Septic Systems

When community sewers are not available for disposing the home’s wastewater, septic systems are necessary. The laws on septic systems differ greatly from one community to another, so it’s important to contact the local officials in your area to get complete information.

How Do Septic Systems Work?

A septic system is fairly simple, as well as very efficient. The waste from a home’s toilet, dirty water from showers, baths, laundry, and sinks are all “gravity fed” from the home through a big drainpipe that goes to a huge holding tank. The drainpipe is usually four-inches in diameter. The tank is normally made of concrete, plastic, or steel, and holds one thousand gallons or more. This tank is usually buried one to three feet under the ground, and positioned about ten feet from the home.

Once the waster goes into the tank, it “separates” into layers. The “sludge layer” is at its bottom, the middle has the “liquid layer”, and the “scum layer” on top. The tank has bacteria that processes the “sludge layer”, producing hydrogen sulfide and methane gases when vent through its other layers. The septic tank has chambers or baffles, which lets the “liquid layer” known as “affluent” to exit, but retains the sludge and scum layers within.

Then, the affluent goes through a network or series of “perforated pipe” or “clay tile” that’s buried four to six feet below grade within a covered bed of soil or gravel known as “leaching bed” or “absorption field”. This is where the affluent is sucked up and safely dispersed. This “network” may be more than a few hundred square feet, and is usually covered with soil barrier, sand, then one more soil barrier, and lastly topsoil and grass. Every component is an essential part of septic systems.

Keep in mind that eave through drainage, sump pumps, sidewalk, road run-off, and pool drainage must by no means be drained into the septic system. Appropriately planned and maintained septic systems will be able to safely treat the home’s wastewater for thirty to fifty years.

How To Properly Maintain Septic Systems

The last thing you’ll want is a smelling and overflowing septic tank. It’s both an embarrassing and an expensive mess. You must be aware that septic systems need regular maintenance. Luckily, septic system maintenance is pretty simple –it just requires not forgetting to do it.

An essential maintenance step, which is most often ignored, is ensuring that enough bacteria are present in the septic system. Insufficient amounts of bacteria may keep septic systems from breaking down the waste matter, which can result to quicker build-up of sludge. When sewage accumulates speedily, it may block the outlet pipe of the system and clog its drain, resulting to backup.

A reliable, one hundred percent “natural” additive for septic tanks can put in billions of enzymes and bacteria specifically chosen to digest the waste of septic systems. All that’s needed is for you to remember to pour the additive into the toilet once every month. A simple reminder would be to always use it during first Sundays of every month.

It’s very important to keep “bacteria count” high every month, as water flowing into septic tanks every time one flushes a toilet or runs down water through the drains will eventually wash-away beneficial bacteria populating in the septic tank. Most importantly, doing basic maintenance regularly through occasional pumping and the use of monthly additive will help keep that septic system in good functional condition.

Septic systems are sophisticated and essential waste management systems, which require regular upkeep to efficiently operate. Proper and regular maintenance of septic systems will help avoid expensive and “smelly” problems.