Septic systems are used to ensure the safe disposal of household waste generated by households, located beneath the earth. A septic tank can be an invaluable asset that helps minimize pollution which poses risks to both human health and the environment.
Underproper maintenance of your septic tank can result in system failures that cost a fortune to fix or replace – another good reason why proper tank maintenance should be prioritized.
How Does a Septic Tank System Work?
With more knowledge of your signs your septic tank needs pumping system, the easier it will be for you to maintain them properly. So what exactly is its function? All household waste passes through pipes into the septic tank for treatment by millions of living microorganisms that reside there, performing crucial work of breaking down waste products.
Thus, solids sink at the floor of the tank, producing sludge. Fats, greases, and oils form an oil scum layer on top. In between is liquid effluent which will be pumped onto a drainage field for further treatment by soil bacteria.
Idealy, the septic tank system should work perfectly. Unfortunately, due to inadequate maintenance of septic tanks, various components become damaged which may eventually lead to system failure resulting in unpleasant odours, sludge build-up, water back issues etc. Here are some helpful maintenance tips you can use in order to maintain peak performance of your septic tank and ensure its optimal functionality.
Septic Tank Maintenance Tips
Recognize the signs
Some indicators of septic tank failure can be easily recognized. You might notice slow draining toilets and drains with unpleasant odours as well as waste building up inside your home. Furthermore, green grass growing in drains should serve as a warning that something might be amiss.
Use water efficiently
Be mindful that every household waste is disposed of through the system of septic tanks. An abundance of water could upset nature by altering beneficial microorganisms or straining and overflowing the system. Therefore, making use of water more efficiently may reduce how much enters your septic tank system; to do so effectively take measures such as installing flush-free toilets, fixing leaky faucets or showerheads that use less water per use.
Waste disposal
Flushed down your toilet has an immediate and direct effect on how well your septic tank functions, so avoid using your toilets as trash cans; only flush toilet paper and human waste into them – any other items, such as plastic wrappers and toys should never go down the drain. People frequently dispose of unwanted objects into toilets such as:
- Cooking Oil
- Gasoline
- Pesticides
- Paint or paint thinners
- Photographic solutions
- Female hygiene products
- Non-flushable wipes/Baby wipes/Wet wipes
- Coffee grounds
- Paper towels
- Medicines
Coffee grounds, paper towels and medicines could all serve to eradicate microorganisms that exist within a septic tank and its soil environment, potentially becoming sources of groundwater contamination.
Prevent chemical poisoning
Cleaning products containing chemicals like drain cleaners or toilet bowl cleaners commonly found in homes as well as products like polishes and coatings used for septic systems can destroy beneficial microorganisms found in tanks used for septic. Furthermore, their presence can greatly impede its ability to manage wastewater efficiently – so it is vital that no such products contaminate septic systems with chemical contaminants.
