Everything You Need To Know About Septic Tanks

Cleaning the inside of your house is actually not enough to keep things sanitary. You can vacuum every corner all you want and it still won’t be completely clean. We are of course talking about something that you don’t clean yourself – the sewage system. This often overlooked part of the house is more important than you think.

Your house’s sewage system is your only means of ridding your place of the waste produced in the bathroom and kitchen. At the heart of every sewage system are septic tanks. Without this essential part of the irrigation system, you’re most likely going to get sick at all the bacteria that will pile up in your humble abode.

What Is A Septic Tank?

In essence, a septic tank is a system responsible for filtering and cleaning the wastewater produced by your home before it naturally returns to nature. Experts at septictank.com say that septic tanks are responsible for a complicated process to ensure that your home, and the area that your water goes to, become as clean as possible. How does this complicated process play out?

How Does It Work?

The cycle begins when wastewater enters the tank through your home’s pipes. Wastewater consists of anything that goes down your toilet drain and kitchen sink. Keep in mind that these are biodegradable waste. If left improperly disposed of, they pose a serious health risk because of the bacteria they produce.

As per Family Handyman, the bacteria inside the septic tank is responsible for making the system work. They are capable of breaking down the solid waste in your wastewater. The waste that’s broken down is turned into sludge and they drop to the very bottom of the filtration system. Any waste that isn’t broken down is taken to the filter and then on to the drain field.

The main purpose of the process isn’t to just make sure that your waste is properly disposed of. It’s also about making sure that the water that goes back to the earth is as clean as possible. This is a water cycling system so any water that comes out of your system will eventually make its way back to your home.

Due to its important role, it’s vital that you keep your septic tank system as healthy as possible. Here are a few does and don’ts on how you can keep your septic tank and sewage system perfectly working.

Do’s

Do get a larger septic system if your house is large and has many inhabitants. Smaller septic systems might not be capable of disposing of waste properly if it can’t handle the amount that comes in the tank.

Do try to break down food wastes in your sink as much as possible. Ideally, you also don’t want any bones or other solid waste dropping into the septic tank. 

Do get an effluent filter. This filter helps reduce the number of solids that get out of the tank system.

Do make sure that your dishwasher/washing machine runs on full cycles to make sure that anything solid that gets through is as small as possible.

Do have your septic tank checked. The US Environment Protection Agency suggests having your tank pumped every three or five years.

Don’ts

Don’t put any chemicals inside your septic tank. Not only will it kill the bacteria that help break down solids, but it can also make the filtered water unusable.

Don’t put grease or fat into the system. Avoid this by making sure that grease and oil don’t go down your sink. These can clog up your pipes and make it harder for the septic tank to break down solids.

Don’t let any non-biodegradable objects get to the system. These can’t be broken down by the bacteria colonies within the system. They can also cause clogs.

Don’t let hazardous waste get into the system. This includes flammable fluids, as well as toxic fluids. This can be dangerous for your home and it could affect the water released by the septic system.

Don’t try to clean it yourself unless you have experience. There are professionals that can do this as safely and as properly as possible.For residents in the Indianapolis area concerned about maintaining their septic systems, engaging in regular septic tank cleaning Indianapolis services is crucial. These professionals not only ensure the longevity of your septic tank but also safeguard your home’s environment against potential health hazards.

Why Is It Important To Have Your Tank Pumped?

Pumping a septic tank means clearing if anything that’s inside that’s yet to be filtered out. This process is usually done by professionals who use a huge pumping truck to completely clean your septic tank. It’s one of the best investments you can make for the sanitation and safety of your home.

Aside from having it checked every three years, you should have the tank pumped if there’s a clog in it. Why is it important to have professionals clean out your septic tank?

For starters, if your septic tank isn’t working properly, you’ll be smelling that foul odor of sewage right in your yard. The worse the problem, the worse the odor is. Sometimes, the odor passes through your walls and gets inside your house. This odor can also reach your next-door neighbors.

You’ll also begin seeing unsanitary swampy areas over at the drain field. This can be housed by numerous disease-carrying bacteria that can be hazardous to your health. It can also kill the surrounding plant life in your yard.

Inside your house, you’ll begin to notice that the drains in the lower areas begin to take out water slowly. This can be a huge nuisance as it makes washing the dishes harder. It can also cause leaks and unnecessary flooding from within your home.

Many parts of the house are essential but you should never keep your septic tank out of your thoughts. This heart of the sewage system is responsible for more things that you can think of and it’s basically what keeps you from getting sick at the waste you produce.

The good news is that it doesn’t take much to take care of your septic tank. Just have it checked by professionals every now and then and you’ll be able to live within your home safely.