Do you know how to maintain your septic system? With septic tank repairs and replacement starting in the $1,000s, understanding septic tank basics is essential to keep your septic system in the best possible condition. Fortunately, caring for a septic tank is easy if you follow a few simple tips.
First, though, let’s quickly review the basics of a septic system. A septic system consists of two main components: the tank and the drain field. The septic tank is an underground container responsible for holding solids and scum that comes from your household wastewater. With proper maintenance, it should last approximately thirty years. Once in the septic tank, heavy solids sink to the bottom, and bacteria break them down into sludge and gases (this is the sludge layer). Grease and other lighter solids rise to the top to form a scum layer (maintaining proper scum levels is part of a well-running system); solid waste that doesn’t decompose must be periodically removed by pumping. Effluent, the wastewater that leaves the septic tank, enters the drain field for its final treatment and disposal. A network of perforated pipes lies in gravel trenches that workers bury beneath the soil to create the drain field. The drain field can flood if it’s too full of wastewater or outside liquid, leading to a sewage backup. The goal, therefore, of maintaining the septic tank is to prevent solids from accumulating and avoid groundwater contamination.
Components of a Septic System
A properly functioning septic system comprises four essential components: the pipe from your home, the septic tank, the drain field, and the surrounding soil. Each plays a crucial role in treating and dispersing household wastewater safely.
- Pipe from the Home: All wastewater from your sinks, showers, toilets, and appliances exits your home through a single pipe and flows into the septic Many homeowners are surprised to learn that the septic system handles more than just toilet waste; it processes all wastewater produced in the household.
- Septic Tank: This watertight container holds wastewater long enough for solids to settle to the bottom (forming sludge), while lighter materials, such as oils and grease, float to the top (forming scum). This separation process enables partially clarified water to proceed to the next phase.
- Drain Field: Also known as a leach field, this area collects clarified wastewater from the septic tank and gradually releases it into the soil.
- Soil: The soil is the final component of the It contains microbes that naturally remove harmful bacteria, viruses, and nutrients from the wastewater before it reaches groundwater.
To prevent buildup of sludge and scum in the septic tank, regular maintenance is essential. Periodic pumping and inspections help ensure that each part of the system functions properly. Neglecting this can lead to system failures, backups, or costly replacements.
What Causes Septic Systems to Fail?
What causes a septic system to fail? The greatest culprit behind a septic system failure is the homeowner’s failure to maintain it properly. Failing to pump a septic system regularly causes sludge to accumulate inside the tank.
After the sludge accumulates, it will flow into the absorption field until it becomes so clogged that repair is no longer possible. How often should I pump my septic tank? The frequency depends on a variety of factors, such as:
- The size of the septic tank
- How many people live in your home
- Garbage disposal use
- The number of solids in the wastewater
Signs You Have a Septic Problem
If you are not sure of how to tell if you have a septic problem, here are some signs to look out for:
- House drains are not working,
- You notice swampy conditions around the absorption field,
- The tank outlet is plugged,
- foul odors, or
- The toilets are backed
Tips for Septic Tank Maintenance
Schedule Regular Septic Tank Pumping
A key maintenance aspect is regular septic tank pumping. How often do you need your septic system pumped? It depends on several factors, such as the number of people in your household, water usage (including the total wastewater generated, the number of solids, and the tank size). The official EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) recommendation is to pump
the system every three years. Still, it’s a good idea to have it inspected and serviced more often than that (especially with heavy water use). Keeping onsite wastewater treatment maintenance records can help you stay on schedule. Adding a riser to the Tank can make future inspections and pumping more accessible.
Protect Your Septic System: Items to Avoid Flushing or Discharging.
Mind what goes down the drain and the kitchen sink. The most important thing you can do for your septic system is to be careful about what goes into it. Water from your shower, hot tub, faucets, garbage disposal, sinks, washing machine, and toilet all drain into the septic tank.
Therefore, watching what you flush or pour down the drain is crucial to prevent buildup and clogs, as well as to maintain the balance of the tank’s ecosystem. Use the trash can, not your plumbing, for everything except wastewater and toilet paper. Be careful not to introduce any of the following into the drainage system, as these items can kill essential microorganisms or clog components like the effluent filter and baffles:
- Fats or grease
- Cooking oil
- Chemicals or drain openers
- Motor oils or fuels
- Disposable diapers
- Dental floss
- Coffee grounds, eggshells, or nutshells
- Filter tip cigarettes/cigarette butts
- Sanitary napkins, tampons (or other feminine hygiene products), or condoms
- Paper towels or rags
- Certain soaps, bleach, and cleaning products that have harmful chemicals
- Excessive toilet paper
- Paints, household chemicals, and certain detergents, solvents, and drain cleaners
- Non-biodegradable items
Avoiding these items is a great way to keep your septic system working well, and is part of a good onsite septic system maintenance plan. It can also help avoid foul odors.
Use Additives
Septic tank additives comprise live, organic bacteria that break down the solids and substances that enter your septic system. These additives replenish the natural bacteria that have died, providing an inexpensive way to maintain the system’s proper function.
Conserve Water
When you waste water, it all goes into the septic tank. That’s why it’s a good idea to conserve water whenever possible, and consider low-flow fixtures and mindful habits, such as
water-saving showerheads and washing machines that can complete full loads using fewer gallons of water. Adopting water-saving habits is a great way to reduce water usage without purchasing special items. This excess water issue is why a heavy rainstorm can affect your system. During heavy rainfall, excess surface water can overwhelm your treatment system, leading to backups.
Know the Signs of a Problem
If your septic system is giving off an unpleasant odor or there’s surfacing sewage, of course, you’ll recognize that as a problem. However, lush vegetation in the drain field area and wet spots in your lawn are also signs of an overloaded septic system. IF there are gurgling sounds in the plumbing, the fixtures drain slowly, or the plumbing backs up, call for service immediately.
Hire the Right Service Provider
Shop around for service providers, and don’t just hire the cheapest. Instead, hire a trusted and experienced pumper or septic professional to inspect and address issues before they become major failures.
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Maintain Your Drainfield (leachfield)
To protect your septic system’s drainfield—a key component that removes contaminants from wastewater—avoid any traffic over the area, including vehicles, heavy equipment, or livestock, as this can compact soil and damage pipes. Plant trees and large plants at a safe distance to prevent invasive roots from disrupting the system. Additionally, divert rainwater, roof runoff,
sump pump discharge, and HVAC drainage away from the drainfield to avoid oversaturation and potential flooding, which can lead to system failure.
Need Reliable Septic or Plumbing Help? Call the Experts 24/7
A-1 Sewer & Septic Service is a 24-hour plumbing contractor serving Kansas City, MO, Kansas City, KS, and Johnson County. With years of experience and well-trained staff, A-1 Sewer & Septic Service can handle any large or small septic tank or plumbing job. For an experienced plumber in Kansas City, call A-1 Sewer & Septic Service Inc. at 913-349-7032!
