Cleaning your septic tank is vital to ensure it's running smoothly. The tank needs to be maintained and pumped regularly and any obstructions must be cleared. When your system for septic has been failing, it is important to get it repaired immediately. This will prevent costly repairs from taking place.
Pumping the tank
Having a septic tank pumped can help prevent costly repairs in the future. Pumping is a procedure that suctions up waste and solids. This allows the wastewater to flow through the system with greater efficiency.
Pumping septic tanks is a service that requires specialized machinery. A vacuum truck equipped with the most powerful hose can eliminate the bulk of the garbage. The vacuum truck will also eliminate the majority of the debris.
Before a septic tank can be pumped then the tank's lid must be removed. The pumping technician will then pump out of into the primary compartments. During the pumping process the operator of the muck rake will stir the tank to get rid of the sludge which has settled.
Septic tanks should be pumped every two to three years. The frequency of pumping a septic tank will depend on the amount of people living in the house as well as how much water is utilized. Homes that have frequent guests, consume large quantities in water, and put food in a garbage disposal may need to have their tanks cleaned more frequently.
The best way to clean the septic tank is engage an expert. Chemical cleaners can harm the tank and create obstructions.
When you hire a company to pump your septic tank be sure that they are licensed to perform this service. A certified technician will be able to determine if you require to include enzymes or other additives. The cost of these additives ranges from between $20 and $200.
Septic tanks are built to store water from the bathroom, sink, and shower. If there's a blockage at the drain pipe, the water could spill over onto the surface of the water table. This could be harmful to the environment and can cause an odor in the house.
Disintegration of sludge and scum layers
During cleaning, disintegration of sludge and scum layers occurs in a Septic tank. The purpose of the septic tank is to reduce the velocity of wastewater by separating solids with greater weight and sinking to at the base of the tank. The wastewater flows into the septic tank outlet and is discharged into the drain field.
The sludge layer occupies around one-half-to-two-thirds of the total tank volume. The layers are separated by differences in density. The middle layer is made up of suspended and liquid solids and the bottom one is made of sludge. The sludge layer is typically comprised of grease, fats and oil.
The size of the sludge layer is decreased by anaerobic bacteria. Anaerobic bacteria reside in tanks without oxygen and consume organic matter in the sludge. They release gas as they break down the sludge. They also decrease the amount of solids that accumulate that are in the scum layer.
The rate of accumulation of sludge can be controlled by the temperature and the COD content that the water is pumped through. Higher temperatures can decrease the rate of sludge accumulation and lower temperatures increase the rate. The sludge layer can also contain soluble compounds, which are produced by the anaerobic bacteria.
The efficiency of septic tank cleaning depends on the quantity of sludge that accumulates. A properly designed tank for septic is expected to store sludge for at least five years. However, the amount of solids that accumulate varies greatly from case to case. The exact storage duration can only be determin