Septic tanks are underground boxes that house a population of bacteria that treat and digest household wastewater. They are usually marked with green caps and have inspection pipes, maintenance hole access ports for pumping, and baffle walls.
As bacteria decompose the sewage, heavy solids sink to form a layer of sludge while lighter materials like oils and fats float to the top of the tank to form a layer of scum. The clarified wastewater between the sludge and scum is called effluent. Contact Septic Tank Armadale now!
The inlet and outlet tees control the wastewater flow into and out of the septic tank. Both are critical for your septic system to work properly. If the tees are too high, solids can be discharged into your drain field and cause problems there. If they aren’t at the right height, solids can accumulate in the septic tank and be pumped out too early.
Older septic tanks tend to have wall baffles—concrete tees built directly into the side of the tank. But these are being replaced by sanitary tees—plastic tees carefully shaped to reduce the risk of solids blocking inlet lines.
A sanitary tee is typically placed at the inlet of your septic tank to direct incoming house sewer waste downward into the septic tank. This lower position gives the solid waste a longer time to separate from the liquid waste and helps keep the floating scum layer from plugging the inlet line. The tee also reduces the amount of turbulence that occurs at the inlet of the tank.
At the septic tank outlet, the sanitary tee is shaped to prevent scum from moving into the drainfield. The tee is positioned to be above the top of the scum layer and below the bottom of the sludge layer. This keeps grease and other scum from passing to the drainfield, where it could clog the field.
Mr Waters’ photo of new PVC septic tank tee parts in place at the septic tank inlet shows that he had to chip away the remains of the concrete baffle that used to be there. The septic tank pumper must do this to install a new tee in a concrete or steel septic tank.
The inlet and outlet tees are the most likely places to see evidence of a problem with your septic tank. When a septic tank is emptied for cleaning or pumping, the inspector should carefully observe the condition of the inlet and outlet baffles to be sure they are working as designed. If you’re seeing sewage odors around your home, this might indicate that the inlet or outlet baffle is blocked.
Pumping
The septic tank is a settling chamber that gives solid waste, called sludge, time to separate from household wastewater, which is then filtered by the soil in your drainfield (also known as a leach field). It is important to have the septic tank pumped when needed, as untreated sewage can contaminate groundwater and expose humans and pets to disease-causing organisms.
A septic system should be inspected by a professional every three to five years. The frequency depends on the size of your home, number of people living in it, and what type of materials are flushed down toilets and drains. When a tank isn’t pumped when needed, solids build up to the point that they block the septic tank outlet pipe or clog the drainfield.
During pumping, the septic tank professional will find and locate your septic tank, dig up any part of your yard that is necessary to access it, remove the lid, and start removing all of the solid waste, sludge, and scum from the tank. They will take it out through the large central service hole in your septic tank and into their truck, where it is transported to a sewage processing plant.
Once the septic tank is completely pumped, the professional will clean the surface of the tank and replace the lid. They will also inspect the septic tank baffles and divider wall to ensure they are in good condition. They will also check for any root growth into the septic tank and look for cracks or deterioration in the outer surface of the tank.
Don’t flush chemicals, biodegradable cleaners, or other products that may disrupt the natural bacteria process inside your septic tank. These can interfere with the natural decomposition process, causing sludge and scum to build up and cause a clogged septic system.
If you need your septic tank pumped, call us today to schedule an appointment! Having your septic system properly pumped and inspected is one of the best investments you can make for your property. Not only will it help protect the health of your family and pets, but it will also increase the value of your home if you ever decide to sell it in the future.
Inspection Ports
Septic tank inspection ports are usually located near the manhole cover. They are used to access the inside of the septic tank for visual inspection and to remove a sample of septic tank wastewater (effluent) for testing. The purpose of septic tank inspections is to ensure that the septic system is processing waste efficiently and removing solids. This prevents overflows, backups, and costly repairs.
The septic tank is a buried, water-tight container made from concrete or fiberglass. It has a series of compartments and a T-shaped outlet that keeps sludge, sediment, and scum from leaving the septic tank and traveling into your drainfield area.
Sludge is the goopy stuff that sinks to the bottom of the septic tank and forms a layer. Scum is the lighter, floating stuff that consists of oils and fats. When the septic tank’s inlet baffle (sometimes called a partition wall) directs raw wastewater downward, it reduces surface scum clogging of the inlet pipe and makes it easier for solids to settle to the bottom. The septic tank also has an outlet baffle to direct liquid wastewater into the next level of the septic tank, keeping the sludge and scum from flowing into your septic tank’s vent pipe or clogging the septic system’s outlet drain field.
In addition, a septic tank contains a vent to release noxious gases from the settling process. Normally, these gases are absorbed into the ground and decomposed by soil microorganisms.
A septic tank may have one or two inspection ports, depending on its size. It may also have a clean-out or manhole cover, which is the entrance to the underground septic tank. If your septic tank has a manhole cover, a complete septic tank cleaning service is required to thoroughly remove all of the waste from the tank. Pumping through the clean-out or inspection ports does not remove all of the waste and will leave behind a large amount of water in the tank.
It is important to have your septic tank inspected and pumped every 2-3 years. It is even more important to follow the recommendations of your inspector and septic service company regarding the use of products in your home that can negatively impact your septic system. For example, it is very dangerous to flush baby wipes down your toilets. Regardless of the labeling, these wipes are not septic safe and should be thrown in the trash instead.
Absorption Field
Known as the soil drainfield or absorption field, this system is designed to treat the wastewater from the septic tank. The effluent from the septic tank flows to the absorption field through a watertight, 4-inch diameter pipe. The effluent passes into the soil, where it undergoes biological and anaerobic processes that help break down solids. As the sewage breaks down in the soil, the nutrients are taken up by the surrounding plant roots. The absorption field also protects groundwater supplies by preventing the spread of disease-causing microorganisms and pollutants, such as nitrates and phosphates.
During the septic tank installation process, it’s important to understand the soil type in which your septic system will be installed. Different types of soil have different capacities to hold and process waste. A soil evaluation can provide this information. If the soil in your absorption field is too dense to allow for proper sewage treatment, the system will not function properly no matter how well it’s constructed.
The tank size also plays an important role in septic system performance. The tank should be large enough to retain at least two days of sewage flow from the house. This allows time for the solids to separate from the liquids. Regulations specify tank size based on the number of bedrooms in the home.
A septic system that overflows with sewage will be subject to contamination and may require expensive repairs or replacement. The problem is usually caused by a blocked drain line or excessive water entering the system. To prevent this, regularly check your drains and appliances for problems, fix any leaks, and use water conservation practices.
When you’re having septic tank issues, call the professionals. They can diagnose the problem and install a new septic tank or repair your existing one.
Keeping the septic tank free from obstructions is essential to a reliable, long-lasting septic system. The septic tank should have baffles or sanitary tees to prevent floating scum from passing into the absorption field. The baffles or tees should be made of acid-resistant concrete, cast iron or plastic and extend above the septic tank’s ground surface. A series of 6-inch-diameter inspection pipes should be located above the baffles or tees and extend to the absorption field to allow for checking of solids levels and clogs.