If your drains are slow to drain, you may have a problem with your septic system. This can lead to sewage backups into your home or yard.
The general guidelines are that you should have your septic tank cleaned every three to five years. The septic service professional will inspect the sludge and scum layers to determine whether it’s time for cleaning. Contact Septic Tank Cleaning Perth for expert guidance.
Your septic system works hard to process your household’s waste and wastewater. However, over time, sludge forms as the organic material breaks down. This is a natural part of treating wastewater, but it must be removed periodically to prevent excessive build-up. Septic tank cleaning is the process of removing this sludge material, allowing for more room to store wastewater and ensuring that your septic system functions properly.
As soon as you flush a toilet, use the washing machine, or put food waste down the drains, these materials travel to your septic tank. Lighter material floats to the top of your tank as scum, while heavier materials sink to the bottom and accumulate as sludge. When the septic tank is pumped, the sludge layer is removed, leaving more space for liquid to enter and exit the septic system into your drainage field. Septic tank cleaning is a necessary part of maintaining your septic system, and it should be performed at least once every three years or as needed.
When you have your septic tank pumped, the technician will use a large vacuum truck with a high-powered hose to remove the sludge from each compartment of your septic tank. This sludge removal is the most important part of your septic tank cleaning service, as it allows for more room to treat wastewater and ensures that your septic system drain fields receive clear water when they are needed.
After the sludge is removed, the technician will check the septic tank’s liquid levels and note any cracks or holes in the structure. This pre-pumping inspection will allow the technician to see if your septic tank is functioning properly and recommend any necessary repairs.
In order to keep sludge accumulation at bay, you should avoid flushing down the drain non-biodegradable items such as plastics, paper towels, or coffee grounds. These products can disrupt the function of microorganisms that decompose and treat your household’s waste. Similarly, you should avoid using chemical cleaners or disinfectants, as they can also disrupt the microbial ecosystem and increase septic tank sludge build-up.
Pumping
Every time you flush a toilet, use the washing machine or take a shower, used water and waste travel through your home’s drain pipes to the septic tank. From there, solid waste sinks to the bottom of the septic tank as sludge and lighter, more liquid waste floats to the top to become scum. Compartments and a T-shaped outlet prevent the sludge from flowing out of the tank into the soil absorption area, where it could clog the drain field lines.
Over time, the septic tank can become full of sludge material that cannot be removed until it is pumped out. Once the septic tank is pumped, it can then be cleaned and then inspected for any cracks or leaks. It is important to have the septic tank pumped when it’s overflowing or if there is an unpleasant odor coming from your home’s drains. Additionally, if three to five years has passed since your last septic tank cleaning, then it is recommended that you schedule a service.
During pumping, the septic tank cleaning specialists will use a vacuum truck with a large, high-powered hose to remove the sludge and scum from the tank. Before they begin this process, however, the experts will need to locate the septic tank, which may require some digging to expose an underground tank, and then remove its lid.
After the technician has a clear view of the septic tank, they will insert the hose into one of the septic tank’s open compartments and turn on the suction. This process is similar to how a vacuum cleaner works, and it will quickly and thoroughly remove all of the solid waste and sludge from your septic tank.
Once the professionals are done pumping the septic tank, they will replace the septic tank lid and then return the soil to its original location. If the septic tank is located in your yard, they will also help to uncover it and then add 8 to 12-inches of mulch around the septic tank, pipes and drain field to help reduce the risk of problems with the system from tree roots.
Inspection
Septic tank systems work best when they are regularly inspected and cleaned. This can help to prevent issues before they develop into expensive repairs or system replacement. It also provides an opportunity for homeowners to learn more about their septic system, helping them to take better care of it over time.
During the inspection, a trained technician will note the condition of the baffles, filters, inlets and outlets, and will check for any cracks within the tank. In addition, the technician will note the water flow pattern into and out of the tank. If there is water draining into the septic tank from the drain field, this is an indication that the drain field is overflowing or that it has a leak somewhere.
The technician will also note the sludge level inside the tank. Ideally, the sludge should not fill more than one-third of the tank’s total volume. In the event that it does, this could indicate a cracked tank or a clogged ventilation trap. The technician will note the sludge’s location in the tank, as well as the level of the effluent in the drain field. Ideally, the sewage level in the drain field should be several inches below the top of the baffles. A lower level may indicate a tank leak, while a higher level could signify a blockage.
Finally, the technician will inspect the septic system’s venting and drainage traps for any blockages or cracks. The ventilation traps are essential for preventing the escape of harmful septic system gases, such as methane, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide. The drainage traps help to keep solids from entering the absorptive soil in the drain field and to prevent contaminant back-up into the home.
Ideally, homeowners will schedule regular inspections with their septic cleaning company to ensure that the septic system is working properly. This is particularly important for homeowners who are planning to sell their homes. Having the septic system inspected and pumped before selling will help to assure that potential buyers are aware of any problems with the septic system before they purchase the property.
Cleaning
Septic tank cleaning is a comprehensive service that involves many steps. The professional will open all access points, inspect all components and piping, treat surfaces to control odors, and flush the drain field lines. The septic tank will also be thoroughly pumped and emptied during the cleaning process. If you are looking to extend the time between septic tank cleanings, try to avoid flushing anything other than human waste and toilet paper, as well as rinsing kitchen waste like coffee grounds and grease down your drains. These items can cause your septic system to overflow and not break down solid waste efficiently.
The pros will also check the sludge depth of your tank with a piece of equipment called a Sludge Judge, which measures how deep the solid waste is in the septic tank. This helps them know when your tank needs to be pumped again. The general rule is that the bottom of the scum layer should be within six inches of the septic tank’s preventative outlet and the top of the sludge layer should be within 12 inches.
If the sludge layer in your septic tank is very high, your septic tank may have heavy roots that need to be removed. These are a large part of the reason that cleaning your septic tank regularly is so important. The roots can get tangled in the solid waste and break down the material, causing it to rise up in the tank. This waste will eventually enter the drain field and can damage the surrounding soil.
The septic tank cleaning process can help to reduce the need for pumping and will extend the life of your septic system. The frequency of cleaning depends on a variety of factors, such as how big the septic tank is, how much solid waste the home produces, and the type of waste. If you are interested in having your septic tank cleaned, contact a local septic company for more information.
Be extremely careful around an open septic tank, as children and pets can fall in and drown. Also, never use a plunger to try to break up solid waste in the tank. This could cause a clog and damage the bacterial ecosystem inside.