Buying a New Home with a Septic System

You have found the home of your dreams, perfect for your family in every way except one major problem: it has a septic system. If you have never owned a home with a septic system, this may be a deal breaker for you. However, millions of homeowners have septic systems and are perfectly happy with their home. Don’t let something new scare you away from the home that has everything else you want. Here are some basic facts and even benefits to owning a septic system:

  • No monthly sewer bills! While you do have maintenance costs involved with a septic system, there is no monthly bill from the utility company. Plus if you have a septic system, you probably are on a well for your water too, so no sewer or water bills each month.
  • Pumping is not a big deal. You may have heard about needing to have your septic tank pumped and are worried about the cost. In most cases, tanks only need to be pumped every few years. There are plenty of things you can do to keep this at a minimum and the costs are not as high as you might think. In most cases it averages less than a $100 per year for pumping.
  • Maintenance can be performed by a professional. You don’t need to maintain your septic system yourself. Your local septic service can put you on a maintenance plan to ensure your equipment is inspected and maintained on a regular basis.

If it truly is your dream home, don’t let the fact that it has a septic system stand in your way. Talk to the local septic service about maintenance plans and even the possibility of converting to sewer. Either way, there is a solution so you can enjoy this home fully, even with a septic system.

Posted on behalf of:
Septic Service Pro, LLC
Peachtree Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30334
(678) 292-8728

Septic System Warning Signs

We all have had home repair issues.  The sewer septic is one area that none of us wants a problem with.  As homeowners, it is our responsibility to know the warning signs of when things may be going wrong with our septic system.

Your septic tank and sewer system is an important, expensive piece of your home.  It provides wastewater disposal for the entire plumbing system of the house.

Signs of impending nightmares include toilets that are slow to flush or have ‘remains’ in them after flushing.  Drains that are slow to drain are also signs of potential clogged drain lines.  Often, these lines can be ‘cleared’ with a simple plumbing technique, but in other cases more serious services are required.  Never place chemicals in any drain to help speed the drainage as these chemicals can actually destroy the bacteria that helps break down the solid waste.

Standing water in the area of the leach field and septic tank generally indicates a leak in the sewer septic system somewhere.  A qualified professional should be contacted immediately in these cases.

Foul odors or smells coming from the yard where the septic tank is generally indicate that the septic tank lid is cracked or broken, or that the tank itself has a crack.  A smelly septic tank odor and area is a very bad sign, and requires immediate help from a qualified professional.  In some states, civil penalties can be assessed for sewer septic tank failures.

How a Septic Tank Works

Septic systems are often fall into the category of ‘out of sight, out of mind’.  The septic tank is the first part of your sewage system, and is essential for a well functioning, efficient septic sewer system.  The septic tank is an amazingly simple piece of equipment that can cause complex problems if not treated properly.

When raw sewage leaves the house (after a toilet flush), the product is separated in the septic tank.  Solids are separated from the liquids, with the solids remaining in the septic tank.  The liquid that is removed and leaves the septic tank is called ‘effluent’.

A well functioning septic tank is water tight.  Leaks and cracks are dangerous to the septic tank itself, and can pose a serious problem for the home-owner.  If ten gallons of sewage enter from a toilet flush, ten gallons of effluent must flow out of the tank.

Bacteria live in the septic tank.  These bacteria are considered anaerobic, as they do not use oxygen.  The bacteria work to break down the solid waste products.  By-products from the work of the bacteria results in methane and other gases.  We all know that methane can produce odors, but the septic system itself should be odor free.  In fact, odors coming from your septic tank often indicate that a crack or leak has developed in the tank.

The tank is best described as a ‘settling’ tank.  The settling that is occurring is because of the bacteria.  As the bacteria work, the solids are broken down and become smaller in size and volume.  It is impossible for the waste products to be broken down to zero, though, and that is why a residue always remains in the septic tank itself  When the residuals from the break down become too great, it is time to have the septic tank pumped.  This is generally every two to five years, depending on your climate and usage.

Visitors and Your Septic System

Septic systems are designed for a certain number of people.  When long term guests come to visit (or stay!) home owners may find that their septic system isn’t working as effectively or efficiently as possible.  When more individuals are using the septic system, increased pressure is placed on the tank and drain lines, potentially causing back-ups and slow draining.

Every septic tank has an amount (or capacity) allowed.  When this capacity is met, the septic tank is unable to take as much sewage, and will not drain properly.  This is frequently seen when long term visitors are staying in your home.

If you plan on having long term visitors, consider adding a water flow meter to your septic system.  Every gallon of water that flows through the drain needs to also be drained in the septic tank field.  A water meter can help you and your family conserve water appropriately and avoid unsightly and embarrassing back-ups and problems.  You will know exactly how much water is being used.  Home water meters should cost around $100 plus installation.

Another issue with house guests and your septic tank is toilet flushing.  Most toilets use between five and six gallons per flush.  When you double the occupants in your home, it is easy to see how quickly your septic tank lines and field can become overwhelmed!  Consider installing an ultra-effective toilet that effectively flushes wastes with as little as one gallon of water.  An ultra effective one gallon toilet generally costs around $200-$300 plus installation….far less than an expensive septic tank repair!