Septic Tank Cleaning Basics
Septic tanks can sometimes be a challenge. For homeowners who have never had a septic tank before, the cleaning schedule can be hard to understand. In order to understand how to properly care for and clean your septic tank, you must also understand how they work.
A septic tank is a tank buried in the yard of a home that it collects wastewater for. Wastewater comes from sinks, showers, tubs, and toilets. All of this wastewater is collected in the septic tank where it settles for a time. Heavier waste sinks to the bottom where sludge is formed, while oily water and soap suds float to the top. A septic tank is filled with bacteria and germs, though in this controlled environment they are okay. Once wastewater is separated, the liquid part at the top flows into the drain field throughout the yard. This drain field contains pipes that have small holes that are surrounded by gravel. The gravel helps to infuse the water with oxygen, allowing the bacteria to thrive and become treated. This water is then used to fertilize and feed the grass, recycling it in a way that helps the yard.
The heavier sludge in your tank will continue to build until, eventually, it will need to be pumped. A professional septic tank cleaner will come and measure the amount of sludge in your tank by inserting a long stick directly into it. There are several different sizes of septic tanks, though the most common is 750 gallons. Once your tank has a large amount of sludge and soap scum built up in the bottom, it will limit the amount of water that can go through your system. Septic tanks that do not regularly have the sludge pumped out of them can overflow, causing huge problems for homeowners.
When a septic tank overflows the entire yard becomes filled with waste, causing a horrendous smell throughout the entire area. Do not let this happen to you.
In conclusion, most homeowners with a 750-gallon septic tank need to have it pumped about every 3 to 5 years. This can vary based on the size of the home and the number of people that are showering and adding to the wastewater each day. If you are unsure of the condition of your septic tank, you should have your septic tank serviced in order to make sure that it is working properly.
For more information, contact companies like Mr Bob.
