If you want your septic system to last as long as possible, it needs regular maintenance. This can save you money and avoid disasters down the road.
Septic systems store waste in a tank, then let liquid waste float to the surface before it’s transported to a drain field and filtered. It’s a complex process that reduces the risk of water contamination.
Saves You Money
Getting your septic tank pumped regularly is essential to the health of your system. It can also save you significant money in the long run because it prevents your home from experiencing severe issues that could lead to costly repairs and replacements.
Septic tanks need regular pumping to break down the waste as effectively as possible. A properly installed septic tank will contain enough bacteria to break down the sludge and scum that naturally accumulates in the bottom of the tank.
Putting harsh chemicals into the tank, such as paint thinner, polyurethane, antifreeze, pesticides, disinfectants, and water softeners, can disrupt the natural bacteria in the system, causing significant upsets. Some hardware store additives may claim to help reduce the need for pumping, but these are generally unnecessary and ineffective.
Prevents Drain Backups
The wastewater from your plumbing flows into your septic tank, where bacteria break down some of it over time. The rest, called effluent, goes into your yard’s drain field.
When there’s a blockage in the septic system, it results in wastewater back-ups into your home’s drain pipes. This black, odor-filled, toxic water can cause significant problems for your property and the people there.
Regular pumping of the septic system helps prevent these disasters. Hiring professional septic tank pumping services Fort Worth will control and maintain septic systems to avoid severe long-term damage.
Prevents Unpleasant Odors
As the bacteria break down waste in a septic tank, gases like carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and methane are released. These odors can be unpleasant and may even be toxic in high concentrations.
As a tank fills with waste, the spaces for these gases to escape become smaller. This can trigger a septic smell that lingers near the septic tank or around your home’s drain field.
If you notice this odor in your toilets or drains, it’s a sign that the septic system needs pumping.
If you don’t pump your septic tank regularly, it could fill up too quickly and crack or leak. This can cause sewage to leak into your ground and damage the drain field.
Prevents Water Contamination
A septic tank is a waste-treatment system that separates solid waste into liquids and transports them to a drain field. This is how it prevents sewage from contaminating groundwater.
Bacteria break down the sludge layer in the septic tank into a liquid called effluent, which flows into the drain field. This wastewater also contains dissolved and suspended materials that are partially broken down.
These partially-treated and untreated wastewater nutrients can wreak havoc on streams, lakes, coastal waters, and groundwater. They can cause fast-growing algae blooms that reduce the water’s quality and kill plants and animals. This is harmful to humans who recreate or fish in the area.
Prevents Damage to Your Property
Homeowners who regularly pump their septic tanks will find they need to do so less often than homeowners who don’t. A tank that doesn’t get pumped out frequently can be clogged with grime, sludge, and scum.
This will then lead to an overflow of wastewater onto your property, which can cause damage to your yard and surrounding environment.
The size of your septic tank can also be a factor, as larger tanks require more frequent pumping. Additionally, how much water your household uses and whether you use water-saving appliances and devices will affect how often your septic system needs to be pumped.
