The septic tank is an important but invisible part of your house as stores the wastewater. People have various questions about septic tanks like how big is a septic tank and when to schedule septic tank pumping. So, here are the answers to some common questions about septic tanks.
Where Are Septic Tanks?
Septic tanks are usually built beneath the foundation. They’re at ground level with the foundation to let the solids settle to the bottom. There is usually an outlet pipe that could indicate the place of the septic tank. There can also be an outline as to where the septic tank is because you are not supposed to put heavy things or have greenery right above the septic tank.
If you don’t know where your septic tank is, try to look for an outlet pipe or drain and you’ll find it easily. For future reference, you can also have a marker near the tank to know exactly where it is so that you can easily spot it and do repairs and other maintenance.
When To Get Your Septic Tank Pumped?
A septic tank usually needs to be pumped after every 2 to 3 years. A septic tank works on the mechanism of gravity. It settles the solid waste at the bottom and lets the liquid flow at the top. Over time, the level of the septic tank is adjusted by itself, thanks to gravity. However, sometimes that’s not the case and you have to do it by yourself by employing pumping.
Pumping agitates the tank and it leads to the solid waste breaking down and passing through the drain. Usually, people don’t need to pump their tanks for years, and that’s because they’re maintaining it nicely. However, after 2-5 years, you need to get the tank pumped so that there aren’t any problems with it in the future.
However, septic tank cleaning is better than pumping because it employs pumping along with the removal of the sludge formed at the bottom of the tank.
How Big Is A Septic Tank?
Septic tanks can vary in size. However, the most common capacity tanks are 1000 to 1400 gallons. This is enough for a sizable house with reasonable waste. Anything less than 1000 gallons will be too small and anything larger is for homes with a lot of people, producing a lot of waste.
If you don’t know anything about the sizes of septic tanks, then 1000 gallons are more than enough for your house and you’ll find it to be a breeze to maintain in the end. If you want to compare it to the number of rooms, then a house with 3 or more bedrooms usually has a 1000-gallon septic tank.
Are There Different Types Of Septic Tanks?
Yes, there are. There are many types of septic tanks. However, the oldest and most commonly found one is a gravity tank that works based on gravity, keeping different levels of waste suspended in the tank and ready for removal.
Now, there are a lot of tanks that are chemically active and even reduce nitrate accumulation in the ground and soil, so those are great as well. You can go for any type of tank, as long as you know how to maintain it and take care of it. You should also get suggestions from septic system installation VA services before deciding on a type.
Why Does My Septic Tank Smell?
Usually, you might think that it’s normal for a tank that holds waste to have a pungent odor, but it’s not. A septic tank doesn’t usually smell unless there is a problem with it. The drains might be clogged or the waste might have solidified, causing the tank to overflow.
These are problems that can occur if you’re not pumping out the tank regularly or are producing too much waste for the tank to hold. Wastage of water, flushing down solid things in the toilet, and other associated things can cause the tank to clog and therefore reek.
What To Do If The Septic Tank Isn’t Draining?
A septic tank naturally drains itself when it reaches a certain level and you don’t need to do anything. However, sometimes you can see that the level of the septic tank is the same and it’s not going down. This probably means that the drain isn’t letting the excess waste go and there’s usually a clog that’s stopping the septic tank from self-draining.
In this case, you can try hydro-jetting the drain to open it up. Chances are that it will and the septic tank will start to drain normally. However, sometimes, if the clog is too thick, then you’ll need to have the tank pumped.
Why Is There An Alarm On A Septic Tank?
Septic tanks are very nifty and they come with alarms to let you know about various things. A septic tank alarm can go off either when the tank is full, or when it wants to drain itself, but it can’t due to a clog somewhere. So, you need to get it checked.
Other times, the alarm can also go off when the floats of the septic tank are malfunctioning, and oftentimes than not, the alarms let you know that there is something wrong with the pump that’s not allowing the tank to drain.
What Is An Effluent Filter?
An effluent filter is kind of like a solid-catching mesh. The septic tank has water and waste mixed in together so it naturally sloshes around. What the effluent filter does is prevent the solid waste from going back into the drain field. The effluent filter holds the water in place until it’s cleaned off. It also protects the drain field from failure.
Some tanks have them and some don’t, but they’re really necessary for the tank if you don’t want the drain to fail. It’s a lifesaver when it comes to septic tanks because it also prevents unnecessary clogging.
Are Risers Necessary?
Yes, they are. Imagine if you want to access your tank for maintenance, if you don’t have risers, then you’ll need to dig up the ground until you reach the top of the tank and that’s highly inconvenient and very difficult, especially if you need to do maintenance regularly.
Risers allow the maintenance workers to reach the tank safely without any mess or fuss, and all of the work is done within minutes. So, if you’re thinking about having your septic tank rebuilt, then definitely consider risers because they are life savers.
Why Is There Water Around My Septic Tank?
This is an alarming sign. If you see water coming out from the tank, then it’s one of the two reasons. Either the tank is cracked or it’s overflowing. If the water is coming from the top of the tank, then it’s overflowing and it needs to be pumped.
If the water is coming out from the sides of the tank, then it’s possible that the tank body might be cracked and is allowing water to escape. Regardless, you need to fix this right away before things get out of hand and downright smelly.
Conclusion
These questions and answers will help you understand how a septic tank works, how it’s maintained, and other related stuff. They’re good to know for when you hit a dead end. If you need help, call in septic companies Washington County.
