How to Clean & Maintain a Septic Tank

The septic system is the best method to use for household wastewater treatment. It is a low-cost method and easy to maintain. The septic system not working well is due to groundwater pollution. The soil layer works as a natural filter, removing microbes and other contaminants when water seeps through. Faulty treated water carries bacteria and viruses that are causes of gastroenteritis, the common cold, and hepatitis.

Septic system maintenance is important, as we do maintenance for vehicles. In this post we will cover details for septic tank maintenance and related parameters.

What is a septic system?

The septic system working is to manage wastewater in a house not configured with a sewage system. It comes with a drain line, a tank for the drain line to feed into, and a drainfield for wastewater dispersed in soil.
Septic systems help water filter naturally before moving into groundwater, avoiding contamination and diseases.
Properly installed and maintained systems work for more than 40 years.
The septic tank is an important part of the septic system that needs proper maintenance. It comes with bacteria that break down solids into liquid waste and solids. That liquid moves to the drainfield, where filtered with gravel and soil before being put into groundwater.

How to Clean and Maintain a Septic Tank

Regular Checking

Inspect your septic tank after three to five years by removing sludge in a professional way. If you do not do proper cleaning of the septic system, there are pools of water that come with the drainfield, with stinky smells and other unpleasant things.

Don’t Sink

Pouring a vat of bacon grease into the sink, with the use of paint and cleaning solvents, causes a clog and reduces the working of the septic tank. Checking with local hardware stores for proper disposal methods

Keep balance.

The clean septic tank is a proper ecosystem of bacteria for working in a proper way for waste breakdown. Not flush chemicals and antibacterial soaps. For clearing hair, gunk, and grease clogs in the home.

DON’T DEGRADE YOUR TANK.

Waste not rapidly degrade, such as paper towels and coffee grounds, causes overloading of septic tanks. So good is that throw them away, not in the septic tank.

Drainfield of Dreams

Keep the septic drainfield clear of surface water and do not drive on it causes it to collapse. Check the drainage field. That helps dispose of wastewater without affecting the water supply.

Check ware output.

Fix any household leaks, and use water in a smart way. That can space out laundry loads with time and connect high-efficiency washing machines and showerheads. Do not overwhelm the septic tank with a large amount of water and sewage in a short time.

Do you need cleaning for a septic tank?

When you flush the toilet in your home, use water for a shower or run the washing machine so water is used and waste moves to the septic tank.
• The septic tank is made in a design that can handle water for carrying out of the tank to the drain field. Waste sinks to the lower levels of the tank and remains.
When waste breaks down, it converts into slime material. Pumping the tank removes sludge and prevents the tank from becoming full, which would not operate well.

Is it possible to septic tank myself?

If you are cleaning the septic tank yourself can damage the tank if you do not clean it accurately. So if you are getting professional services for accurate treatment, use cleaning tools and avoid any damage to any component of the tank.
They also dispose of tank waste in a proper way and reduce chances of pollution.

How much does septic tank maintenance cost?

The septic inspection is performed after one to three years, and its cost is about $100 to $1000 based on cleanliness.
Different factors that affect inspection cost are system working life, accessibility to the system, and home size.
• The cost of septic tank pumping is about $300 to $700. Overall, you can spend about $1000 for septic system maintenance.
If there are any septic system errors, repair costs can be thousands of dollars. Based on the type of repairs, the maintenance cost for a septic tank is

Type of Repair	Average Costs
Outlet Baffle	$150 – $600
Add Bacteria	$350 – $650
Wall	$500 – $4,000
Roots Removal	$1,000 – $5,000
Leach Field Rejuvenation	$1,000 – $5,000
Septic Field	$1,000 – $5,000
Leak	$1,000 – $10,000

How to Know if Tank Is Due for Cleaning?

With getting septic professional with proper pumping schedule tank can give signs that the tank needs cleanliness. If the tank needs pumping, water can start draining slowly from the home. You can check for water puddling at your feet in shower or sink water that is slow-draining for dishwashing.

Another symptom is that the septic tank releases a smell. If the tank is full, smell exits. These odors exist in the yard around the tank, and the smell also moves through pipes into the home and can be smelled close to drains.

If the tank is overdue for pumping tank starts to overflow. In this occurrence, there are puddles and water in the area around the septic tank. So keep an eye on standing water close to that area.

Septic Tank Cleaning with Pumping Process

Septic Tank Lids Opened

First of all mechanic uncovers the tank lid. That is for systems installed in the 1980s that come with two separate parts and open their lids. Here, the work crew will open the lid of the tank. It is normally basic work, but corrosion and wear make it difficult.

The tank will be pumped out.

Use of a high-power hose connected with a vacuum truck; all liquids and materials sucked out from the sewage tank. The hose has enough power for removing waste and debris; there are some times when thick sludges and solids are left.

Washed-out tank

For cleaning residual waste, clean water is used for cleaning the inside of the tank to remove remaining materials.

Visual Inspections

After the septic pumping and cleaning step, the tank interior will be checked, and also the external part, for finding any roots. It also checks septic tank baffles and partition walls.

Tanks Lid Closed

After completion of inspection, close the lid and cover it again. In some conditions, a septic tank is buried between 6 and 12 inches below ground.

Cleaning Process for Septic System Filter

First of all, find the location of the septic tank system. Where you will find two lids for every tank chamber.
Arrange these materials: rubber gloves, spray nozzle, wrench, and paper towel.
Use rubber gloves, and remove the lid from the solid tank.
Grab the T-handled pipe and pull up the filter. Then remove the filter from the housing and spray the filter with the hose to remove solids from the filter back into the tank.
Now use a clean filter in place of the filter housing and put strongly for a strong seal.

What is a perc test?

The perc test, also called the percolation test, is used to make sure that soil is good for a septic system. The perc testing points are level of percolation checking, water time for drop, and soil where the septic system is connected.
Soil percolation needs to lie between the minimum and maximum thresholds for providing water, not losing it through the soil quickly or causing flooding through slow losses.
If soil is according to standard, then install a septic system. If soil is not following standards, the system is not installed in those conditions. Soil with very low percolation has chances of oversaturation that causes backed-up drains.
Soil with high percolation does not filter wastewater before it reaches groundwater.

Don’t, for avoiding problems with the septic system.

Garbage disposal

Continuous putting of food reduces the efficiency of the septic system. through reduced required bacteria. These bacteria control sludge level from becoming high. If these bacteria do not exist, the sludge level increases and causes the capacity of the tank to reduce. The garbage disposal was used sparingly, but it needed frequent pumping for the septic tank.

Use chemicals.

Different chemicals, such as garbage disposal reducers, require bacteria that are good for septic tanks. If chemicals reach the septic tank, the sludge level increases and makes the tank malfunction.
If there is a need to unclog drains, a baking soda and vinegar mixture is used for breaking and does not affect the bacteria level of the septic system.

Park vehicles on the septic tank top.

Irrespective of the materials used for the septic tank, if you park a vehicle on tank causes high weight. When weight pushes can shift and apply stress on the tank in the leach field.
At the time of installing the tank and drainfield, put it where there is no parking for vehicles. Try to avoid standing on larger people on the system, especially on wet ground.

Flush your toilet.

Toilet paper is easy to flush for septic systems. Disposable wipes, tissues, paper towels, and other products do not break down in septic tanks and cause clogging. These products are disposed of in garbage for the good working of the system.

FAQs

How do I keep my septic tank healthy?

Try to avoid chemical drain openers for clogged drains. So use boiling water.
• Do not put cooking oil or grease down the the drain.
Not pour oil-based paints, solvents, and high volumes of toxic cleaners down the drain

What is the best way to clean a septic tank?

Just pour one baking soda cup down the drain, then one vinegar cup, and wait for some time before flushing with hot water. Enzymes naturally occur in microorganisms that break down organic matter in septic tanks.