Have you recently moved into a home that uses a septic tank, and you don't know much about how it works? You'll likely have these common questions regarding your septic tank.
How Does A Septic Tank Work?
The basic premise of a septic tank is that it collects all of the waste from your home, and the bacteria within the tank break down the solid waste into three layers. There are the heavy solids at the bottom, the scum that floats on the top, and the middle that is mostly water. That middle layer exits the tank and enters a drainfield where it goes into the soil. The septic tank will eventually have too much scum and heavy solids that cause the tank to become full, and then it will need to be pumped out.
How Do You Know If A Septic Tank Needs To Be Pumped?
There will come a time when the septic tank is full of waste and needs to have it all pumped out. However, it can be difficult to know exactly when this needs to be done because you can't just look inside the tank. That's why you need to pay attention to the signs that the septic tank is approaching its limit. You may have slow-moving drains where the water doesn't go down as fast as it once did. There can also be odors coming from the drains, or even wastewater backing up into your home.
How Do You Prepare Your Septic Tank To Be Pumped?
You'll need to locate the opening of your septic tank underground, which can be difficult to do if you have never done it before. Thankfully, a septic tank pumping company can help find the opening for you by using some logic based on where the opening could be. They'll follow the pipe that is coming out of your home to go to the septic tank, then use a probe to locate the perimeter of the septic tank. The opening will be located near the side of the tank facing your home where the main drainage line enters the tank, which will involve some digging to reach it.
Is Special Care Needed After A Septic Tank Is Pumped?
It's important to not immediately fill up the tank with a lot of clean water since the tank needs bacteria to break down the solid waste. Consider adding beneficial bacteria additives to the septic tank to help with this process.
To learn more about septic tanks, contact a septic cleaning service in your area.
