Knowing When To Have Your Septic Tank Pumped And Cleaned
Your septic system is designed to separate the liquid and solids they go into the tank. As waste passes through the tank the solid settles to the bottom and become sludge, the liquid exits the tank into the leach field where is slowly dissipates into the soil. The nature of the way the system works necessitates it being pumped out when it is full.
Maintaining Your Septic System
Maintenance of a septic tank and the leach fields attached to it is pretty simple. You really don't have to do too much to the tank other than avoiding flushing things that can damage the bacteria in the tank. Non-biodegradable materials can create blockages in the pipes going into and coming out of the tank. The septic tank has a very specific balance of bacteria that allows it to break down the solids and turn them into a sludge. You don't need to add anything to your tank to create this environment. It is just a natural balance that occurs in the tank. Soap and other detergents should never be flushed down the system as they will damage the natural balance of bacteria in the system. Maintaining your septic system is more a matter of being aware what is flushed down the toilet and drains.
Recognizing A Problem
There are several ways to tell if you have a problem with your septic system. If you see wastewater backing up into your drains the tank is likely full and unable to process material through it. If the outlet pipe from the tank to the leach field is clogged, wastewater will not be able to exit the tank. This can result in water backing up in the system and because it has no place to go eventually you will see it in drains in the home. If you see this condition happening you need to have your tank pumped right away. Another telltale sign of a problem is an excessive amount of moisture over the tank or leach field often that indicates a full tank that is leaking out of the cover. Not only will the ground be wet but there will be an odor of raw sewage in the area. Again if you see this condition it's time to call and get your system pumped out and inspected.
Repairing The Septic System
In most cases, repairing your septic system involves removing materials blocking the inlet and outlet pipes or replacing a cracked tank. Sometimes tree roots will grow through the pipes and cause a blockage. If that happens on either the inlet or outlet pipes, the material can begin to build up on those roots backing up the system. Trees should not be planted near the septic system to avoid this problem. Keep the area where your tank is located marked well so that vehicles do not drive over it. Cracked tanks and lids are often the results of a vehicle having being driven over the septic tank. Septic system replacement can be very expensive if you notice a problem you should call a septic tank service right away to have your system evaluated and inspected.
To learn more, visit a website like http://www.sosseptic.net.