What is a Septic Tank??

WHAT IS A SEPTIC TANK??

Raise your hand if you have a septic tank and you are not quite sure how the thing even works! You are not alone! Many people have septic systems and they are unsure of the way they work and how to properly care for them. Septic tanks are very simple things. Let me break it down for you.

• The house has internal plumbing that all routes to a main sewerline. This main sewerline runs through the center of your home, out the front or back and connects to the inlet sewerline to the septic tank.  The inlet sewerline then runs into the septic tank itself.
• The septic tank can be concrete, poly (plastic) or even fiberglass (if it's old). The septic tank can contain one or two compartments. Older style tanks have one compartment. New style tanks (think late '90's) have two compartments. The purpose of the two compartments in later construction was to try to keep more of the solid sludge waste in the front compartment, further away from any contact with the drainfield (also sometimes called the disposal field).
• From the septic tank, there is an outlet sewerline that connects to the drainfield. Some outlet lines will connect directly into a horizontal leach line or vertical seepage pit (also sometimes called dry well). Other times, the outlet sewerline will connect to a distribution box. The distribution box will connect multiple leach lines or seepage pits.

SO... when you run water down the drain or flush a toilet, the water enters the mainline, into the inlet pipe and falls into the septic tank. Once the septic tank is at capacity, the effluent (wastewater) from the septic tank will go through the outlet sewerline into the drainfield. The drainfield is set up to further filter out the wastewater before it is absorbed back into the ground. 

The septic tank will accumulate 3 layers inside of the tank. The scum layer (floaters) will ride on top of the effluent (wastewater). The sludge layer (sinkers) will fall to the bottom of the tank. To properly maintain your septic tank, you will need to pump the contents of the septic tank every 3-5 years based upon usage and occupancy.  That's pretty much it! Nothing mechanical, nothing really technical. 

Are you experiencing an issue with your septic tank? Slow draining, gurgling, back ups or just think it's time for maintenance?? Give Septic Medic a call! We can provide you with an estimate over the phone and send our team out as soon as you need! 480-306-3841 or visit our website at www.septicmedicaz.com for an entire list of our services.