Without proper maintenance, a septic system can lead to headaches and costly repair bills. The professional contractors at AAA Drainage Systems can handle all of your septic needs and give you a clean and efficient system. You will have cost-effective solutions for all of your wastewater.
All water runs out of your house from one main drainage pipe into a septic tank.
The septic tank is a buried, water-tight container usually made of concrete, fiberglass, or polyethylene. Its job is to hold the wastewater long enough to allow solids to settle down to the bottom forming sludge, while the oil and grease floats to the top as scum.
Compartments and a T-shaped outlet prevent the sludge and scum from leaving the tank and traveling into the drainfield area.The liquid wastewater (effluent) then exits the tank into the drainfield.
The drainfield is a shallow, covered, excavation made in unsaturated soil. Pretreated wastewater is discharged through piping onto porous surfaces that allow wastewater to filter though the soil. The soil accepts, treats, and disperses wastewater as it percolates through the soil, ultimately discharging to groundwater.
If the drainfield is overloaded with too much liquid, it can flood, causing sewage to flow to the ground surface or create backups in toilets and sinks.
Finally, the wastewater percolates into the soil, naturally removing harmful coliform bacteria, viruses and nutrients. Coliform bacteria is a group of bacteria predominantly inhabiting the intestines of humans or other warm-blooded animals. It is an indicator of human fecal contamination.
When it works the way it should, a septic tank keeps a property functioning efficiently. The average tank should be pumped every three to five years. However, if left untreated, the tank can become full and overflow.
Does Your Septic Tank Need Repair?
It can be difficult to notice how a septic tank is functioning, primarily because you likely don’t visually see it when you use it like you do a faucet, drain, or sink. However, there are some telltale signs that you can keep an eye out for that may indicate your septic tank isn’t working the way it should. Common warning signs to look for include pooling water, foul odors, inexplicable brown and yellow patches in your lawn and slow draining toilets.