Troubleshooting My Septic System

Posted on: 13 September 2017

Have you recently moved to a home with a septic tank? Are you unused to how such a system works? Using a septic tank system isn't all that different than being hooked up to a city sewer system. However, there are still a few differences that you should know about before you start to use the system. Some things that you should keep in mind include:

Be careful what you flush: Everything that is bad to flush into a city sewer system is also going to be bad to flush into your septic system. This includes things like cat litter, paper towels, and baby wipes. However, you'll also want to avoid putting too much grease or oil down the drain and using antibacterial soaps. Your new septic tank uses a colony of beneficial bacteria and yeasts to process sewage. Too much oil or antibacterial soap can cause these microorganisms to die off, clogging up your septic tank. A clogged septic tank will require you to call a local septic tank pumping company to come clean out the tank so that you can start over.

Regular pumping required: Even if you avoid putting anything bad into the septic tank, you'll still need to have it pumped out every 1-3 years, depending on the size of your tank and your household usage. Sewage solids that are indigestible to the bacteria will settle to the bottom of the tank. Over time, this layer will build up to the point where it will start to impact the functionality of your tank. If you aren't sure when the last septic tank pumping was scheduled by the previous homeowners, it's a good idea to have one performed as soon as possible. This will ensure that your tank is in good condition for your family to use.

Keep an eye on your tank: Because your septic tank is buried, you may wonder how you'll be able to tell if anything untoward is happening within. One major sign that you need to have a septic tank pumping company like Ace Sanitation Service come out and empty your tank is that your bathroom will start to smell like sewage. A full septic tank will be unable to release sewer gases anywhere but into your home, causing a foul smell that doesn't go away. Another sign that something is amiss is the ground around your septic tank becoming soggy, marshy, or otherwise damper than usual. The area around a septic tank also should not smell, except perhaps on extremely hot days, and a lingering sewage odor may be a sign that the tank is over-full or is leaking.