The septic tank removes solid waste from wastewater and allows biological digestion to take place. This prevents solid waste from reaching the soil absorption field where it can clog and overwhelm it.

Maintain your septic system by not flushing items that don’t belong in the drains or toilet and by limiting how many loads of laundry are run at one time. Also, don’t plant trees close to or drive over your septic system. Contact Septic Tank Armadale now!

When wastewater from your home enters the tank, it becomes separated into layers by weight. The heavier solid waste (including oils and grease) falls to the bottom of the tank where it forms sludge. The lighter materials float on top of the wastewater and form a layer known as scum. The anaerobic bacteria in the tank begin to break down these materials and make them liquid.

This mixture is called effluent. Effluent leaves the septic tank through a pipe that runs into your drain field where it is absorbed into the soil. Bacteria in the soil further treat the effluent. When properly installed, the system protects groundwater and the environment.

Most septic tanks are made of concrete or heavy plastic. Both are durable and last 40 years or more if not damaged, but experts recommend a high-quality concrete tank for maximum efficiency and safety. A well-designed tank should have two chambers to improve efficiency.

In the septic tank, the first chamber is an anaerobic zone where bacteria break down solid waste. The second, larger chamber is an aerobic zone where the effluent flows. The baffle that separates the two zones reduces short circuiting through the tank, which can cause odors and other problems.

Homeowners can help keep septic systems working efficiently by not flushing anything other than toilet paper and human waste. Putting anything into the tank that is not human waste or toilet paper can clog pipes and cause wastewater to back up into the house. Items that shouldn’t be flushed include handi-wipes, paint rags, cleaning products and other chemicals.

Occasionally, the septic tank will need to be pumped. This is usually due to a change in household size (more people means more wastewater and faster sludge buildup), an issue with the plumbing or the condition of the baffles and tees, which prevent solids from leaving the tank before treatment. The tank should be pumped through the large central service hole, not the tee or inspection ports, to avoid damage.

Homeowners should also regularly check the sludge level in their septic tank and schedule maintenance to have it pumped if necessary. A septic company can provide this service, or the homeowner can use a pole with a black material on the end to see how much sludge is in the tank.

The Drain Field

The drain field, also known as a leach field, is an area of soil that receives and filters wastewater. It’s usually a series of gravel-filled trenches or a porous material like stone. The sewage passes through the gravel and soil, where microorganisms in the ground break down organic waste and convert it to useful gasses. The water then seeps back into the earth.

Wastewater from the septic tank flows into the drain field through a distribution box and perforated pipes. Solid waste settles at the bottom to form sludge, while oils and grease float at the top to create scum. Bacteria inside the tank breaks down this sludge and scum into smaller particles. The liquid layer between the sludge and scum is called effluent. The septic system’s purpose is to keep the effluent from seeping into groundwater and waterways.

The septic tank needs to be pumped regularly. If it’s not, a layer of feces and other solids clogs the pipes that carry wastewater to the drain field. Then, bacteria in the septic tank can’t break down the fats and other solids. The resulting sludge and scum will clog the distribution box, the pipes and the surrounding soil and gravel.

To avoid this, homeowners need to be mindful of what they put into the septic system. They should limit laundry loads and dishwashing, and avoid flushing anything other than toilet paper. Non-flushable wipes (including baby and makeup removal), cooking oil, cigarette butts, chemicals, tampons, pharmaceuticals, paint rinses and other items should be disposed of at a local waste management facility instead.

Homeowners also need to keep the drain field clear. They shouldn’t plant trees within 30 feet of the drain field, park or drive over the drain field, or use a septic system repair or maintenance service without first checking with licensed septic system professionals. In addition, people should not let animals graze on the soil around their septic systems. Keeping the drain field free of obstructions helps prevent them from getting clogged by roots. It’s a good idea to have a professional inspect your septic tank and drain field every five years.

The Inlet and Outlet Tees

Septic tanks are large, watertight, corrosion-resistant, buried containers that receive raw sewage from the plumbing drains of your home. In the tank, solids are separated from the wastewater and partially digested by anaerobic bacteria. The resulting liquid, called effluent, enters the absorption field for final treatment and disposal.

To ensure that the septic tank does not overflow and flood the drain field, a series of baffle tees are located at the inlet and outlet pipes. These tees are designed to prevent sewage from flowing into the piping from ground water or surface runoff.

The inlet tee is built to direct incoming wastewater downward and beneath the scum layer, preventing disturbance of the settled sludge. It is important that the tee be constructed of corrosion-resistant material, such as fiberglass or plastic.

An inlet tee should also be angled slightly, such as 22 degrees, to reduce the chance of the septic tank being overfilled. In addition, it is important that the tee be fitted with a screen to filter out any large debris or solids entering the septic tank.

Outlet tees serve the same function at the end of the septic tank, but they must be carefully sized to allow adequate flow for processing and to exclude floating scum. They are also designed to divert wastewater downward to promote bacterial digestion and prevent a sludge “pillow” from building up in the outlet pipe. In the past, older septic tanks often had concrete wall baffles installed at the inlet and outlet. Today, septic contractors typically prefer to use sanitary tees, which are plastic tees carefully shaped to reduce the risk of solids clogging the tee and drainfield pipes.

Ideally, the inlet and outlet tees will be equipped with 6-inch diameter inspection pipes to monitor the level of sewage in the septic tank. These pipes should also be insulated to protect the septic tank from frost damage and to minimize the likelihood of leaks from these fittings.

The Pump

Septic systems are a time-tested technology that use nature and proven engineering to treat household wastewater. A septic tank separates solid waste from wastewater to prevent contaminants from reaching groundwater or surface water. A septic tank and drain field are the key components of your system.

A septic tank is a rectangular underground structure that holds your household wastewater from toilets, kitchen sinks, and laundry drains. As the wastewater passes through household plumbing, bacteria in your septic system digest and separate organic materials from liquid waste. The resulting mixture of liquid and sludge leaves your house through a pipe that leads to your drain field or advanced treatment system.

The septic tank has baffles and an inlet and outlet tee to control the flow of wastewater. The tees allow a certain amount of wastewater to enter and leave the tank, but the baffles ensure that only the liquid layer escapes into the absorption field. Solids, including greasy scum, stay in the septic tank with the sludge and can clog the tees or your absorption field.

Whenever the septic tank level rises above the float switch (which is connected to the pump), the pump activates and pumps out the sludge and liquid into the drain field or advanced treatment system. The float switch then deactivates the pump to stop the flow.

A septic system pump is a vacuum-like device that draws wastewater up through the inlet tee into the pump chamber. The pump has a check valve to prevent backflow, and it has a float switch that activates when the liquid level reaches a certain point. The float switch is also wired to an alarm panel to alert homeowners of possible problems.

If your septic tank has a pump, it will need to be pumped out every 3 to 5 years to remove accumulated sludge. Septic tanks that are not pumped out regularly can overflow and contaminate the soil and groundwater surrounding your property.

A septic tank pumping technician will locate the septic tank, open it, and connect a hose to the septic tank suction port. The hose is attached to a vacuum pump that sucks up the liquid and sludge. The technician will then flush the septic tank’s drain lines and replace the lid.