Septic tanks are large, underground containers that hold wastewater from your home or business. Inside the tank, a microbe ecosystem breaks down the waste. Over time, the sludge layer builds up, and the liquid layer floats to the top of the tank.
Having your septic tank cleaned regularly prevents problems in your home or business. It also saves on costly repairs and sewage cleanup. Contact Septic Tank Cleaning Perth now!
Your septic tank contains waste that eventually breaks down into liquid and sludge. When it gets too full, the solids have nowhere to go, so they overflow into the drain lines and the leach field, causing clogs and backups. This is why regular septic tank cleaning is so important.
Most septic tanks have two baffles that help keep the liquid waste from flowing out of the tank too quickly. However, if you don’t have the right mix of septic tank cleaning products, these baffles can get clogged with sludge. This can reduce the amount of usable space in your septic tank and cause it to overflow, which is a serious problem that requires a professional to repair.
Another way that septic systems can get clogged is by flushing non-biodegradable materials down the drains or toilets. Items like wet wipes, feminine products and even some types of toilet paper don’t break down, so they can block the pipes and disrupt bacterial action inside your septic system. These clogs can lead to wastewater backing up into your home, so it’s important to only flush the three Ps: pee, poop and paper.
There are a number of DIY life hacks that people use to unclog their drains, including using boiling water or vinegar. However, these methods can actually harm your septic system by killing the beneficial bacteria that break down the waste sent to it. These chemicals also throw off the delicate bacterial balance in your septic tank and cause it not to function as well, so they’re definitely not recommended.
A clogged septic tank isn’t just an inconvenience; it can also be dangerous to your family and pets. If waste starts backflowing into your house, you’ll be breathing in toxic fumes and it could damage your plumbing.
One of the biggest signs that your septic tank needs cleaning is a foul odor coming from your drains or around your yard. This is caused by hydrogen sulfide gasses that are released when organic waste is broken down in your septic tank and drain lines. If you notice these odors, contact a septic tank cleaning service immediately.
Odors
If you notice strong, pungent odors in your home, your septic tank might be the culprit. The odors are caused by the breakdown of waste in the septic tank, and it can affect the entire household. If the smells persist, the septic tank may be in need of cleaning.
You should have your septic tank cleaned every 3 years to prevent odors and clogs. However, if the septic system is functioning properly and you’ve had it inspected recently, you shouldn’t have to worry about any unpleasant odors.
Odors can also be a sign that you need to extend the seepage drain field. If you can’t afford to have the septic tank cleaned, you can use an odor eliminator like Oxy-Tonic Biomass Accelerator to boost aerobic activity and speed up waste digestion. You should also be careful about what you put down the drains, avoiding non-biodegradable products such as wipes, tampons, condoms, cigarette butts, and cat litter.
Another way to eliminate septic tank odors is to pour a cup of baking soda down the drains. This will neutralize the odors by raising the pH level in your septic tank. It will also kill the anaerobic bacteria that break down waste.
Your septic tank is usually located beneath the ground, and it’s protected by a manhole cover. Over time, this cover can crack or become unsealed, which allows odors to escape from the septic tank. A professional can replace the cover to protect it from further damage and ensure that odors don’t escape into your home.
Septic tank cleaning experts typically use a truck equipped with a pump and a large hose to clean the inside of the septic tank. They first check the sludge depth with a device called a Sludge Judge, which has measurements on it to aid in the process. They then uncover the septic tank’s lid and remove the sludge. They will also expose the inlet and outlet lines to clean any baffle filters that are there. The septic tank will then be pumped and the waste will be sent to the drain field.
Sewage Backups
When you flush a toilet, a pipe sends the wastewater into your septic tank. The tank is a buried, water-tight container that holds bacteria inside to break down solid wastes. The bacteria form three layers in the tank: sludge, scum, and liquid wastewater called effluent. Solid wastes settle at the bottom of the tank and form sludge, while oil and grease float to the top and become scum. The sludge and scum are removed during septic tank cleaning, so the liquid wastewater can exit the tank into your drain field.
Without regular septic tank cleaning, the solid waste in your septic tank can build up and cause wastewater to back up into your home or business. This is because septic tanks only have a limited capacity, and when the sludge reaches the tank’s limit, the wastewater has nowhere to go and will back up into your drain pipes. A septic system professional can remove the excess sludge to prevent this from happening.
You should also watch what you put down the drains, especially non-biodegradable waste products that will clog your plumbing or septic tank. Items such as wet wipes, paper towels, cigarette butts, and feminine hygiene products can all lead to clogged drain lines or your septic tank. Instead of throwing these items away, you can place them in a trash bin for proper disposal.
Another common cause of sewage backups is an oversaturated drain field. Heavy rainfall can cause the septic drain field to become oversaturated with water, which pushes the wastewater back up into your home or business. This can be prevented by having a rainwater collection system installed and scheduling routine septic tank inspections.
If you notice that your septic system is backed up, it’s important to act fast. Wear gloves and a mask to protect yourself from the sewage, and shut off your water and electricity until professionals arrive. It’s also important to stay away from the contaminated area until the backup is cleaned up, and you should avoid using any sinks or toilets. This will keep the sewage from flowing into your house or business, and it will prevent further damage to your plumbing or septic system.
Cost
All of the wastewater that leaves your home through toilets and drains eventually ends up in the septic tank. While the tank keeps some of that waste separated from the surrounding environment, it will still fill up and need to be pumped out. This is why preventative maintenance and a scheduled pumping schedule are important. It costs less to spend a small amount on preventative maintenance than it does to pay a large bill for an emergency plumbing repair and cleanup of sewage backups.
The average cost of septic tank cleaning is around $400 for a one-time pump, but the actual price will vary depending on your septic system size and how long it has been since the last time it was pumped out. You can help keep the cost down by ensuring that the lids to your septic tank are accessible and keeping your water usage low.
You will also want to make sure that your septic system is clean and running properly, so that you avoid clogs in your drains. This is why you should never flush paper towels, cigarette butts, feminine hygiene products, diapers, coffee grounds, grease, chemical drain cleaner, or bleach down your drains. These items can clog the line from your house to your septic tank, as well as the drain lines within your home that carry the sludge to and from the septic tank.
If the sludge layer in your septic tank is too high, it will need to be removed during a septic tank cleaning. This is a messy job, but it is necessary to ensure that your septic system is working correctly. Leaving too much sludge in the tank will result in a septic system failure, which can be expensive to repair and requires a replacement tank.
In addition to septic tank cleaning, septic system professionals will also inspect the filter and drain field to ensure that there are no problems. They will check for signs of failure such as a sludge build-up, broken septic tank components, and clogged drain lines. They can hydro-jet the drain lines to clear out any blockages.