Most times, maintenance is a burden homeowner usually easily overlook, however big a responsibility it can be. An even deeper layer of owning a house, one that people usually don’t think about until the last minute, is the septic tanks. While modern people now enjoy more lucrative technology when it comes to waste management systems, many rural areas still lack proper municipal sewage systems to efficiently handle the community’s household wastewater problems.
For many homeowners, the septic system is a bit of a mystery—a hidden box buried underground that silently deals with all the things you don’t want in your home and definitely want to forget. An out-of-sight, out-of-mind ideology that somehow people manage to pull through. Well, at least for a period of time.
A poorly cleaned toilet is more than just a messy problem; it could lead to exposure to health risk elements in the environment. Imagine that level of unpleasantness on a much larger scale. A neglected septic tank can cascade into an array of health and expensive problems.
Though it has been in your home for decades, the only time you will be interested in that filthy waste storage is when it starts causing problems. To save you time from trying to understand what lies under your house, here’s a basic idea of what those networks of tanks and drains do to keep your home environment healthy and functional:
- Separation: The first chamber of the system, the tank, separates wastewater into three layers: solids become sludge as they settle at the bottom while fats and oils turn to scum as they float to the top, and the middle section is where the clarified wastewater occupies.
- Treatment: There is a network of perforated pipes surrounded by gravel where the clarified wastewater flows through. Then, some bacteria break it down into organic matter, purifying the wastewater before it percolates into the soil.
You can also learn more about it here: https://www3.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/homeowner_guide_long.pdf
The Magic of Regular Maintenance
Septic tanks are often good for homeowners who religiously maintain them. Over time, solids accumulate at the bottom, reducing the tank’s capacity and limiting its separation function. Excessive fats, oils, and grease (FOGs) can cover the drainfield, smothering the beneficial bacteria and impeding the treatment process.
If that is not enough reason, the simpler and perhaps the more relevant reasons to keep this machine well-oiled are as follows:
- Prevents backups and overflow – Wastewater tanks that are neglected can cause backups in your drains, leading those wastes or sewage to flow back into your tubes, then into your sinks or toilets. This overflow can contaminate not just inside your home but also your yards, a recipe for a messy and hazardous situation.
- Protects your investment – No matter how repetitive this sounds, your home is an investment, and maintaining it includes the filth underground. If this self-contained ecosystem fails, it will cost you greatly; regular maintenance, on the other hand, is significantly cheaper than fixing a huge system breakdown.
- Safeguards public health – More than your own home, your neglect can be a danger to your community. Any leakage of improperly treated wastewater can harbor harmful bacteria and pathogens, posing a health risk to everyone exposed.
- Protects the environment – A well-maintained septic system prevents untreated wastewater from reaching groundwater and waterways, ultimately minimizing environmental pollution.
Signs of Distress from Your Septic Tank System
When wastewater starts bursting out of your pipes, you cannot say it came as a surprise. When septic tanks “self-destruct,” it works like a looming storm where people suddenly become surprised by the rain. All the signs are there, we just never learned to notice them.
In the same way, household septics go above and beyond in communicating their distress. As a homeowner, it is crucial that you educate yourself when it is wise to contact the nearest septic system services when your toilet drains or pipes are causing problems. Knowing these early signs stops the problem from getting worse.
- Slow drains are an early indicator that your septic tank is nearing capacity or the drain field is clogged. You may want to contact your plumber and ensure that those drains don’t lead to a bigger problem underneath.
- Raw sewage overflowing from drains is a clear sign of a malfunctioning septic system. Additionally, strong sewage smells around your house, or drains indicate a problem with the septic tank or drain field.
- Soggy or mushy ground could be a sign of a clogged drain field, which causes wastewater to back up into the surrounding soil. Ironically, this can lead to some overly green patches near your drain field. It is a lush sign of life, but unfortunately, it can also indicate excessive nitrogen levels from untreated wastewater.
Giving your Septic Tank the Care it Deserves
While it is dirty and definitely not a challenge you want to take on yourself, maintaining a septic management system in your household is not a tough row to hoe.
There are simple steps you can take to ensure this machine is working well—and you don’t even have to get your hands dirty!
- Though it is easily dismissed as a non-issue, flushing foreign objects or chemicals in your toilet can do you and your family more harm than you realize. Clogged toilets can also mean clogged septic systems and harm beneficial bacteria. Thus, avoid disposing of your FOGs, harsh chemicals, medications, or feminine hygiene products down your toilet.
- As much as possible, avoid planting trees or shrubs with aggressive root systems near the drainfield, as they can clog the pipes. This also applies to building driveways (learn more about driveways fromthis site). Ensure that there is no obstruction on the drain field for proper flow.
- Reducing water usage minimizes the amount of wastewater your septic system needs to handle. The more water it receives, the shorter the time it will be filled, forcing you to schedule a pump more frequently. Though at face value, it may be expensive, installing water-efficient appliances can save you more in the long term.
- One thing you can do to ensure regular maintenance is to schedule a pump with a septic service professional. Depending on factors like tank size, number of occupants, and wastewater volume, these service providers typically recommend having tanks pumped every three to five years. Additionally, have the entire system inspected by a professional periodically, every one to two years, for early detection.
