Whether you’re dreaming about moving to the country or just want some peace and quiet, a septic system is something you may need to consider. If so, be sure to make your offer contingent on a septic tank inspection.

A septic tank is a buried, watertight container that separates waste into sludge, scum and effluent. Bacteria break down solid waste in the sludge while liquid wastewater (effluent) travels through pipes to an absorption field where soil and grass purify it further. Contact Septic Tank Armadale now!

All the water and waste that goes down toilets, sinks, showers and drains in a house flows into the septic tank. The wastewater is then treated by anaerobic bacteria in the tank. Once the bacteria break down the organic materials in the septic tank, the wastewater leaves through the absorption field into the soil.

A septic tank is a buried, water-tight container that is usually made of concrete, fiberglass or polyethylene. It holds the sewage and other liquid waste until solids settle at the bottom of the tank, forming sludge, and oil and grease floats to the top, forming scum. Compartments and a T-shaped outlet prevent the sludge and scum from leaving the tank with the wastewater. The septic tank is equipped with a pump and lid that seal the system.

The septic tank is a key part of an on-site sewage treatment system, and it’s the only way to treat sewage without a municipal sewer service. Since the first septic tanks were invented in 1860, they’ve become popular solutions to sewage management in rural homes.

When you’re considering buying a home with a septic tank, it’s important to have a thorough inspection done by an experienced professional. If the septic tank isn’t regularly inspected and maintained, it could overflow and leak sewage into your home or yard. This is a health and safety hazard for your family, and it can cost thousands of dollars to clean up and repair.

If you see standing sewage or notice a strong smell of raw sewage, call your plumber right away. These are signs that the septic tank isn’t working properly, and if left untreated, the sewage could back up into your home or even into groundwater supplies.

Prevent septic tank problems by limiting how much water is used in the house, maintaining a proper home maintenance schedule and using septic tank additives. Also, keep shrubs, trees and other deep-rooted plants away from the septic tank and absorption field. In addition, add 8 to 12 inches of mulch around the septic tank, pipes and absorption field to protect the soil from becoming compacted.

Sludge

The septic tank is a large, buried, water-tight container made of concrete, fiberglass or polyethylene. Its job is to hold wastewater long enough for solids to settle down and form sludge while oil and fatty substances float up into the scum layer. Compartments and a T-shaped outlet prevent the sludge and scum from leaving the tank to travel to your home’s drain field area.

If the sludge level in your septic tank exceeds 30% it is time to pump it out. The more sludge in the tank, the less efficient bacteria will be when it comes to digesting waste in the tank. This is because the sludge layer has very little oxygen, and without it bacteria can’t munch on the waste.

In addition to the lack of oxygen, the sludge layer is also full of inorganic material that can’t be broken down by bacteria. This might include heavy foreign matter like soil from garden vegetables or the occasional heavy metal object that’s been flushed down the toilet.

When septic tanks are pumped out, the sludge and scum layers are removed by a truck and disposed of. Septic sludge can be used in many ways, including putting it back on the ground as an alternative to fertilizer. However, before federal regulations were put in place to ban septic sludge dumping, companies would simply bury the sludge on landfills that contaminated groundwater and posed a health risk for humans and animals.

Septic sludge is also used in some instances to help line septic systems and absorption fields. However, it is not recommended to use septic sludge in lawns, because it can cause the growth of grass and weeds that consume too much water and create environmental hazards.

Septic tank maintenance might seem like a grim or laborious chore, but it’s an important part of keeping your home healthy. It’s also a legal obligation for homeowners. If you keep a close eye on the level of sludge in your septic tank, and monitor the levels of scum with a stick or pole (waggle it around to see how thick things are) then you can avoid costly problems, and even skip some septic tank pump-outs.

Gases

When waste is decomposed in a septic tank without oxygen, it creates toxic gases, fumes and vapour. These include Hydrogen Sulphide, Methane and Carbon Dioxide. They are harmful to humans in small amounts and can cause illness and even death in high concentrations. It is important to get your septic tank inspected and pumped regularly to avoid the accumulation of these gases.

Septic tanks must be vented to allow for the proper breakdown of waste and for air to escape from your home through toilets and drains. If your septic tank is not properly ventilated, a foul smell can fill the entire house, and airborne bacteria can enter the home through sinks and drains. These bacteria can wreak havoc on your immune system, causing sinus infections and respiratory illnesses when breathed in on a regular basis.

The gas produced in a septic tank is also highly flammable. Methane and other toxic gases can displace the oxygen in a confined space, potentially leading to an explosion. It is important to ensure your septic tank has the correct ventilation and to have it inspected by professionals when necessary.

It is recommended that you have your septic tank inspected every 3-5 years, which usually coincides with having your septic tank pumped. These inspections should be performed by licensed and insured professionals who are experienced in determining the ventilation requirements of your septic tank.

It is a good idea to install a septic tank vent stack as it helps in the proper digestion and venting of septic waste. A vent stack can also help prevent clogs in your drains, which can decrease the amount of ventilation inside your septic tank and lead to bad odors. You should never try to repair a septic tank yourself and should only let a professional do it. This is because you may be exposed to dangerous fumes or gases while working on a septic tank, which can be dangerous. If you do fall into a septic tank, you should immediately call the emergency services to evacuate you and help you out of the septic tank safely.

Odors

When septic tanks go bad, they produce horrible smells. It’s a natural byproduct of the breakdown of organic waste and is caused by anaerobic bacteria, which releases carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide (that’s what gives sewage that rotten egg smell), and methane. These gases make their way out of the septic tank and through the home’s drains and toilets. These odors can be quite strong and can linger for a long time.

If the odors are particularly bad, you can use septic tank deodorizers, which are available at most plumbing stores. But they aren’t going to get rid of the odor completely. You need to have the septic tank emptied, cleaned, and inspected by someone who knows what they are doing. Then you can determine whether it’s the septic tank itself or the drain field that’s producing the odor.

A septic tank has a trap built into each of its drains. The trap is designed to hold water and keep septic tank odors from rising up into the house. The traps will dry up and start to stink if you don’t flush your drains often enough. Try setting a reminder to run water through your drains at least once per week, especially in bathrooms that aren’t used much.

The septic tank also has vent stacks that release gases from the septic tank into the air above the roof. If the vent stacks are clogged for some reason, the odors can also come into your house. It’s a good idea to have your vent stacks inspected and possibly lengthened from time to time.

Septic tanks are typically installed in rural areas where homes don’t have access to municipal sewer lines. If you’re thinking about buying a rural property, it’s a good idea to have the septic system inspected before making a purchase. This will help you avoid problems with the septic tank and the surrounding drain field. Septic systems can be very expensive to repair, so it’s better to spend a little money on inspections than to have to pay for an unnecessarily costly repair.