Septic tanks allow homeowners to dispose of wastewater from toilets and other household drains safely. The tank is a buried watertight container made of concrete, fiberglass, or polyethylene. Solid waste settles in the bottom, forming sludge, while oil and grease float to the top, creating scum. Water exits the tank through an outlet and seeps into a drain field in unsaturated soil. Contact Septic Tank Armadale now!
A septic tank treats wastewater when a city sewer system is unavailable. The septic tank is an underground storage vessel that holds wastewater from your house drains, toilets and showers. When the waste leaves your home, it travels into the septic tank and undergoes a process called settling. Solid matter and sediment sink to the bottom of the tank, while bacteria break down organic material and scum. The resulting liquid effluent is then released into your drain field. The drain field or leach field is an area of soil where the septic system’s microorganisms further treat the effluent.
The septic tank is fitted with inlet and outlet tees that extend from the pipes entering and exiting your home. The inlet tee is positioned below the scum layer, while the outlet tee is positioned above it. This ensures that the scum layer does not enter your septic tank’s absorption field, as this could clog or reduce its efficiency. The septic tank is also equipped with an inlet baffle to force wastewater downward into the middle of the tank, which helps solids separate more effectively from the liquid effluent.
Bacteria in your septic tank generate gases as they break down wastewater contaminants. These gases are odoriferous and can be vented outside your home through a pipe in the lid of your tank. The vent can be fitted with a charcoal filter to reduce odors.
If your septic tank is not functioning properly, you may notice that your home’s drains are slow to work or that the toilets back up. These problems can be a sign of a septic system problem that requires immediate attention.
When you notice sewage back up through your drains, it is critical to turn off all water use and call for professional help right away. A professional can determine the cause of the septic system failure and fix it before the problem worsens.
Avoid putting any non-organic materials down your drains, such as plastics or rubber. Only flush septic-safe toilet paper down your drains and make sure any other appliances you use are septic safe as well. Also, be careful not to park vehicles or plant any trees near your septic tank and drainfield. Doing so can compact the soil, blocking the flow of effluent into and out of your septic tank and absorption field.
Sewage Discharge
When sewage leaves your home, it flows through sewer pipes to your septic tank. There it undergoes a settling process where solid matter and sediment sink to the bottom (forming a sludge layer) and grease and other lightweight materials float to the top of the water (forming a scum layer). Meanwhile, bacteria in the tank break down the sludge and liquid waste. After a period of time, the clear wastewater called effluent exits the septic tank through an outlet pipe into a soil absorption area, which can be a drainfield, mound, seepage pit, or cesspool.
If you use your septic system correctly, a few precautions can help ensure the longevity of the septic tank and the drain field. These include:
Keeping household chemicals out of the system is also important, as they can kill bacteria and other microorganisms that treat the sewage. Chemicals that shouldn’t enter the system include solvents, paints and coatings, disinfectants, paint thinners, pesticides, and household cleaners. These products can also contaminate underlying groundwater.
Avoiding overloading your septic tank is also critical. A septic tank must have enough time to separate solids from the liquid, and overloading can prevent this process from occurring. To help, space out showers, laundry, and dishes so that you’re not putting too much water into the tank at one time.
Finally, it’s a good idea to have a professional install an effluent filter at the outlet of the tank. This device filters the effluent as it leaves the tank, catching suspended solids that could clog the drainfield and cause sewage backups.
The most important step you can take to maintain a long life for your septic tank and drain field is to have it pumped regularly. Most professionals recommend having your septic tank pumped every 2-3 years, depending on how many people live in the home and how much water is used each day. Regular inspections and pumping can help you avoid costly problems in the future, like clogged drains or sewage backing up into your house. Taking a few simple precautions, including reducing water use, avoiding grease, using a garbage disposal sparingly or not at all, cleaning an effluent filter, and properly landscaping the yard to keep surface water away from the tank and drainfield, can save you the headache and expense of septic system repairs.
Drain Field
The drain field (also called the absorption field, leach field, or disposal field) is where wastewater gets further treated by filtration and absorption into soil. Like the septic tank, it is an important part of your home’s sewage system that should be properly maintained to avoid costly damage and poor performance.
When wastewater leaves your septic tank, it flows to the drain field via an outlet pipe. The tank allows for a certain amount of time for solids to settle or float before the liquid waste is discharged to the absorption area. This enables the heavier solids, such as soil, grit, and unconsumed food particles to sink to the bottom of the tank, where they are broken down by bacteria. Meanwhile, lighter solids, such as fats and grease, rise to the surface, where they partially decompose. The resulting clarified wastewater is known as septic tank effluent.
As the septic tank effluent enters the absorption field, it goes through a distribution box that evenly distributes it to pipes within the gravel-filled trenches of the drain field. The pipes are perforated and are usually buried underneath a layer of gravel that provides both support and help the filtration process.
Once the wastewater reaches your absorption field, it is absorbed and treated by the surrounding soil and grass. This natural process removes most of the harmful microorganisms and pollutants in your wastewater.
Over time, however, the drain field can become overloaded with wastewater. This may occur if you continuously use water-intensive appliances, such as washing machines and dishwashers. It can also happen if the septic tank isn’t pumped on a regular basis, allowing the solids to overflow into the absorption field and clog the pipes.
Having your drain field professionally maintained will prevent this from happening and help extend its lifespan. Regular maintenance includes checking for signs of problems, such as sludge buildup or a spongy, jelly-like material that forms on the sidewalls and bottom of the drain field trenches. If you notice these symptoms, contact us immediately for professional drain field repair or rehabilitation services.
Maintenance
Many homeowners assume that as long as sewage “goes away,” their septic system is doing its job. However, septic tanks and drain fields need to be evaluated and pumped periodically to prevent failure. Septic systems that fail to function correctly can contaminate nearby water sources with pathogenic bacteria and excess nutrients. Signs of a failing septic system include sewage bubbling up from drains, sewage in the yard, sewage odors, high levels of nitrates or coliform bacteria in well water tests, and excessive algae growth in local lakes and ponds.
A septic tank that isn’t pumped regularly will become full of sludge and solids that can clog up the drainage field and leach pit. A septic tank should be inspected and pumped at least once every three years or as recommended by the septic system professional. The cost of a septic tank and absorption field cleaning can be much less expensive if you perform regular maintenance, such as:
It’s important to protect the septic system from heavy vehicles and construction, which could compact the soil around the tank and drainfield. Also, it’s a good idea to plant grass or other plants around the septic tank and drain field to prevent vehicles from driving or parking over them. It’s also a good idea to limit the number of showers, laundry loads and dishwasher loads per day to allow the tank time to treat wastewater properly.
A homeowner should never add septic system additives or biological products to their septic tank. These can interfere with the natural bacteria in septic tanks and cause them to overwork and clog pipes. Similarly, chemical solvents should not be used to clean septic tanks or toilets.
Keeping detailed maintenance records of the septic tank and system can boost home value, as potential buyers will see that the septic system has been cared for and is working properly. Some prospective buyers may be wary of a home with a septic system, but with clear maintenance records showing the septic system has been cleaned regularly, they will likely make an offer on the property.
