A septic tank is the first step in treating wastewater that leaves your home. Grease and lightweight materials float to the top of the tank, while solid waste sinks to the bottom as sludge.
It’s a good idea to make a map showing the location of your septic system, including the tank, ports, distribution box, and absorption field. Click Here to learn more.
Whenever you flush the toilet or wash clothes, wastewater enters your home through the sewer line that slopes down to your septic tank. Once inside the tank, the wastewater undergoes a preliminary treatment process called settling and flotation. Substances lighter than water (oils, greases, and fats) float to the top of the wastewater layer while solid waste sinks to form a sludge layer at the bottom of the tank. Aerobic bacteria decompose these materials to create a clear liquid effluent that flows from the septic tank into the absorption field.
A baffle at the inlet end of your septic tank keeps oil and sludge out of the outlet pipe that moves wastewater to the absorption field. During this initial treatment, bacteria also generate gases that must be released to prevent a build-up of pressure that could stop or reverse the flow of wastewater. The gases, usually hydrogen sulfide, smell like rotten eggs and are vented through a vent in the tank lid.
Once the septic tank finishes its initial treatment, the effluent flows out into a distribution box that evenly distributes the liquid over multiple pipes to the absorption field, which is also known as a drain field or leach field. This consists of an area of unsaturated soil where the liquid can seep through the dirt to be absorbed by microorganisms in the ground.
The absorption field should never be covered by grass or other vegetation, as this can cause the wastewater to clog the soil and contaminate groundwater. In addition, people should not dump waste into the drain field, including non-biodegradable materials like cigarette butts, cotton swabs or sanitary items, menstrual hygiene products, and condoms. These items can clog and overflow the septic tank, so they should be disposed of in a trash can or other suitable container.
Ventilation
Septic systems are used when a home’s plumbing does not connect to the municipal sewer system. Wastewater from toilets (called blackwater) and drains from your shower, bathtub, kitchen sink, washing machines and dishwashers (called greywater) runs into a drainage pipe that leads to your septic tank. Solid waste (called sludge) settles at the bottom of the tank, while liquid waste floats on top. Anaerobic bacteria in the septic tank eat the sludge and break it down into water and gases. Gases exit the septic tank through a vent pipe.
A septic tank needs ventilation to keep it working properly and control the unpleasant odors associated with sewage processing. Venting allows unpleasant odors to escape the tank, away from your house, instead of releasing them into your yard or even indoors. Venting also helps to control pressure inside the tank, which could build up to a point where the wastewater in the leach field flows into your house and causes a backup.
From the outside, a septic tank usually looks like a large metal box with inspection pipes and a manhole for pumping. You can find it by looking for a green lid around 4″ in diameter.
When you’re shopping for a new home, make sure the septic system is in good condition and that you get a septic tank inspection before finalizing your purchase. Most reputable real estate agents understand the importance of this, and won’t allow you to close on a property without an inspection and approval from your lender.
It is also important to note that your septic tank and leach field are both dependent on the proper use of toilet paper and other household products. You can help keep your septic system running smoothly by only flushing septic-safe toilet paper, using the recommended amount of water per day, and avoiding putting any items into the drain or toilet that will overwhelm the bacteria. Contact The Drain Brain in Ithaca if you have questions about your septic system or are experiencing any distressing odors coming from the vent or yard. We can provide a thorough evaluation of your septic tank, pipes and drainfield to diagnose the problem and determine a plan for fixing it.
Pumping
When septic tank cleaning and pumping contractors are on-site they can use special hydraulic equipment to break up the sludge layer and mix it with the water portion of the tank. This allows them to extract the maximum amount of liquid from the tank during each pumping. They then carefully replace the sludge and water to the proper levels.
The tank is then refilled with the wastewater from the house. This wastewater is pushed through the absorption field and into the soil. The leach field removes bacterial germs, solid waste particles, and most of the other contaminants from the wastewater before it enters the water cycle. This process can only work properly if the tank is emptied regularly.
How often a septic tank needs to be pumped depends on the household’s use of toilets and drains. Some households produce more wastewater than others simply because of activities like washing more laundry and cooking more meals. This means more solid waste and a need to have the septic tank pumped more frequently.
Every septic tank becomes full at some point, and regular septic tank cleaning helps prevent unpleasant odors, swampy yards, and backed-up plumbing in the home. During each septic tank cleaning and pumping, a technician also inspects the system to make sure everything is in working order.
If the septic tank is overfull, the technician will recommend that a new one be installed. This can be done by removing the old septic tank and installing a larger one or by extending the existing leach field. It is also important to avoid flushing things down the drains that are not septic-safe. This includes wipes and other products that claim to be flushable, but should actually be thrown away in the trash.
Another thing to remember is that septic tanks are designed with inlet and outlet tees to help prevent solid waste from entering the absorption field of the septic system. These tees work by creating hydraulic pressure, which forces wastewater up through the sludge and scum layers to separate them from the water. Without this protection, solid waste would enter the absorption field, where it can clog and reduce its effectiveness.
Inspection
A septic tank needs to be tightly packed so that no liquid waste can escape into the ground surface and contaminate soil or water. It is also important that the baffles remain firmly attached to the inlet and outlet pipes, and that the lids are secure. Inspectors should also check for ay sewage leaks and for groundwater infiltration into the tank.
Inspectors should always use caution when entering a septic system because the interior is very dirty. They should use a probe to measure the level of sludge and scum, as well as the depth of the effluent layer. The sludge should not be more than one-third of the total tank volume, and the effluent layer must not rise to or above the baffles. Inspectors should also examine the drain field and note any previous signs of ponding, and may perform a dye test to see how much wastewater is seeping from the tank into the leach field.
It is important to have regular septic system inspections so that any problems can be caught and treated before they become more serious. A septic system is more than just the septic tank, and the entire system must work together to effectively process waste and prevent contamination of surface and groundwater. A properly functioning septic system will prevent expensive repairs and health issues, such as the spread of bacteria that could lead to infection.
A septic system is designed to last a long time, but it will need occasional repairs and replacement parts. An inspector will be able to recommend any repairs or replacements that are needed, and they can also provide advice about proper maintenance.
If you are thinking about buying a home with a septic system, it is recommended that you ask the seller to have a septic inspection before you buy. This is not a requirement in New York, but it can help you avoid unpleasant surprises down the road. Inspectors can check for clogs, improper ventilation, and other issues that will affect the longevity of the septic system. The inspection may take two to four hours, depending on the size of the tank and how complex the septic system is.