Protect Your Drain Field With a Washing Machine Lint Filter

November 7th, 2011 Posted in Drain Field
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If your home is on a septic system, consider installing a washing machine lint filter to help protect your drain field and extend the life of your system.  Waste water from you septic system flows into the drain field where it leeches into the soil.  A drain field can fail if it becomes clogged with too much solid material that was suspended in the waste water.

Waste water from washing machines contains a great deal of tiny lint particles.  These particles can be too light to settle out of the effluent in the septic tank and as a result they remain in suspension and flow out into the drain field where they can clog the pores in the soil around the drain field.

To make matters worse, much of this lint is inorganic fibers that do not decompose and will accumulate in the drain field for years.  A washing machine lint filter can greatly reduce the amount of lint from your washing machine that gets into you drain field.  These filters are relatively inexpensive and easy to install.

You may be wondering whether a washing machine lint filter is really necessary or is it a solution in search of a problem?  After all, there are millions of septic systems in use that have been working just fine without a washing machine lint filter.

On the other hand, thousands of septic systems fail every year and one of the main reasons for septic system failure is a clogged drain field.  Your drain field may work fine for years, but once it clogs up it’s too late to do much about it other than installing a replacement drainfield.  Replacing a clogged drain field can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000.  Compared to the cost of replacing your drain field, a lint filter that probably helps and certainly does not hurt your septic system seems like cheap insurance

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Septic System Failures

November 6th, 2011 Posted in Septic System
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A properly designed and installed septic system is an excellent way to treat and dispose of household wastewater.  However, a septic system needs to be used properly and regularly maintained or the septic system can fail and require expensive septic tank repairs or replacement.

A septic system works by accumulating household wastewater in the septic tank and holding it there long enough for most solid material to settle to the bottom of the tank where it forms the sludge layer.  Greases and other materials float to the top of the tank and form the scum layer.

The wastewater in between the sludge layer and scum layer is called the effluent and is allowed to flow into the drain field where it leeches into the soil and is purified through a natural organic process.  Baffles inside the septic tank prevent the scum layer from flowing into the drain field.  Bacterial action helps break down the solid material at the bottom of the tank

Septic systems usually fail because the septic field becomes clogged with solid material that prevents the wastewater from seeping into the soil.  Avoid flushing too much inorganic solid material down the drain such as from a garbage disposal or paper products. Failure to have the septic tank pumped when necessary can also lead to septic system failure.  The level of solid material in the tank rises so high that there is no room in the tank and the solid material flows into the septic field.

Septic system failures seem to occur suddenly, but in fact the cause of the failure has usually been building up over a period of months or years.  Most septic system failures can be averted through regular septic tank inspections and septic tank pumping when needed.

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Heavy Water Usage Can Cause Septic System Failures

November 6th, 2011 Posted in Drain Field
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A septic system works by accumulating household wastewater in the septic tank and holding it there long enough for most solid material to settle to the bottom of the tank.  The wastewater then flows into the drain field or leech field where it leeches into the soil

Heavy water usage causes problems for your septic system in two ways.  First, too much water usage can overload the system if the wastewater cannot leech into the soil fast enough. The effluent will instead pool near or on the surface of the drain field.

In addition, a high volume of water usage will push water through the septic tank before the solid material can settle out.  The solid material will accumulate in the soil and over time the drain field will become partially clogged and unable to handle as much water.

In some cases, a drain field that was once able to handle a high volume of water has become partially clogged by solid material over time and is no longer able to handle that much water although it will work well during normal usage.  In other cases, unusually wet weather can decrease the volume of water that your septic field can handle.

If the soil around the drain field is waterlogged from unusually heavy rain or runoff, it will be unable to handle as much water.  This problem will usually resolve itself as soon as drier weather returns, but if it becomes a frequent occurrence you should call a sewer septic contractor.  You may need drainfield repairs or replacement.

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Common Causes of Septic System Failures

November 6th, 2011 Posted in Septic System
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For most homeowners, having regular septic tank inspections and pumping your septic tank when necessary will help keep your septic system in good working order.  Between inspections, proper usage of your septic system will contribute to keeping it healthy.

Flushing too many chemicals down the drain can cause problems with your septic system.  Bacteria and other microorganisms in the system help decompose the solid materials and chemicals can kill these good bacteria and organisms.  Dispose of paint thinners and similar chemicals properly and use household cleaning and disinfecting products like toilet bowl cleaners sparingly.

Overloading the septic system with heavy water usage can contribute to clogging up your drain field because it forces effluent into the drain field before the solid material can settle to the bottom of the septic tank.  Spacing your water usage such as doing a few loads of laundry a day rather than all the loads at once can help.

Speaking of laundry, lint from the washing machine can lead to a septic system failure because it finds its way into the drain field and clogs up the soil.  You can have a lint filter installed that will help reduce this problem.

Garbage disposals pose a similar problem.  The finely ground material gets into the drain field and clogs it up rather than settling to the bottom of the septic tank.  Use garbage disposals carefully or consider installing a garbage disposal specifically designed for septic systems.

Driving across the drain field can compact the soil and impair the ability of the drain field to absorb waste water.  Keep vehicles off the drain field.

Properly using your septic system will help keep it trouble free for years to come.

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Septic System Tips

November 3rd, 2011 Posted in Septic System
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Homes that are built where there is no municipal sewer system use a septic system to dispose of their waste water.  A properly installed septic system can do a great job of safely disposing of household waste water.  However, a septic system can fail if it is not properly cared for.  In many cases, the homeowner is simply unaware of the damage they are causing until it is too late.

Septic systems collect the wastewater from your home in septic tank where it is held long enough for the solid material to settle to the bottom of the tank.  The waste water then flows into the septic field through perforated pipes which allow the water to seep into the ground.

The solid material that accumulates in the septic tank decomposes to some extent through natural biological action, but it will slowly fill the tank and should be pumped out periodically.  Most septic system failures are caused by too much solid material finding its way into the septic field.

The number one way to avoid septic system issues is to have regular septic tank inspections and septic tank pumping.  Your system should be inspected about once every other year and pumped every three to five years.

In the meantime, avoid flushing chemicals, paint, and solvents down the drain. These can not only kill helpful bacteria, but also collect in the drainfield.  Consider having a washing machine filter installed to prevent the lint from your washing machine from clogging the drain field.  Don’t flush anything other than human waste and small quantities of toilet paper down the toilet.  Dispose of feminine products, disposable diapers, and other non-biodegradable products in the trash.

Call your sewer-septic professional at the first sign of trouble.  You may be able to stop a small problem from becoming a big problem.

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Understanding Drain Fields

November 3rd, 2011 Posted in Drain Field
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If you are on a septic system, it is a good idea to understand how your system operates so you will be better able to take care of it and so you will know when to call a sewer-septic professional to handle any repairs.

The drainfield is a vitally important part of most septic systems.  The waste water from your home first flows into your septic tank where it is held for at least a day or two to allow solid material to settle to the bottom of the tank.  The waste water then flows into the drain field which consists of a series of perforated pipes (called leech lines) that are surrounded by gravel ad buried a foot or two below the surface of your yard.  The drain field is often called a leech field because it allows the water to leech into the gravel and the into the soil. The wastewater is purified naturally as it slowly leeches through the soil.

Problems with drain fields can be caused by flushing chemicals, paint, solvents, and other materials down your drains.  These materials collect in the soil around the leech lines and prevent the wastewater form properly leeching into the soil.

Overuse of the your septic system can also cause drain field problems.  If too much water gets into the drain field, it may not leech into the soil fast enough, causing the system to back up and waste water to make its way to the surface.

If you notice any problems with your drainfield, call a sewer-septic contractor with experience in the installation and repair of drainfields.

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Should You Repair Or Replace a Sewer Line?

November 3rd, 2011 Posted in Drain Lines
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A broken, collapsed, or totally clogged sewer line is serious problem that needs immediate attention.  You will need an experienced plumbing contractor or sewer-septic contractor that handles sewer and drain line installation and  repair to identify the source of the problem and help you determine whether to repair the drain line or whether a replacement pipe will be necessary.

A sewer line that clogs frequently or leaks probably has cracks that are infiltrated by tree roots.  These roots can be cleared, but unless you address the underlying problem they will grow back and the problem will reoccur.

If the pipe is leaking in one area, there is a good chance that leaks or cracks will soon form in other areas of the pipe.  If you have a broken or collapsed line, you will need to know what caused the problem and the condition of the rest of the pipe.

First, have any clogged lines cleared by a mechanical rooter or high pressure hydro-jetting, then have a video camera inspection done of the inside of the pipe.  Your sewer-septic technician or plumber will run a small video camera through the accessible area of the pipe and be able to let you see the condition of the inside of the pipe.

You will know from the video inspection whether one section of the pipe can be repaired or whether it should be replaced.  If the damage is limited to one section and the rest of the pipe is in good shape, your plumber or sewer-septic professional can probably repair it. On the other hand, cracks and damage throughout the line means that the entire pipe should be replaced.

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