Maintaining a Trouble Free Septic System

By Paul Bianchina

Septic systems are one of the simplest and most common methods of dealing with residential waste - in fact, it is estimated that approximately one third of the households in the United States are on a septic system. Properly maintained, septic systems are reliable and trouble-free, and should last as long as the home itself.

There are two basic parts to a septic system - the septic tank and the drainfield, also called a leech field or disposal field. The septic tank collects all of the solid and liquid waste coming from the house. Solid waste sinks to the bottom of the tank, where natural bacterial action breaks it down. Liquid waste sits on top of the solid waste layer until it reaches a high enough layer to flow out though the outlet side of the tank and enters the drainfield. On top of the liquid layer in the tank is a thin scum layer, which consists primarily of grease and similar material that is light enough to float on top of the water.

As the liquid waste, called effluent, enters the drainfield, it flows through a series of perforated plastic pipes that are set in a bed of gravel. The effluent filters down through the gravel into the soil below, gradually becoming filtered and purified as it flows deeper into the ground.

Septic Tank Maintenance

The septic tank typically requires little in the way of maintenance except regular pumping. Over time, the layer of solids in the bottom of tank builds up to the point where bacterial action alone is not sufficient to keep the tank from filling up completely. At that point, which is typically about every three to five years, depending on the size of your family and your waste disposal habits, the tank needs to be opened up and pumped out.

Septic pumping is a simple task, but it requires special equipment and needs to be left in the hands of a professional disposal company. First, the tank needs to be located. There may be telltale signs such a small-mounded area in your yard, or a greener area of lawn or other foliage where the disposal field is situated (nitrogen and other soil nutrients are byproducts of the effluent filtering process, promoting healthy plant growth over the top of the disposal field). You can also contact the environmental health division of your local building department and request an "as-built," which, depending on the age of the home, is a written record of the exact location of the tank and drainfield at the time it was installed and inspected. If all else fails, many septic pumping companies also have equipment for helping locate your tank.

Once the tank is located, soil is removed to expose the access door on top. The door is removed, and a powerful suction truck "vacuums" the waste out of the tank for disposal at an approved site. After the pumping is complete, make sure you record the date of the pumping and, if necessary, the exact location and depth of the tank for future reference.

Maintaining a Healthy Drainfield

While maintenance of the tank is a simple process, repairing a clogged or malfunctioning drainfield line is typically a much more serious and expensive undertaking. In most cases, the drainfield will need to be dug up and the malfunctioning pipe cleaned or removed and replace with new pipe.

To prevent this and to keep the drainfield working properly, there are a few precautions you need to observe:

• Maintain a regular schedule of pumping the tank. Allowing the tank to fill and overflow can force solid waste in the drainfield.
• Avoid flushing anything down the drain that could potentially clog the holes in the drainfield lines, including fruit and vegetable peelings, egg shells, onion skins and fibrous vegetables like celery.
• Avoid putting grease down the drain, which can mix with the effluent and fill the drainline holes over time.
• Don’t drive over the drainfield, which can compact the soil and decrease the effectiveness of the drainage process.
• Be careful with planting trees near the drainfield - the roots are naturally attracted to the moisture and nutrients, and can clog the lines.

Copyright 2001-2006 Inman News Features. Distributed by Inman News Features.