Septic tank maintenance

But your in luck, maintaining your septic system is a lot easier that you think and does not have to break the bank.
Proper installation, overall system arrangement and consistant maintenance performed on your septic or cesspit system will definitely extend the life and functionality of your onsite septic waste treatment container. Following these wise steps will be your first line of defense against complete system failure, odors, puddling, strange sounds and premature component breakage. Regular and required system maintenance will help reduce the risk of well water contamination and can save you a great amount of money in possible replacement bills.
In many septic systems, wastewater from commodes, basins, tubs, showers, drains and basins flows down a network of piping out to your tank or cesspit. The septic tank is normally made of cement or resin in newer designs with either drainageholes inside the unit itself or downstream in the lateral or field lines on the outward side of the septic system. As solid wastes enter the tank, they settle to the base of the tank where bacteria and enzymes digest the organic waste into water and carbon dioxide. Fats, oils and grease float to the top of the chamber and merge into a 4 inch layer which normally breaks down slowly. Sludge blockers stop the muck layer from exiting the tank and compacting the drainage areas. The septic tank or seapage pit will normally have entry ports consisting of access covers or clean out lines. Septic companies vacuum undigested solids through these cleanout points and can conduct a visual inspection through bigger ports as part of a regular inspection.
There are hundreds of septic system designs ranging from single unit perforated holding tanks to 3 compartment pre treatment designs. All of the designs basically rely on high counts of bacteria and enzymes to digest waste into a workable form that the seepage area can more easily dispense of. Enriched with simple bacteria, most all septic systems yield many years of functionality and will remain problem free as long as ongoing maintenance is adhered to. This pristine operation may be achievable but is commonly not the situation in most cases. Many household cleaners comprising of laundry chemicals, bleach, general cleaners, commode cleaners, anti bacterial chemicals and other general use cleaners often contain ingredients that are totally detrimental to the flourishing bacteria colonies existing inside the system itself. Newer, more bacteria friendly products are showing up nationally but are some times hard to locate or basically do not clean as good as other detrimental ones. While many systems separate this tainted or grey water to flow into a separate seepage location, a lot of systems are designed so as to allow these toxic chemicals to go directly into the septic, killing massive quantities of bacteria inside the system.
For most people, diverting your laundry and other grey water can be a problem and is dependant upon whether or not you have a suitable location to do so and if it is allowed by your local code. If you can reroute your greywater, typically a French drain or drywell type system is crafted to handle the liquid. For the rest of us, working to maximize the bacteria and enzyme count numbers inside your system is the optimal approach to ensure system longevity and functionality.