Septic Tank Services serve a vital purpose for homes in rural areas that haven’t connected to city water/sewer. They are typically low-maintenance systems, but it is important to be knowledgeable about what they do and not to overload them.
Keeping your septic tank pumped regularly will prevent solids and sludge from reaching the drain field. This will protect the drain field and prevent costly issues down the road.
This is the septic system that is found in many modern homes. It consists of a septic tank and a drain field, or soil absorption area. Waste is broken down by bacteria in the septic tank, and the liquid (known as effluent) flows into a drain field or leach field, where it is slowly absorbed back into the ground. This type of system is great for homes that want to stay connected to their local water source and avoid the higher fees associated with connecting to a public sewer system.
Each household’s wastewater is pumped into the system through plumbing fixtures, including toilets, tubs, and sinks. The wastewater goes into a septic tank, where the bacterial process breaks down the waste and separates solids from the liquid. The septic tank is typically made of concrete or fiberglass and can be buried underground. The septic tank can also have baffles that limit the amount of sludge that reaches the outlet.
Once the wastewater leaves the septic tank, it is dispersed into the soil by one of the following distribution systems. The traditional gravity flow septic system is the most common of these systems and works best for homes that don’t have too much space for a septic tank or drain field.
Another traditional septic system is the pump-out-and-distribute septic system. This is a more advanced version of the traditional gravity flow system and requires a pump-out every six months to maintain proper efficiency. The system also includes a septic tank that can hold up to two times more volume than the typical one.
The aerobic system is a different type of septic tank that encourages the growth of bacterial cultures by using an air pump to pump oxygen into the tank. This can help your septic tank treat wastewater more efficiently, reducing the chance of contamination in the surrounding groundwater supply.
All of these types of septic systems have their pros and cons, so it’s important to understand the differences before making your decision. A professional septic tank service can evaluate your property to determine which system will work best for you.
When a site cannot support a conventional septic tank/drain field, an above-ground mound system may be the best option. The septic mound, typically constructed from concrete or polyethylene, acts as a trap for wastewater and sludge. It keeps solids from flowing into the drain field and allows for gradual decomposition.
Like traditional septic tanks, the mound requires some maintenance. A septic tank must be regularly inspected and pumped to remove solids that can flow into the drainage field. Some experts recommend that septic tanks be pumped every two to three years, depending on household size and waste generation rates. It’s important to schedule regular inspections and pumpings because if too many solids are allowed into the drain field, they will become clogged and require repair or replacement.
A pump tank, made of concrete or fiberglass, collects the septic tank effluent and pumps it to the mound in a series of regular “doses.” The dosing tank should have a Sim Tech filter to prevent lint, hair, and other debris from getting pumped to the drain field, which could plug the pressure distribution laterals.
The dosing tank is connected to the mound by a force main, a pipe that delivers wastewater from the dosing tank in regular “doses.” Like the pump tank, the force main should have a Sim Tech filter to prevent abrasion and clogs from hair and lint.
Once the wastewater enters the mound, it is treated by a mixture of sand, clay, and soil, which creates a sterile environment for bacterial breakdown. The resulting “slurry” is then absorbed by the surrounding soils. As the slurry seeps into the soil, it becomes incorporated into the underlying soils and disperses into groundwater streams. The mound is designed to keep wastewater and sludge from the water table, potentially contaminating groundwater supplies. However, if the septic mound is poorly maintained, it can degrade or leak, causing a contaminated water supply. This can be avoided by avoiding walking on the mound or placing heavy objects on it and practicing proper waste disposal.
A drip septic system is an alternative to conventional septic systems and leach fields for properties near water or where the terrain is not conducive to digging trenches. This septic system uses a septic tank, pump tank, and drip laterals (drip tubing) to treat wastewater. This septic system releases small amounts or “drips” of wastewater at regular intervals to ensure that a uniform amount of the wastewater soaks into the soil absorption field over time.
This type of septic system is more expensive than others. Still, it’s often the best solution for properties with poor soil conditions that cannot accommodate trenches for traditional septic systems. The pressurized piping of this type of septic system contains holes that squirt the wastewater evenly into the designed soil absorption area. This system also includes a hydraulic unit pump tank that is used to collect the wastewater from the septic tank and to deliver it in a scheduled dose to the drip irrigation absorption zone. Before the wastewater is given to the drip laterals, it is passed through a disk filter to remove any waste particles that could clog the drip emitters.
These filters and tubing are not impervious to solids, which is why it is important to clean the septic tank and septic pump chamber periodically to remove any accumulated sludge and scum. It is also important to back flush the drip tubing routinely to remove any plugged solids.
If you suspect that you have a septic system on your property, the best way to determine whether this is the case is by checking the records for your home. The deed, building permit, and design plans for your home will usually contain information about the presence of a septic system. Additionally, you can look for visual clues like a mound or hill created for the drain field.
Septic systems are an excellent solution for many households. They are safe, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective. However, the lifespan of a septic tank can vary depending on the materials it is made of, its construction and installation, and the service and exposure conditions it experiences.
Septic tanks are a critical component of any residential sewage system. Wastewater separates into three layers in the tank: scum rises to the top, solids sink to the bottom, and partially clarified liquid flows out through an outlet pipe for further treatment or dispersal.
While septic systems are an essential part of your home’s wastewater system, they need to be properly maintained to function correctly and safely. A damaged septic tank or drainage field can lead to contamination of your water supply and various health-related issues.
The primary function of a septic tank is to provide preliminary treatment to your household wastewater. Wastewater enters the septic tank from your home’s toilets, showers, sinks, and washing machines. The solids, fats, and oils settle to the bottom of the tank, and the water leaves through an outlet baffle into a septic drain field or leach field.
Gravel/stone septic tank systems are a common choice for homes without a municipal sewer connection. They are also used when a site is considered unsuitable for other common septic tank systems due to groundwater or shallow soil conditions.
In a gravel/stone system, effluent is piped from the septic tank to a series of shallow underground trenches filled with clean stone. The effluent seeps through the stones and into the soil below, where microbes further treat it.
Although effective, there are better options than the gravel/stone system for all sites and soil conditions. For example, the stone can trap sand and debris that could be in the wastewater, limiting its permeability. This can shorten the lifespan of your septic system.
In a pressure distribution septic system, a pump and dosing tank are added to the septic tank. Effluent is pressurized and then distributed to the drain field lateral sections through evenly spaced orifices. This distribution prevents the lateral fields from being overloaded with more wastewater than they can process, which extends their life and reduces the risk of overflows. These systems are also suitable for sites where a drain field upslope from the house.