What is a septic system?
Why you need a pumping service?
Why you should maintain your septic system?
How you should maintain your septic system?
4 things you should do to save money!
A SEPTIC SYSTEM IS AN ON-SITE SEWAGE TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL SYSTEM BURIED UNDERGROUND. IT IS COMPOSED OF A SEPTIC TANK AND A SOIL ABSORPTION AREA.
THE MODERN SEPTIC TANK IS A WATER-TIGHT BOX USUALLY MADE OF REINFORCED MATERIALS THROUGH WHICH NO NATURAL BACTERIA IS ABLE TO ENTER. This STRUCTURE IS WHERE ORGANIC SOLIDS ARE DECOMPOSED BY A NATURAL ENZYMATIC BACTERIA PROCESS. 
THE PURPOSE OF YOUR TANK IS TO TREAT HOUSEHOLD WASTES INCLUDING BODY WASTES, LAUNDRY WATER, BATH WATER AND DISCARDED FOODS. SEPTIC SYSTEMS ARE DESIGNED TO WORK INDEFINITELY IF THEY ARE PROPERLY INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED. IT IS CRITICAL TO HAVE YOUR SEPTIC TANK PUMPED OUT REGULARLY AND TO MAINTAIN PROPER LEVELS OF ENZYMES AND BACTERIAL ACTION.
THERE IS A WIDE VARIETY OF SYSTEM DESIGNS. THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION APPLY TO ALL SYSTEMS.
SEPTIC SYSTEMS HAVE TWO PARTS: THE TANK AND THE DRAIN FIELD (SOMETIMES CALLED A LEACH BED). THE TWO MOST COMMON EXPENDITURES THAT RESULT FROM IMPROPER MAINTENANCE OR OPERATION ARE FREQUENT PUMPING AND DRAIN FIELD REPLACEMENT. BY FREQUENT PUMPING WE MEAN MORE THAN ONCE EVERY 2 – 3 YEARS.
SEPTIC TANKS ARE DESIGNED TO ALLOW BACTERIA AND ENZYMES TO BIODEGRADE ORGANIC WASTE. THIS AMAZING PROCESS ACTUALLY CONVERTS WASTE INTO WATER, CARBON DIOXIDE AND SMALL AMOUNTS OF MINERAL MATTER.
INCOMING SOLID MATTER SINKS. SOAP AND GREASE FLOAT. THE TANK HAS AN OUTLET BAFFLE TO HOLD IN UNDIGESTED WASTE. ONLY CLEAN WATER SHOULD EVER LEAVE THE TANK AND ENTER THE LATERAL PIPES. THE WATER FLOWS OUT OF THE LATERALS INTO A BED OF GRAVEL OR SAND WHICH ACTS AS A FINAL FILTER BEFORE THE WATER ENTERS THE GROUND.
HOW IT WORKS:
WASTE ENTERS THE TANK FROM TOILETS, SINKS, TUBS AND DRAINS.
ORGANIC SOLID MATERIAL FLOATS TO THE 
TOP OF THE TANK FORMING A LAYER COMMONLY CALLED “SCUM.” INORGANIC MATERIALS AND BI-PRODUCTS FROM ENZYME AND BACTERIAL DIGESTION SETTLE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK FORMING A LAYER CALLED “SLUDGE.”
THE PROPER AMOUNTS OF ENZYMES AND BACTERIA ADDED TO THE TANK REGULARLY WILL CONVERT THESE SOLID MATERIALS TO LIQUID, WHICH THEN FLOW THROUGH YOUR UNDERGROUND PIPES TO THE DRAINFIELD. IN THE DRAINFIELD THE ENZYMES AND BACTERIA CONTINUE TO HELP REDUCE GLAZING AND IMPROVE SOIL ABSORPTION.
WHY YOU NEED A PUMPING SERVICE:
POLLUTANTS FROM A POORLY FUNCTIONING SYSTEM CAN BE DRAWN INTO YOUR WELL AND COME OUT IN YOU DRINKING, COOKING AND BATHING WATER. IF YOUR TANK ISN'T'’ CLEANED REGULARLY, SLUDGE AND SCUM WILL CLOG THE DRAINFIELD AND CAUSE THE WHOLE SYSTEM TO FAIL.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMOVE THIS SOLID MATERIAL BEFORE IT REACHES THE LEVEL OF THE DISCHARGE OUTLET AND FLOWS INTO THE DRAINFIELD. THERE IS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MATERIAL THAT IS NOT BIODEGRADABLE AND MUST BE REMOVED BY PUMPING. IF YOUR SYSTEM SHOULD STOP OR OVERFLOW, THERE COULD BE OFFENSIVE ODORS AS WELL AS DANGEROUS HEALTH HAZARDS.
WHY YOU SHOULD MAINTAIN YOUR SEPTIC SYSTEM:
A FAILING SEPTIC SYSTEM ISN'T’T LIKE YOUR CAR WHEN IT IS LOW ON OIL, NO RED LIGHT WILL GO ON TO WARN YOU. A SEPTIC TANK SYSTEM WILL SERVE A HOME SATISFACTORILY ONLY IF IT IS PROPERLY DESIGNED, INSTALLED, AND ADEQUATELY MAINTAINED. EVEN A GOOD SYSTEM WHICH DOES NOT HAVE PROPER CARE AND ATTENTION MAY BECOME A NUISANCE AND A BURDENSOME EXPENSE.
REMEMBER, A SEPTIC TANK-SOIL ABSORPTION SYSTEM WHICH DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY FREQUENTLY BECOMES A NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH HAZARD. TO OBTAIN SATISFACTORY SERVICE, THE HOMEOWNER MUST KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT THE DESIGN, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF HIS OWN SEPTIC TANK SYSTEM.
HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR SEPTIC SYSTEM :
WITH TODAY’S MODERN WATERTIGHT SYSTEMS, NO NATURAL ENZYMES OR BACTERIA CAN PENETRATE THE WALLS. THE ONLY WAY THE NECESSARY ENZYMES AND BACTERIA CAN ENTER IS THROUGH YOUR TOILETS, SINKS, TUBS AND DRAINS. ENZYMES AND BACTERIA MUST BE PRESENT TO KEEP YOUR TANK WORKING BETWEEN PERIOD PUMPING.
2-STEP PLAN:
CALL YOUR PLUMBER REGULARLY TO PUMP OUT THE SLUDGE IN YOUR TANK. HOW OFTEN YOU NEED PUMPING IS DETERMINED BY THE SIZE OF YOUR FAMILY, THE SIZE OF YOUR SEPTIC SYSTEM, WHETHER OR NOT YOU USE THE GARBAGE DISPOSAL AND THE CARE YOUR SYSTEM HAS HAD IN THE PAST. RELY ON YOUR SEPTIC PROFESSIONAL’S EXPERT ADVICE AND EXPERIENCE
AFTER PUMPING OUT YOUR TANK, ADD ENZYMES TO KEEP THE ENZYME AND BACTERIA LEVEL HIGH IN YOUR SYSTEM. YOUR DAILY USE OF HOME CARE PRODUCTS DESTROY ENZYMES AND BACTERIA, THEREFORE, THEY MUST BE REPLACED.
FOUR THINGS YOU MUST DO TO PREVENT NEEDLESS EXPENDITURES:
1. CHECK THE BAFFLES EVERY 2 YEARS:
IF THE OUTLET BAFFLES DETERIORATES, UNDIGESTED WASTE ESCAPES FROM THE TANK. IT GRADUALLY FILLS IN THE SPACES BETWEEN THE GRAVEL ROCKS PREVENTING WATER FROM GETTING INTO THE SOIL. WHEN THIS HAPPENS WATER HAS ONLY ONE PLACE TO GO -–UP!! A SMELLY, SOGGY UNSANITARY BACKYARD IS THE RESULT. WHEN INSPECTING BAFFLES NEVER ENTER THE TANK. IF YOUR DON’T KNOW HOW TO CHECK BAFFLES YOURSELF, CALL YOUR PROFESSIONAL SEPTIC PUMPER.
2. STOP KILLING YOUR TANK’S BIOLOGICAL ACTION. UNFORTUNATELY THERE ARE MANY WAYS YOU CAN INHIBIT OR KILL THE BACTERIA AND ENZYMES. THIS CAUSES WASTE TO BUILD UP RAPIDLY RESULTING IN THE NEED TO PUMP THE TANK ONCE OR EVEN TWICE PER YEAR. IF YOU DON’T PUMP IT ACCUMULATED WASTE WILL BYPASS THE OUTLET BAFFLE AND PLUG THE DRAIN FIELD.
3. HAVE YOUR TANK PUMPED REGULARLY. INDIGESTIBLE MINERAL MATTER BUILDS UP ON THE BOTTOM OF YOUR TANK OVER THE YEARS. IF THE LEVEL GETS TOO HIGH IT CAN FLOW OUT INTO THE DRAIN FIELD. THE TANK MUST BE PUMPED BEFORE THIS HAPPENS. ; PUMPING EVERY 3 – 5 YEARS AVOIDS ANY PROBLEMS. COMPARED TO THE HIGH COST OF DRAIN FIELD REPLACEMENT REGULAR PUMPING IS VERY INEXPENSIVE INSURANCE.
GUARD YOUR INVESTMENT. ALTHOUGH SOME BACTERIA ARE PRESENT IN THE WASTE THESE ORGANISMS DO NOT WORK WELL ON PROTEIN, FIBER OR GREASE. FURTHERMORE, MODERN CHEMISTRY HAS PROVIDED US WITH ADVANCED CLEANING PRODUCTS MADE OF COMPLEX MOLECULES. ORDINARY BACTERIA JUST CAN’T BREAK THESE CHEMICALS DOWN.