Your septic system functions to sort your household waste. Solid waste and sludge settle to the bottom of the tank, while fats, oils, and other liquids float to the top.
If you’re not getting your septic tank pumped often enough, clogged drains and a sickly odor can occur. Ideally, you should get it pumped every three to five years. Visit the Septic Tank Pump Out Perth to know more.
Septic Tank Installation
Once you have a septic tank installed, it’s essential to understand how the system works. You’ll also need to learn what you can and cannot flush, how often you should have the septic tank pumped, and remedies for clogs and leaks. It’s important to know these things because a septic system is a huge investment that requires maintenance and upkeep.
Septic tank installation is a complicated process, so it’s best to leave this high-risk project to the professionals. Look for an installer that offers detailed proposals and answers all your questions. They should have a strong reputation in your community and offer clear warranties that guarantee quality work. They should also have the necessary equipment like backhoes and excavators, as well as a plan B if something goes wrong on the day of your septic tank installation.
The first step in septic tank installation is to dig a hole that is the correct size and location for the tank. This is a dangerous and time-consuming task that requires heavy machinery. During this stage, homeowners should wear protective gear and follow instructions to avoid electrical lines. It’s also crucial to keep trees and other shrubs away from the absorption field, as their roots could grow into and clog pipes.
Once the hole is dug, contractors will install inlet and outlet pipes and any distribution boxes or pumps. Then, they’ll connect the septic tank to the plumbing system and place the cover over the drain field. It’s important to use quality materials, including a septic tank liner, to prevent leaks and contamination.
It’s best to be away from your home during the septic tank installation, as it will be too noisy and dirty to do laundry or shower while they’re working. If you can’t get away, be sure to ask for a contact number to call if there are any issues that arise during the installation. Keeping in touch with your installer will help you avoid unexpected delays and potential problems that can result from miscommunication.
Septic Tank Maintenance
When you get your tank pumped, the professional uses a giant suction hose to literally “suck” up and store the sewage in their truck. They then take it to a sewage processing site, where it is disposed of safely.
Septic systems require regular inspection and pumping to work properly. The frequency depends on how much waste the household generates and how many people live in the home. A family that uses a garbage disposal more often and produces more solid waste will need to have the tank pumped out more frequently.
If the septic tank isn’t pumped regularly, the solid waste that has accumulated will begin to flow into the drainfield area. This clogs the drainfield and causes the water from sinks and toilets to drain slowly or back up into the house. The sewage backflow contains dangerous pathogens that can make you and your family very sick.
Fortunately, you can prevent this from happening by having your septic tank pumped on time and monitoring what goes into the system. Avoid using garbage disposals if possible, and limit the amount of cooking grease and oils that enter your drains. Never pour paints, solvents, bleaches or fabric softeners down the drain.
A gurgling sound coming from your plumbing is another indication that it’s time to have the septic tank pumped. This gurgling is caused by air pockets trapped in the lines, and it means that there’s a high level of solid waste in the septic tank.
You should also watch out for lush green grass around the septic tank. This is a sign that the septic tank is leaking into the ground and supplying the grass with nutrients. The grass is responding to the nutrient supply, so this could indicate that the septic tank is full and needs to be pumped out.
When you have the septic tank pumped, ask the service professional to give you a copy of the sludge and scum levels in the tank. This will help you determine how often the septic tank should be pumped in the future.
Septic Tank Repair
Even with proper household habits and a healthy microbial ecosystem in the tank, parts of a septic system wear out or break over time. These parts include the pipes that carry waste to and from the septic tank as well as the wastewater to and from the drain field. These pipes are fragile and can easily be damaged by tree roots, heavy soil pressure, or age-related corrosion. A septic professional may recommend repair or replacement of the affected pipe.
A septic system relies on clear drains to function properly, so a slow draining septic tank or sewage backup is a sign of an underlying issue. The best way to prevent these problems is through regular septic tank pump outs and only flushing human waste and toilet paper. However, a sudden septic tank or sewage backup requires immediate service to avoid more costly repairs.
The inlet baffle to the septic tank is another part that can wear out or get clogged. A septic tank repair service can replace the inlet baffle for a relatively low cost. This repair is made by removing the cover of the inlet baffle opening and then using a pole to remove the clog without damaging other components of the septic system.
Another part of a septic system that can wear out is the drain field itself. This may happen when the septic tank is overflowing or if there are sewage odors in the home. Angi helps homeowners connect with septic system professionals who can assess the situation and recommend the best course of action for repair or replacement of the drain field.
Other signs of a failing drain field include spongy bright green grass in the area near the tank and wet or muddy spots around the house. These symptoms indicate that the septic system is receiving too much solid waste and is no longer capable of accepting it. The drain field may also be flooded with water.
Keeping up with routine septic tank pump outs is one of the most cost effective ways to prevent the need for major septic system repairs or replacement. In addition to having the tank pumped out, have a septic tank repair expert check the condition of the tank and septic system on a routine basis.
Septic Tank Pumping
Getting your septic tank pumped regularly prevents sludge and scum from spilling over into the drain field, which can cause sewage to back up through your home’s toilets, showers, and sinks. Generally, you’ll want to pump your septic tank if the sludge layer is within six inches of the bottom and the scum layer is more than 6 inches thick. However, the frequency of septic tank pumping depends on how many people live in your home and how much waste each person produces each day.
If you use a garbage disposal, your septic tank will need to be pumped out more often since this significantly increases the amount of solids that enter your septic system. The same is true if you use a whole-home water treatment system, which also creates more wastewater that will need to be pumped out of the septic tank.
The septic tank pumping process starts when you contact a local septic service provider and schedule an appointment for them to come out and take care of the task. Before they arrive, you should clear out the area around the septic tank, including any weeds or debris that might be blocking their access to the tank’s openings.
When they arrive, they will have a truck that has a large septic tank attached to it. This tank holds the sewage that’s pumped out of your home, and when the truck arrives, they will open its hatch and attach a long hose to it. This hose will be used to directly suction the septic tank’s contents into the truck, which then transports it to a sewage processing facility to be disposed of properly.
After the septic tank is pumped out, the professional will clean the inside of the septic tank and check its baffles and dividing wall for any signs of damage or deterioration. If the septic tank is due for any other repairs, the septic tank technician will note that in the service report for your septic system.
If you’re tired of paying for septic tank pumping services that involve digging up and exposing your septic tanks’ heavy lids, consider having risers installed on your septic tank and its openings. This is a one time fee that will eliminate the need for future excavation and make it much easier to access your septic tank in the future.