Septic Tank Maintenance

Septic systems are used by homeowners who are not connected to a municipal sewage system. A septic system consists of a large tank holding human waste. This waste goes through bacterial action inside the tank.

Sometimes, a septic system does not work effectively because of various problems. There are various problems with septic systems such as slow drainage and bad odor. You can get rid of these problems by troubleshooting them.

Signs of Bad Septic System Work

There are some signs which can help you comprehend whether something is wrong with your septic system.

1. The most obvious sign is slow drainage. If you observe that your sinks and toilets are slowing down, it proves that your septic system needs cleaning. For septic tank cleaning, you can use a bacterial cleaner.
2. If your yard remains wet constantly, it is also a sign that there is some problem with your septic system. It occurs when your septic tank is overflowing. To prevent this problem, you can use bacterial cleaners.
3. Another problem with a septic system is bad odor. When your septic system does not work properly, you experience a strong odor in your yard. Problems with a septic system also result in backups in drains and toilets. In this case, you will find a dark liquid in your toilet or kitchen and bathroom sinks. This liquid will also produce a bad odor in your kitchen and bathroom.
4. If you have a lake next to your house, it will also show signs of septic system problems. Due to septic system problems, excess algae will build up on the lake.

There are some ways to deal with septic system problems. First of all, you need to minimize the amount of water going in your septic tank. To keep excess water out of your septic system, avoid doing laundry regularly. Another way to keep excess water out of your septic system is to use low-flow showers.

In order to prevent septic system problems, it is necessary to keep kitchen waste out of it. Do not flush non-biodegradable materials in your toilets. Pumping your septic system is also a great way to avoid problems.

If cleaning products such as bacterial cleaners have failed to solve various septic tank problems, you must call a plumber. If you do not, you are likely to experience slow drains. The sewage backup in your drains can result in slow draining of wastewater.

Safe Septic Tank Additives

Since millions of people who lack sewerage facilities use septic tanks to take care of their sanitation needs, septic tank additive companies rake in millions of dollars in an ever growing market. However, it is important to take note that there are certain septic tank additives that can actually harm your septic tank. Even though these additives are made specifically for the purpose of eliminating harmful bacteria, there are those harmful ones that can cause real damage to your septic system. The result will of course be some costly challenges such as septic drain fields, dysfunction as well as ground water pollution.

It is therefore incumbent on a septic tank owner to make sure they avoid harmful septic tank additives that go beyond their call of duty which is to destroy harmful bacteria. There is plenty of information available regarding the many additives that have a negative effect on the operation of any septic tank systems. You will remember that there are numerous ground water aquifers that need to be jealously guarded from any form of contamination from septic tank additives. When any additives render your septic tank dysfunctional, you could actually be liable to persecution apart from having to incur some expensive repairs which could actually be avoided. Many federal governments provide information therefore regarding which septic tank additives are harmless so as to protect consumers from exploitation by companies whose aim is to make profits without any due regard.  However, it may be much better if homeowners would be able to take good care of their septic tanks so that there would be no need of any septic tank additive. If good care is taken regarding safe water use at home then we would avoid these situations where even the good bacteria get’s killed in the process of septic tank treatment.

Since bacteria is an integral part of the entire septic tank treatment, the use of safe septic tank additives ensures that the bacteria that would otherwise assist in the breakdown of leftover solids is not eliminated by the additives you use. It is therefore important that all homeowners who use septic tanks get a list of what is safe and what is not. You can easily increase the efficiency and activity of your septic tank by using only those additives that are certified to be safe. But the bottom line should be that septic tank additives should not be made an alternative to proper care and maintenance of your septic tank.

Maintenance

For the millions of households who don’t have the benefit of a proper sewerage system, all household waste is treated using a private sewage system known as a septic tank. Septic tank maintenance requires adherence to a specific and ongoing maintenance schedule if it is going to serve you properly. When all due care is taken, a single septic tank should be able to serve you reliably for several years, so long as you understand proper septic tank management procedures.  On the contrary, big expenses await you if you neglect your septic tank and fail to take care of the simple maintenance schedule.

In general, a septic tank that is maintained properly should be able to treat tons upon tons of organic waste one season after another. When the waste water sludge leaves your house into the septic tank, the first action is usually for the solid materials to settle down so that the lighter scum is left floating at the top. The liquid that is partly treated goes through perforated pipes and filters into the ground where it is further treated. It is at this point that helpful bacteria combine with other soil organisms to complete the process. As time progresses the tank will accumulate more solid material beyond the system’s capacity; at this level the waste may reach the outlet level and plug the pipes. Since a clogged system can also be hazardous to the environment it is important that septic tank maintenance be given priority. You must realize that with every single flush, bath or even disposal of dish water you are impacting your septic tank system. A good septic tank management program will be less expensive at the end of the day. Care needs to be taken regarding what is allowed to go into the septic tank because such things as laundry bleaches and toilet bowl cleaners are known to slow the treatment process.

It is therefore important for you and the household to remember that your septic tank is not a garbage disposal pit. Avoid dumping diapers, tampons, condoms and several other kinds of refuse that will not be treated and will simply end up plugging the system. It is important to educate any guests visiting regarding what does or does not go into the septic tank. Another aspect of septic tank maintenance is regarding the conservation of water. It is a fact that the less the water in the system the better it is going to work. The choice is therefore yours – maintain your septic tank and pay less in maintenance.

Dr. Pipe treats your home the way we expect workers to treat our homes.  That means coordinating with you from the moment you call for a quote all the way through the final work we perform.