of and how it operates. While we have above ground tanks, systems that are entirely underground can be more intriguing. Did you know that it is your responsibility as a homeowner to keep your septic system operating properly? Are you aware that keeping up with your septic system safeguards your investment?
Keeping your above ground sewer tank pumped out and checked regularly is important. But you need to understand how the system works.
The above-ground septic tank treats wastewater by draining and allowing it to decompose biologically. Above-ground septic tanks are very common in regions with bad drainage systems or isolated from the main sewage network because they enable the safe disposal of wastewater. An ordinary septic system of an above ground waste water tank consists of four basic parts: a pipe from the house, a septic tank, a drain field, and soil.
In this article, we’d like to help you to understand some of the components of a septic system. If you need septic services, such as having your tank pumped, keep reading.
Your septic system might be the last thing you want to learn about. However, learning about different kinds of septic systems will help you when you have to answer the question, “Do I need to have my septic tank pumped?” You may not need to hire a professional company to come to your home if you know some detailed information. These are some commonly asked questions about septic tanks:
Do All Septic Tanks Have Pumps?
Many septic tanks have automatic pumps because it is necessary for them to be pumped constantly. The pumping action rids the home of waste. If a septic tank does not get pumped, many problems will arise inside the house. One such problem is a foul smell. Some environmental damage can also occur if the tank isn’t pumped.
Do I Need My Septic Tank Pumped?
Everyone needs their septic tank pumped regularly. The number of times your specific septic tank needs to be pumped depends on its size. Some tanks fill up shortly after they get pumped. Other ones take a while to fill. You may need to do some research to find out what type of tank you have. Then you can gain more knowledge about whether it needs to be pumped and how often.
What are septic tanks, you ask? I’m glad I’m here to explain.
Septic tanks are large tanks, usually divided into two sections, used to eat away, destroy, and eliminate waste using bacteria. It is the scientific method, used by home scientists, for places that are not attached to any form of municipal waste water system. They are difficult to build, easy to manage, and hopefully in general will run themselves.
It has history, going back hundreds of years to different periods in time. It has durability, with some lasting for decades or even centuries. It has utility, decomposing waste that otherwise would never be decomposed of. And it should, hopefully, never have to be brought to the ground and reconstructed.
In America, we use million of gallons of water each day. The average tonnage of the amount of water we use every second, minute, hour, day, week, month, and year would be difficult to manage in even the most complete water management systems. America has a good one, some would say even a great one, but some homeowners don’t have the luxury of participating.
America is made up of many parts. There is urban, there is rural, there is midwestern, there is southern, there is North Eastern, and there is the wild west of California. It’s unfortunate that those living in homes in suburbs or high rises or high priced condos have all the luxuries that come with modern living, because many in less urbanized parts do not.
When it comes to wastewater management, rural counties and areas suffer. These also happen to be predominantly red areas on the political map. Rural counties often lack the infrastructure to keep in place municipal water systems.
Fortunately, for these people, the opportunity to dispose of waste has never been a more available options; instead of tossing it out in buckets or burying it in an outhouse, there is the septic system, which provides millions of people and families each year a way to dispose of waste.
A septic system works like this. There is a container, generally a significant size wide and deep, that is divided into two sections. A large pipe connects the toilets and sinks in the home to the first section of the septic system. A large pipe goes from the other part of the septic system into a field.
The large pipe that is connected to the first section of a septic system pours waste into the first section. That waste consists of solids and liquids. Because the first part of the septic system is filled with water and bacteria, the bacteria eat at the solid waste, decomposing it into lesser parts or even into liquid.
When the liquid reaches a certain point (by rising), it passes a divider and enters into the second tank. Like the first tank, this tank contains bacteria as well. The bacteria further decomposes the waste until it can pass through a material into the pipe that goes out into the field.
The tank has to be sufficiently large to handle the waste of the occupants of the home. The average family uses about 70 gallons per person per day. That’s a significant amount of water and waste. Toilets account for 25% to 30% of overall water use per day. The tank being sufficiently large keeps the tank from overflowing.
A septic tank flows out into a field, where the waste water is spread out across crops, trees, and more in a very logical and organized delivery. The waste water is absorbed into the soil, the nutrients of which the soil can use for growth.
But sometimes, there is a need for septic tank cleaning. Septic tank cleaning occurs along with the pump, the frequency of which is based off of the septic tank size, the household size, the total wastewater generated, and the volume of solids in the wastewater. A septic tank cleaning generally involves a full purge of all content and a cleaning of the walls.
A septic tank cleaning may involve scrubbing the divider and the material through which the waste passes through. Septic tank cleaning may also be done by companies that provide services such as septic disposal, grease disposal, plumbing repair, and general plumbing services.