What You Need to Know Before Buying a Home with a Septic System

February 24th, 2015 Posted in Septic System
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If you’re shopping for a new home, you may be looking at some homes with a septic system. If you’ve never owned a home with a septic, you may be a little leery of taking on the responsibility of maintaining your own sewer system, but don’t let a septic system deter you from buying the home of your dreams. Here are a few basic facts about septic systems, which may make your purchasing decision less complicated:

Septic Systems are Affordable

You may think the costs associated with owning a septic system are immense, but In reality, maintaining a septic system is usually no more expensive than paying for city sewer services. Unlike a city sewer, you don’t pay out a monthly fee for your septic system, only paying for annual inspections, repairs or pumping when they’re necessary. In the long run, a properly maintained septic system can last for decades with very little cost for maintenance.

Low Maintenance

Most modern septic systems require very little maintenance to keep them running smoothly. If you follow regular septic system etiquette, like keeping harmful items out of your wastewater, there’s little that needs to be done to maintain your system on a monthly basis. If you don’t want to mess with the septic system at all, you can choose to sign up for a maintenance program with your local septic company. They can perform regular checkups and maintenance as needed.

One thing you should do before buying a new home with a septic system is ensure that the system has been thoroughly inspected by a trusted contractor. Although septic systems are affordable and easy to maintain, they are expensive to replace. Make sure you’re starting with a system in good shape before you buy the home.

Posted on behalf of:
A-Flo Free Septic
Lawrenceville, GA
(770) 927-7926

 

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Staying on Top of Septic Pumping

February 24th, 2015 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping
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Your septic tank has a limited capacity, usually around 1,000 gallons, depending on the size of your home. While much of the solid waste going into your tank will be dissolved into effluent through the natural decomposition process, there’s always some solid waste left behind. This “sludge” eventually fills the tank, needing to be physically removed through pumping by a septic professional.

When to Schedule a Septic Tank Cleansing

The time to clean or pump is determined by the level of sludge in your tank. Pumping should be done once the sludge begins to approach the outlet pipe, where effluent leaves the tank for the drain field. Once the top of the submerged sludge is within approximately 12 inches of the outlet pipe, it’s time to have your septic tank pumped.

Most septic system tanks only need to be pumped every 2-5 years. The variance is due to how much solid waste is accumulated from the home and the size of the tank. Good septic practices, such as not using a garbage disposal and reducing fat and oils allowed down the drain, can reduce how often a tank needs to be pumped. Although there are commercially avialable chemicals which claim to extend the time between pumping, these are often ineffective.

The best way to stay on top of when your septic tank needs to be pumped is to have an annual inspection of your entire system. It’s very difficult for most homeowners to determine where the sludge level is within their tanks, so having a professional check the tank level each year can prevent expensive tank overflows.

Posted on behalf of:
A-Flo Free Septic
Lawrenceville, GA
(770) 927-7926

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Septic Tank 101: Understanding What Your Septic Tank Does

February 24th, 2015 Posted in Septic Tanks
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The novice septic system owne may think of their septic tank as the actual system that cleans their wastewater, but it’s just one component of an entire process which works tirelessly to clean and remove the waste from the home. To care for your septic system properly, it helps to understand the different components involved, including the septic tank.

Septic Tank Specifications

The septic tank is the large receptacle where the process of treating wastewater from your home begins. Tank size varies depending on the size of the home, with the standard size at approximately 1000 gallons. Considering the tank must handle up to 350 gallons per person, per day, the size of tank needed depends on how many people live in your home. Tanks can have either one or two compartments, although single compartments are becoming more popular.

The function of the septic tank is to store waste while it decomposes, releasing effluent to be further filtered in the drain field. The solids in the wastewater sink to the bottom of the tank, separating the effluent from the solids. Bacteria, yeast and fungi naturally occur in the tank to breakdown the solids, dissolving 50% or more of the solids in the tank. The solids which are left behind accumulate until the tank needs to be pumped by a septic professional, usually every 2-3 years.

If the tank is sized correctly for the home and precautions are taken to keep harmful items out of the system, very little maintenance is required to allow the tank to perform. Annual inspections and pumping when needed can keep a septic tank functioning for many years with little other maintenance necessary.

Posted on behalf of:
Kiddco Plumbing Inc
Sterling, VA
(703) 435-4441

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Septic System 101: Components of a Gravity-Based System

February 24th, 2015 Posted in Septic System
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If you own a home or business with a gravity-based septic system, you most likely know that it contains a septic tank and a drain field. Yet these are only two the components in an efficient system, which treats and filters all the waste water from your building. Each part of the system works with the next, so understanding how they are connected can be helpful for maintenance and troubleshooting problems.

Sewer Lines

Starting at the building, the sewer lines are the first part of your septic system. These pipes carry your wastewater from the inside plumbing to the septic tank to begin treatment. These pipes can become cracked, clogged or broken, causing sewage spills into the ground or sewer backups into your home.

Septic Tank

Your septic tank is the large container where solid waste is separated from water, allowing the solids to break down in a pool of bacteria and other natural agents. The solids sink to the bottom of the tank while they’re decomposing while the grease rises to the top, with the water portion slowly being released out to the distribution box and drain field.

Distribution Box

Near the drain field, a distribution box made of plastic or cement receives the wastewater from the septic tank. This box is important part of ensuring that the wastewater is evenly distributed to the different pipes and trenches located in the drain field. It often contains a filter to keep large objects out of the drain field pipes.

Drain Field

The final stop for septic wastewater is the drain field. Underground pipes located in trenches release the wastewater into the ground, leeching or filtering it before it trickles down into the ground water below.

If you are concerned that you have a problem with any of your septic system components, call in your local septic professional for an inspection. Early intervention and repair can often prevent septic system failures.

Posted on behalf of:
Hunter’s Septic Service
Nesbit, MS
(662) 429-1686

 

 

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Septic Drain Fields 101

February 24th, 2015 Posted in Drain Field
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Besides the septic tank, the drain field is the other major component of a gravity-based septic system. The drain field is the leeching area where effluent released from the tank is filtered. Often, when a septic system fails, it’s due to a problem with the drain field. For this reason, it’s important to understand what’s needed to maintain and care for your drain field.

Construction of a Drain Field

The purpose of the drain field is to distribute effluent from the septic tank into the ground, allowing it to be filtered or leeched before it enters the ground water below. To do this, the field must be placed in an area that absorbs water quickly. A perc test is used to ensure that the ground is right for a drain field, plus the field needs to be located away from wells and other bodies of water.

The effluent travels from the septic tank to a distribution box near the drain field, which distributes the effluent to the various pipes leading out into the drain field. Trenches in the field contain perforated piping, which is covered with gravel and a barrier before soil is added on top.  Wastewater is then released through these pipes. It’s important the trenches aren’t overused, creating too much effluent and rising close to the surface instead of filtering down into the ground.

Drain fields generally require little maintenance if installed correctly by a septic professional, but it’s essential to protect this area from any vehicle or even foot traffic. If the grass becomes greener above the drain field than in other areas of your lawn, if  you notice any odors or see pooling water, call your septic professional immediately to have your system inspected.

Posted on behalf of:
Bynum & Sons Plumbing, Inc.
2120 McDaniels Bridge Rd SW
Lilburn, GA 30047
(770) 736-8283

 

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Five Things to Avoid if You Own a Septic System

February 24th, 2015 Posted in Septic System Maintenance
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Septic systems are notoriously expensive to replace, making maintenance the most important aspect of owning a septic. While annual inspections and regular tank pumping are a big part of maintenance of your septic system, the most important parts of system protection are remembering the things you shouldn’t do. Here are five things to avoid to help preserve the integrity of your septic system and prolong its life.

  • Fat and grease. Fat, grease and oil are poison to a septic system, creating more waste which needs to be pumped and causing issues in the system. Avoid allowing fats and oils to be dumped down drains. Scrape out cooking pans and wipe them clean of fats and grease before washing them in the sink or dishwater.
  • Tree roots. It’s important to know where your sewer lines and septic components are when planting new trees in your yard. Tree roots are attracted to the moisture in your septic system, and root intrusion can cause serious trouble.
  • Drain field compression. Under no circumstance should vehicles be allowed to drive over your drain field. This can damage the drain field and even result in septic system failure.
  • Excess water use. Conserving water use can add years onto the life of your septic system. Practice water conservation by avoiding running water down drains unnecessarily and fixing water leaks immediately.
  • Chemicals. Household chemicals, like bleach and other harsh agents, can destroy the bacteria in your septic tank and make it less efficient. Antibacterial cleaners are specifically harmful to this delicate balance, so be careful not to overuse these products. 

Keeping your septic system healthy is easier to do if you can avoid these common issues. When paired with regular maintenance, many septic systems can last for decades.

Posted on behalf of:
Seagraves Plumbing Sewer & Septic
4980 Plant Atkinson Rd SE
Smyrna, GA 30080
(494) 792-2221

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Three Signs of Septic System Problems

February 24th, 2015 Posted in Septic System Maintenance
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Most septic systems can function without issues for years on end with no major issues, especially if they’re inspected regularly by a septic professional. Annual inspections can uncover any potential problems before they happen, providing you with the opportunity to fix these issues before you encounter a septic emergency. Some problems can still occur, however, leading to sewer backups and even a complete system failure. To resolve these problems quickly, here are three signs that your septic system is not working correctly:

  1. Foul Odors — One of the first and most noticeable signs of a brewing septic problem is a foul odor. This could be in your home, your yard or near your drain field. If your septic system is working correctly, you shouldn’t be experiencing bad odor at all, as the waste should be contained within the system.
  2. Pooling Water — If you see pooling water in your yard, around your septic tank or in your drain field, something may be amiss in your system. Wet areas in your yard could mean a broken or leaking sewer pipe, while pooling water near your septic tank could mean a leak in your tank. Drain fields with wet areas are a sign the water isn’t draining correctly into the ground, and can result in septic failure.
  3. Sewer Backups — If you’re noticing that drains in your home are slow or wastewater backing up in sinks or bathtubs, you need to call your septic professional. It’s possible that you’re dealing with an interior plumbing problem, but it can also be a sign of a major problem within your septic system.

Any of these signs is a good reason to call in a professional to get your system inspected. Early detection of septic problems is the best way to reduce the cost of repair, and to avoid needing a full system replacement.

Posted on behalf of:
Metro Septic LLC
1210 N Tennessee St
Cartersville, GA 30120
(678) 873-7934

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