Your Septic Tank Armadale holds wastewater from your toilets, showers, sinks, and tubs. Bacteria in the tank break down these contaminants and then they flow into a perforated drain field where further treatment occurs.

Heavy solid materials (soil, grit, bones, unconsumed food) sink to the bottom of your tank and form a sludge layer. Lighter materials float to the top and are a liquid known as scum.

All wastewater from your home — showers, washing machines, dishwashing, and toilet flushing — goes into the septic tank. The septic system treats the waste by sorting it into three layers, based on density. The fats, oils and greases float on top, the solid particles settle in the middle as sludge, and the clear liquid wastewater resides in the bottom layer called effluent. Inside your septic tank, microorganisms help break down the organic solids in these layers. This is known as primary wastewater treatment.

When your tank is full, hydraulic pressure pushes the liquid effluent out through tees that extend from the inlet baffle and out the outlet pipe into your drainfield. These tees ensure that nothing but the watery wastewater leaves the tank — no solids like sludge or scum. It is important that these tees are well-maintained, since they can be damaged or clogged by things you should not flush down the drain.

After the wastewater exits the septic tank, it trickles into your drainfield, which is made of a network of perforated pipes buried in your yard. The soil in the drainfield acts as a natural filter, treating the remaining wastewater and releasing it into groundwater. This final treatment stage is what makes septic systems more environmentally friendly than sewer systems.

Eventually, the drainfield will need to be replaced or recharged with new gravel. In the meantime, it is up to you to minimize how much wastewater enters and exits your septic system. Reduce your use of water-intensive appliances and fixtures, replace older ones with efficient models, and space out activities that require large amounts of water, such as laundry loads or kitchen reworkings.

A septic system works best when bacteria and yeasts in the tank are healthy. These organisms break down and digest the organic waste in your septic tank and drainfield. If you flush chemicals like antibiotics, chemotherapy agents, household cleaners and bleach down the drains, they can kill these organisms.

In addition to harmful chemicals, other items that should not be flushed include paper products besides toilet paper, such as tissues and napkins, coffee grounds, cigarette butts and flushable cat litter. If you flush these items, they will clog the septic system and may be deposited in your absorption field or leach field where they can contaminate groundwater and cause disease.

Maintenance

A septic system requires regular maintenance to function properly and reduce the risk of costly disruptions, property damage, and health concerns. Observing foul odours, slow drains and standing water are red flags that can indicate the need for immediate servicing. If these issues are not addressed promptly, they can lead to clogs, overflow and ground contamination.

A professional septic tank cleaning service can help homeowners stay ahead of septic system problems by keeping the tank clean and addressing any signs of trouble before they cause major damage. This helps prevent the waste from contaminating the surrounding environment and ensures the system functions smoothly for years to come.

Maintaining a consistent pumping schedule is one of the most important steps in septic tank maintenance. This reduces the amount of sludge that accumulates in the tank, which allows the liquid to flow more freely through the drainage field. If the septic tank is not pumped at regular intervals, it can overload the drainfield and create significant problems for the homeowner.

Other important septic tank maintenance tasks include maintaining proper water use and regularly inspecting the septic system components. Homeowners should use water-conserving fixtures such as low-flow shower heads and toilets, front-load washing machines and aerators for the sinks and dishwasher. In addition, they should avoid flushing harsh chemicals, antibacterial soaps and cleaning products, and sanitary products such as hair dye, napisan, baby wipes, dental floss and disposable diapers. Chemicals can disrupt the microbial balance in the septic tank and cause solids to accumulate more rapidly.

Regular septic tank inspections allow the system to be checked for cracks, leaks and other potential problems. Professionals can also recommend system additives that can support the natural bacterial processes and promote efficient digestion of liquids and solids.

The location of the septic tank can also play a role in septic tank maintenance. The system may need to be moved if it is too close to buildings, water sources or other features that interfere with the drainage system. In addition, the tank should be easily accessible for pumping and inspection purposes.

Repairs

A well-functioning septic tank system is a valuable asset to homeowners. It helps protect the health and safety of household members, pets, and anyone who uses the home’s toilets, sinks, and drains. However, without proper septic tank maintenance and inspections, the tank and surrounding soil may be contaminated by untreated wastewater. This contamination poses environmental risks, which includes the potential for costly repairs and property damage. In addition, untreated sewage may contaminate water bodies, posing serious threats to aquatic life and ecosystem balance, as well as pose a threat to human health.

Taking prompt action to address septic tank problems demonstrates a commitment to environmental stewardship. Homeowners who prioritize septic tank maintenance and regularly schedule professional inspections are less likely to encounter major issues that threaten the function of their septic tanks. If problems are spotted early, homeowners can save money by making small repairs and deferring the need for expensive system rehabilitations or replacements.

Signs of a malfunctioning septic tank include frequent clogs, unusual wastewater flow patterns, or foul odors around the septic tank area and within the house. When these signs are ignored, it could lead to system failure and the release of pathogenic bacteria and dissolved organic pollution into the environment.

Septic tank problems can be prevented by ensuring that the septic tank is pumped often enough to keep solid waste from building up. Many mobile applications exist that can help homeowners track pumping schedules and reminders to maintain the septic tank, but professional services are always preferable in the event of leaks, severe blockages, or system failure.

A high-level warning alarm is another important part of every septic tank and should be kept in good working condition. In fact, it is a requirement of municipal building codes. Keeping the high-level alarm in good working condition ensures that you are alerted to any overflow events, which will prevent sewage from entering the drainage field and potentially causing clogs, system failure, or ground contamination.

Proper septic tank maintenance can add to the value of your home, especially if you intend to sell it in the future. Potential buyers will be interested in how well-maintained the septic system is, and will likely be willing to pay more for a home with an efficient septic tank.

Replacement

The lifespan of your septic tank is dependent on a number of factors. Proper maintenance and regular pumping of your septic system can help extend its life, but eventually it will need to be replaced. The most common signs of a failing septic system are raw sewage back up into the home and high levels of bacteria in well water. If you see any of these issues, it is important to have your septic system investigated and potentially replaced.

Generally speaking, septic systems have a lifespan of up to 30 years. This is based on the amount of wastewater they are expected to handle and the average household usage of water.

Many septic tanks can be extended beyond this expected lifetime with the use of bacterial additives or bio-augmentation products that encourage the growth of healthy bacteria inside the tank. This can help reduce the sludge layer and improve septic tank performance.

It is very important to have your septic tank pumped regularly to remove the sludge buildup. If the sludge layer gets too thick, it can prevent oxygen from reaching the liquid effluent of your septic tank. This can cause the septic tank to fail, as solid waste will wash out into the drain field and clog the soil.

When your septic tank needs to be pumped, it is best to have the contractor pump out the septic tank through the large service hole at the bottom of the tank, not the sanitary tee or baffle inspection ports. Pumping these ports can cause damage to the baffles and sanitary tee.

Another reason to replace your septic system is if you have a new family and your use of the cottage has increased. A new dishwasher or more guests at the lake may overwork your existing septic system and lead to premature failure.

When it is time to replace your septic system, our trained and experienced technicians will take care to ensure that the replacement process goes smoothly. We will obtain any required permits and carefully excavate the old septic system to avoid damaging the surrounding land. Then we will install your new septic tank according to manufacturer guidelines and local regulations. Once complete, we will backfill and restore the site to its original condition.