Understanding the Septic Tank

Septic TankIf your home is connected to city sewer lines, you can remain blissfully unaware of what becomes of all the stuff that passes through your drains and toilets. However, if you have a septic system, you need to pay a bit more attention to what happens to your waste. Understanding the septic tank will not only help you keep your entire plumbing system in good repair, but also save you from experiencing costly—and disgusting—septic tank backups and overflows.

How the Septic System Works

Your septic tank is designed to prevent waste from contaminating the groundwater around your home. Basically, the system works by creating an environment where solid waste (sludge) as well as grease and light, floating waste particles (scum) can be separated from the waste water. The waste water can then be released into a drain field where it can naturally leach into the soil, becoming purified by microorganisms along the way. The sludge and scum will remain in the septic system’s holding tank, and eventually they will have to be pumped out and disposed of by a qualified septic professional.

Parts of the Septic System

The main components of a septic system are the inflow and outflow pipes, the septic tank, and the drain field. The inflow and outflow pipes are protected by baffles to prevent sludge or scum from exiting the tank through them. Your septic tank should also be equipped with inspection pipes that allow for a plumber to measure the sludge and scum levels and a manhole cover that allows the tank to be pumped out when full. There are three main types of drain fields: trenches, seepage pits, and sand piles. All of these drain fields involve the use of perforated pipes to leach water into the soil at a slow rate that will ensure the water has adequate time to be purified before entering the water table. The type of drain field attached to your septic system will depend on your property’s space constraints, soil type, and water table level.

Caring for Your Septic Tank

The most important thing to remember about septic tanks is that preventative maintenance is always preferable to repairs. That’s why you need to get regular inspections to determine when pump-outs are necessary, rather than just scheduling pump-outs every three to five years. You should also take steps to reduce the amount of sludge that accumulates in your tank by putting as little toilet paper, food waste, and grease down the drains as possible. One last thing to remember is to avoid overloading the tank with excess liquid. For example, you wouldn’t want to let every member of your family take a shower while also running the dishwasher and the washing machine. This much volume could cause the water to flow into the drain field too rapidly to be fully purified.