Septic Tank Pumping: How to Maintain Your Sanitation System

Have you ever heard of the term septic tank pumping? If so, do you understand what the aim is? How often should you do it? Well, in this article we are a bit off about gardening. But I can assure you that setup sanitation system correctly can reduce your headache when it comes to involving your gardening areas.

Septic tank pumping is part of sanitary maintenance. The goal is to empty the waste disposal tank from the water closet.

However, currently, many people still do not understand the importance of septic tank pumping. Even if you ignore this, the consequences can be fatal.

In this article, we will thoroughly review what and how to maintain your septic tank. Thus, you can do things wisely to save the environment.

However, before discussing septic tank pumping, of course, you need to know well the system that works in it. Thus, you can do the best treatment to make sure it goes well.

What is Septic Tank?

In general, a septic tank is a bulkhead pool connected to a water closet channel. Containers that accommodate human waste commonly have several spaces and are located at the bottom of the ground.

This tank must be watertight to prevent the excrement from flowing into the ground. Thereupon, people use waterproof materials such as concrete or fiberglass as containers.

Apart from being connected to the toilet, the septic tank also has a channel to the ground level. Usually, it is outside the house and has a lid to open as needed.

To-the ground channel aims to make it easier for the officers to do septic tank pumping. By using this way, it is not necessary to dismantle any installation.

How Does a Septic Tank Work?

Discussing septic tank pumping without knowing how it works is certainly a waste of time. Let us first explore the following background knowledge.

A septic tank technique is simple. Dirt from the closet flows with the water to the wastewater container. This system does rely on gravity.

To make sewage reaches the disposal pool, the septic tank is deliberately placed deep in the ground. However, you also use an electric pump as support.

The septic tank will collect the waste for a certain period and let the solid dirt settle. During that time, other substances such as oil and floating particles will be on the surface.

Below the top layer, there is a liquid waste with all the garbage (liquid sewage). Meanwhile, at the very bottom, you will find the solid one.

When the dirt in the container reaches a limit, the top layer will flow into the porous pipe to the drain field. On the way, the waste will pass through the gravel and other aggregates.

Gravel and aggregate serve as a filter for dirt. Slowly, the liquid that passes through it will be free of waste and other pollutants. 

Bacteria also act as a breakdown-agent of pathogens. It makes the water sterile by the time they enter the soil.

Over time, the anaerobic bacteria in the tank will also break down the solid waste and turn it into a mound of mud. While it is crumbling, the volume also decreases.

The lump of mud will continue to increase due to the continuous use of the water closet. Gradually, the height can fill the room, clogging various channels. To prevent this, you must do septic tank pumping. 

Septic Tank Pumping

In the discussion above, you have understood how the sanitation system is related to fecal disposal. Given the complexity of the process, you must pay serious attention to keep it smooth. 

One way you can do this is by doing a septic tank pumping regularly. It will avoid unwanted things. How to? Here is the full review!

What is Septic Tank Pumping?

It is a septic tank cleaning process to empty the sludge that has settled at the container bottom. As explained above, this material is none other than the remains of solid waste.

The mud is the result of anaerobic bacteria decomposition. Even though the volume has decreased, the numbers will continue to increase over time

This process is necessary for you to do before the mud settles too high and clogs the waterways. If this happens, many bad possibilities will come.

Why You Should Do It Regularly?

Septic pumping is something you have to do regularly. The sediment at the bottom of the container can produce dangerous toxins. Here are a few reasons:

Septic Tank Pumping Will Prevent Anti-bacterial

Toxins and bacteria can arise from the accumulated dirt mixture. You never know what substances and potential diseases are in the septic tank. There could be a dangerous scientific process.

Excess amount of toxins and anti-bacterial will threaten anaerobic bacteria, which function to break down excrement. It will hamper the process of crushing solid waste in the container.

Preventing the Trash from Overflowing

Septic tank pumping also aims to reduce decomposed sludge and accumulated solid waste. Do not let this rubbish exceed the maximum height.

If this happens, chances are the trash will overflow so that everything in it will come out. If this happens, the bacteria that cause various diseases will spread and endanger many people.

Act before the Explosion

The process of decomposing waste will produce methane gas. Over time, this gas will accumulate in the container. This substance has explosive properties.

You have to be careful with the presence of this gas. Even immediately after performing septic tank pumping, do not rush to start a fire to ensure that the methane has no potential to explode.

Preventing Environmental Pollution

If the trash overflows, a lot will be at stake. Apart from germs that may attack living things above ground, the risk of environmental pollution is also very high.

The dirty liquid that seeps into the ground can contaminate underground clean water sources. If this happens, the water you consume will contain dangerous toxins.

After reading the points above, now you understand that it is crucial to empty before the container is full. You can contact the septic tank service to find out more information.

When to do Septic Tank Pumping?

We have to do septic tank pumping before the sludge layer fills the bottom of the container. However, we never know how much dirt it contains because it is in the ground.

The Environmental Protection Agency recommends that you inspect at least once every two or three years. However, the duration of the septic tank pumping will depend on the following:

  • The number of family members
  • The amount of generated waste
  • The volume of solid waste in waste
  • Septic tank size

Thus, the 2-3 year standard is not a sure thing. For example, a smaller container will require more inspection and septic tank pumping in less time than the recommendation.

How to Do It?

You must ask a professional to do septic tank pumping. Not without reason, the waste in it can contain dangerous substances that can cause various diseases for animals and humans.

If you call a septic tank pumping service, they will come with a truck filled with containers to collect dirt. The officer will suck the contents with the help of a large hose until it is clean.

A vacuum hose will direct the waste into the container, which is not arbitrary or leak. Thus, you cannot notice what dangers can arise from the wastewater.

If you call for a septic tank pumping service, maybe the officer will not allow you to be too close. Even so, there is nothing wrong with you observing it from a distance.

It is to anticipate dangerous methane gas leaks. Because of this, the government recommends placing a septic tank outside the house.

How does it Cost?

Pumping a septic tank costs you a lot. But thank goodness you do not have to do it often. It ranges from US $200 to US $500, depending on the region, as well as the size of a septic tank.

Again, even if you feel the fees are too high, never do the septic tank pumping yourself. Keep in mind that there will be a danger if things do not go well.

However, there is a solution if you prefer saving your budget on septic tank pumping. Currently, there is an installation that disposes of dirt immediately without settling first.

This sanitation does not involve infiltration but uses a biotech system. In the septic tank, there is a sewage treatment device. Hence, the results can flow again without harming the environment.

The Other Ways to Care for Septic Tank

Because it functions as a drain, many people underestimate septic tank maintenance. Meanwhile, human negligence can have an impact on yourself and the environment.

There have been many terrible cases that have occurred because of neglect to maintain septic tanks. Methane gas explosions, sewage overflows, and other terrible things can be life-threatening.

Therefore, you need to understand how to care for sanitation properly. Besides septic tank pumping, here are some tips to be safe from harm:

Use Water Wisely

Septic tank pumping is indeed the best solution to solve the problem of full containers. With one action, you will eliminate many dangerous risks due to excess waste in it.

But if the waste has accumulated too much, you will need more than one septic tank pumping. It is due to the suction device will not be able to lift the pile of dirt easily. The results were also not optimal.

Hence, prevention is better than coping. It is good for you to do positive things before problems arise. One of the real actions is to save water.

Using water wisely will chip in to the environment. The less water flow, the less waste will appear and collect in the septic tank.

Aside from avoiding wasting water for unnecessary needs, you can also use environmentally friendly devices such as combo toilet sinks. In this case, you flush the closet by using wastewater from the sink.

Apart from making the septic tank not full quickly, you will also save on electricity bills. What a double benefit, right?

Do not Put Your Waste in the Toilet

You need to know that the water closet is not a trash can. Since the beginning, this feature has functioned as a disposal for human waste. So never put things that can interfere with the system.

Often you do not realize this. But things that cannot break easily will clog the drain and create new problems. The following are items that can threaten sanitation.

  • Feminine hygiene products
  • Diapers
  • Condom
  • Coffee grounds
  • Drugs
  • Chemical material
  • Cooking oil
  • Wet wipes
  • Cigarette butt
  • Cat litters

Apart from the above items, there are many more that you should not throw in the toilet. Even though the exhaust system has a filtering method, you should take preventive measures.

Using Environmentally Friendly Appliances

Modern society is starting to realize the importance of being wise in water use. Therefore many people design equipment that makes it easy to save. One of them is a combo toilet sink.

Have you ever realized that flushing toilets are pooping? Thus, why should you use clean water when doing it? Recycled water is the best choice.

In this system, the water from the sink will flow to a tank that has a connection to the toilet. The liquid will flow down the water closet when you flush. Hence, you can save a lot of water.

Otherwise, utilize other features that include energy-saving faucets to help you save water. 

To add more references about energy-saving features, you can browse as much as you can. Besides, you can visit various websites about home installations.

Conclusion

The sanitation system is an important thing that you must pay attention to because it involves comfort, cleanliness, and health. Leaking water closet waste will cause various diseases for living things.

Wherefore, you have to accomplish it depending on the correct procedure. Septic tank pumping is one way to prevent problems that may arise from inappropriate treatment.

You must do it regularly for at least 2-3 years. It will prevent waste overflow or the explosion of hazardous methane gas.

However, you cannot do septic tank pumping alone. It must be done by professionals because the risk is very high.

Later, the waste obtained from the septic tank pumping will undergo a processing process so it does not pollute the environment. So, from now on, start caring more about your sanitation system!

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