Septic systems are a fairly common part of many American households and consist of a septic tank and a drain field, also sometimes referred to as a leach field. The tank is buried underground and can be installed in either the front of the backyard so long as there is sufficient room for both the tank and the drain field. It is not recommended to place anything heavy such as a car or machinery above the tank so you should keep the space clear. Additionally it will not possible to build or install any features such as a swimming pool close to the drain field.
The septic tank is where all of your waste water from the kitchen, bathrooms and laundry room will end up. Once there the waste is separated with solids remaining in the tank and liquid known as effluent is allowed to flow out of the tank and into the drain field. The effluent is then filtered as it percolates down through the soil where bacteria and viruses are removed.
There are certain things that must be done in order to properly maintain your septic system and one of the most important ones is to have the tank pumped on a regular basis. The frequency of septic tank pumping depends on a number of factors including the size of the tank and the amount of waste produced by your household.
Certain things should not be put into the system or you run the risk of causing damage such as feminine hygiene products and cigarette butts. Cooking oil should be disposed of in the garbage rather than down the drains and try not to use excessive amounts of water as this can cause the system to fail.
