When you flush your toilets, shower, wash clothes, or use the dishwasher, wastewater enters your sewer line and flows to your septic tank. Solid materials sink to the bottom of the tank and form sludge; oil and grease float to the top and become scum.

Anaerobic bacteria decompose the sludge, and liquids flow into your septic drain field through perforated pipes. There, the filtered water is absorbed into the soil. Click Here to learn more.

The wastewater drains from your home through toilets, showers, and sinks is collected in a septic tank. Over time, the waste separates into three distinct layers: scum, sludge, and effluent. Substances that are lighter than water (oils, fats) float to the top and form a layer of scum. Aerobic bacteria break down these substances as they float in the tank.

The heavier solids that sink form a layer of sludge. Bacteria that can survive without oxygen decompose the sludge and help it liquefy. The clear liquid in the middle of the tank is known as effluent. This flows from the septic tank outlet into the soil absorption system, which is sometimes called a drain field or leach field.

Wastewater from your home enters the septic tank through an inlet pipe. An inlet baffle helps the wastewater flow downward as it enters the tank, allowing solids to settle out more easily. The inlet pipe also has a screen or filter that blocks large debris.

After the sludge and scum have separated, the liquid effluent leaves the septic tank through the outlet pipe. A perforated pipe leads out into the soil absorption system, where it’s further treated by filtration through gravel and the breakdown of pathogenic bacteria by microorganisms in the ground.

A septic system must be located far enough away from water sources like wells to avoid contamination. The CDC recommends a minimum of 15 meters from the septic system to ensure that contaminants do not seep into groundwater.

It is also important that you don’t place driveways or parking areas over the septic tank or drain field. These can seriously affect the system’s ability to operate, and they may even clog or rupture pipes. It is also a good idea to remove plants and shrubs that grow over the septic tank, drain field and pipes. Their roots can clog and damage the septic tank and drain field.

Over time, the septic tank will need to be pumped out. This can be done by an outside company or by a homeowner using a pump with a high capacity. Having the tank pumped often will help it last longer. A septic tank that isn’t pumped often will become full of sludge and scum, which will reduce the amount of time that it can retain waste before it needs to be pumped out again.

Installation

Septic tanks are an efficient way to treat waste and water for homes that don’t have municipal sewer lines, or for those that have a septic system that needs servicing. They work much like a mini treatment facility in your backyard. Waste and wastewater from your home drain into the septic tank, which is a large buried, watertight container made of concrete or fiberglass. The septic tank holds the wastewater for long enough to separate the solid waste from the water by a process called settling and flotation. The solids sink to the bottom, forming a layer of sludge, while oil and grease float to the top and form a layer of scum. Compartments and a T-shaped outlet prevent sludge and scum from exiting the septic tank into the drain field area, leaving only the liquid wastewater (effluent).

The wastewater exits the septic tank through a pipe that leads to a drain field. The wastewater flows through the perforated pipes in the drain field trenches filled with gravel and sand where it is further treated by filtration and biological activity. The remaining bacteria and pathogens are absorbed into the soil, and the nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, are absorbed by the grass above.

During the installation of your septic tank, a qualified septic tank installer will help you determine what size tank you need based on the number of toilets, baths, and sinks in your home. Then they will dig a hole and install the tank. During this stage, they will also connect the tank to your house and the absorption field with watertight pipes.

Once the plumbing connections are complete, they will test the septic system to make sure that it is working properly. Once they are satisfied, the tank can be backfilled. When backfilling, it is important to use a quality material free of clods and rocks that can clog the drain field. The ground around the septic tank should also be sprayed with a weed killer to help keep the weeds at bay.

Finally, a riser will be installed over the inlet and outlet pipes to allow for routine pumping and inspections without having to dig up the yard. Having access to the septic tank can prevent expensive repairs over time and will allow for easy maintenance.

Maintenance

A septic tank is a large underground container that holds and treats wastewater. It is usually made of concrete or steel, two durable materials that can last for 20 to 40 years or more, unless abused or badly neglected. The septic system is a good alternative to sewer systems, which can be expensive and inconvenient. The main benefit of a septic tank is that it eliminates the need to travel long distances to dispose of waste, which can be a major convenience in rural areas.

As wastewater enters the septic tank, it undergoes two types of treatment: settling and flotation. Substances lighter than water (oil, grease, lard) float to the top, where aerobic bacteria work at breaking them down. The heavier particles fall to the bottom and form a layer of sludge. Bacteria in the tank also help break down these solids, allowing liquids to separate from them. The liquid that flows out of the tank is called effluent, which passes through the outlet baffle and into the absorption field.

The drain field is designed to treat the remaining impurities in the septic tank wastewater. It can be compared to a natural filter, which traps contaminants and allows them to decompose over time.

Proper maintenance of the septic tank and drain field is essential to avoid problems. It starts with monitoring water usage. Avoid putting large volumes of water down the drains at once, as this can overload the septic tank and the drain field.

It is also important to limit the amount of solids entering the septic tank, such as paper products, cigarette butts, dental floss, diapers, and medications. It is wise to dispose of these items in the trash rather than flushing them, as they can clog or destroy the septic system.

If you plan to sell your home in the future, keep a full set of maintenance records for the septic tank and drain field on hand. They will be a valuable asset to potential buyers, and will reassure them that the septic system has been properly maintained.

Keeping accurate records of septic tank pumping, inspections, and repairs will make your septic system easier to maintain. It is a good idea to draw a map or diagram of your septic tank and its access ports and to mark the location of your drinking water well in relation to your septic system. It is also a good idea to divert down spouts and surface water away from your drain field.

Replacement

A septic system can last for a long time when properly maintained, but eventually it will need to be replaced. It can be costly, especially if the system is not regularly pumped.

If you are considering a septic tank replacement, you can ask a local septic service expert about financing options such as home equity loans or lines of credit. These methods allow homeowners to use the equity they have accumulated in their homes and often come with lower interest rates than traditional loans.

Your septic system contains a large volume of liquid wastewater that comes from your home, and it also contains solid waste that settles on the bottom. It is important to have this waste separated from the drinking water supply. This helps prevent the sewage from flowing into the environment and potentially contaminating nearby water sources.

When wastewater flows into your septic tank, it enters through an inlet pipe. This pipe is usually made of PVC and has a 4″ diameter. An equal volume of liquid exits through an outlet pipe that connects to your drain field or advanced treatment system. The drain field is a series of trenches that are dug into the ground. They are typically 9 feet apart, 3 feet deep, and 3 feet wide. The trenches are connected by a 4-inch perforated pipe that is buried and surrounded by stone or washed gravel.

The drain fields are designed to filter and disinfect wastewater that flows from your septic tank. The drain fields are not meant to be used as a parking area, and you should avoid planting trees or shrubs within 8 feet of the drain field. They can grow into the line and clog it.

It is crucial to have your septic tank emptied every 3 to 5 years. If you don’t, the sludge layer in your tank will rise and begin to back up into your toilets, bathtubs, and showers. You can usually tell when your septic tank is full by seeing sewage puddles or by experiencing slow-draining sinks.

It is possible to extend the life of your septic system by following a few simple tips. For example, you should never flush non-biodegradable waste items down the toilet such as cigarette butts, cotton buds/swabs, condoms, diapers, paper towels, or grease. These items will clog and fill your septic tank quickly. You should also make sure you are having your septic tank inspected and pumped at least once a year to keep it in good condition.