What you should know about your Septic Tank System
Septic tank systems are ancient waste treatment plants typically installed in households that are not connected to modern municipal sewerage systems. These systems consist of a number of interconnected tanks, carefully designed to enable anaerobic bacteria to digest and eventually break down human waste. These systems will not operate efficiently if they are flooded with water whether it be waste water or rain water. For this reason, rain water should bever be routed through one’s septic tank system.
Regularly pumping your septic tank is the best maintenance that home owners can do to ensure that their septic system functions optimally.
Extracting the waste from your septic system ensures that your tanks will never clog up, overflow or damage your plumbing system, thus ensuring that no sewerage contaminates your property.
A well functioning septic system increases the value of your property. Septic tanks should only be pumped by qualified professionals who are licensed by local authorities to dispose of solid waste.
Is there a best time of the year to pump a septic tank?
Unlike cold northern countries, in South Africa, there is no “ideal” time of the year to pump a septic tank as our ground neither freezes nor gets snowed under. Having said that, it is generally better to pump waste in the dry season in preparation for ingress if runoff from precipitation.
It is important to route your rain water down spouts away from the septic tank as any amount of excess water flowing through a septic system will disrupt the work of the anaerobic bacteria who’s function it is to break down the human waste.
Basic home maintenance of the septic tanks
It is advisable that property owners maintain the area around the septic tank affording easy access to professional pumping services, making their already difficult task easier to bear. Additionally homeowners should ensure that no foreign objects enter the system which could lead to blockages.
Unlike a municipal sewerage system, where household waste water is routed to the local water treatment works, septic tanks are designed to process human waste on one’s property. It stands to reason that in spite of the anaerobic action required to break down waste, sludge does eventually build up within the septic tank to levels that require removal.
How pumping prevents damage to your septic tank system
Pumping a septic tank removes accumulated sludge from the bottom of a septic tank system which builds up as the occupants of the property use the system. Delaying pumping could cause serious blockages that are costly to resolve.
The more occupants there are in the household, the more often the septic system needs to be pumped, thus ensuring that the home’s waste water system continues to function smoothly. It is important to ensure that each occupant is aware that only toilet paper is flushed down the drain.
Taps and Showerheads:
Taps should be fitted with aerators which can be easily removed and cleaned or de-clogged. Low-flow showerheads typically use 9 litres of water per minute as opposed to 25 to 30 litres which is used by traditional showerheads.
How pumping extends the life of your septic tank system
Pumping your septic tank regularly will save you save money in the long term as removing sludge build up immediately decreases the pressure on the workings of your septic tanks which will ensure that it keeps functioning optimally for longer while also preventing costly property damage.
Your septic tank can increase the value of your property
Potential property buyers always show a keen interest in the health of a property’s septic tank, and expect it to be well maintained before making a decision on purchasing a property. Poorly maintained septic tanks lower the value of one’s property as prospective buyers will factor in the replacement cost when assessing the value of a property.
How to tell when it is time to pump a septic tank
There are a number of aspects of a septic system that homeowners can keep an eye out for in order to assist in determining when to call a professional to pump the system including:
- Time that has lapsed since the last pumping. If this information is not available, simply call your pimpiing provider who can verify through his records when your last pumping would have been done
- Water build-up or pooling in the area around the tank as well as lush, verdant vegetation near the septic tank and the drain field are all signs of leakages that should be addressed.
- Offensive smells emanating from drains within the home or yard is a sure sign of sewerage build-up suggesting that the septic tank is full.
- The number of people in a household will have an impact on when your septic tank will need to be pumped. Typically a system serving a 4 head household will need pumping every 2 to 3 years but this obviously depends on the size of the system itself. The nature of cleaning products such as soaps, shampoos and cleaning chemicals used in the home that have an impact on the health on the anaerobic bacteria also play a part in ensuring that the system operates optimally.
- When homeowners find that their household drains and toilets are draining or flushing slowly, this is a sure sign that their septic tank system needs pumping rather urgently before any damage is done.
- Well maintained septic tank systems typically have a lifespan of 30 to 50 years.
If you have any questions regarding your septic tank system or require your septic tanks to be pumped by a professional, feel free to contact us for advice.