After struggling for quite some time with our septic system, I realized there might be a problem with the way we were approaching various aspects of plumbing. For starters, we didn't think too much of putting things down the garbage disposal, which created some serious issues later on down the road. We were left struggling with drains that just didn't work properly, and so we started carefully considering ways to change things. We talked with a plumber about septic system maintenance, and they had some tips that improved our experience. Check out this website for awesome tips on managing septic tanks.
Septic tanks must be pumped out with some regularity. That is because leaving them full and sitting causes the tanks to get backed up and/or have their drainage ports clogged by semi-solid waste that accumulates and packs together. Yet, you might be wondering a few other things about septic pumping and septic tanks. Those queries, and their answers, follow.
Can a Septic Tank Be Overpumped?
Technically, no, a septic tank cannot be overpumped. The concern some people express through this question has to do with pumping the tank more than once a month, or pumping it weekly. The concern may also arise from forceful and continued pumping after the tank has been emptied. First, if there are a lot of people in a home or building, pumping the tank weekly may be a good idea, especially if the tank is a small one. Pumping it monthly when there are a lot of people's waste going into the tank is okay too.
Secondly, most septic tank service companies know how and when to stop the pumping of a tank so that the tank does not suddenly have a vacuum in it. In reality, you could not actually create a harmful vacuum in a septic tank anyway, because the tank is connected to house plumbing and to the drainage field, which both contain fluids and air. It would be impossible to empty the tank and not have something still come up out of the tank if the pumping did go too far (which it never would).
How Are Clogs Cleared?
For the sake of argument, say that you left a septic tank sit, almost full, for a really long time. Most of the liquid waste automatically drains into the drainage field. That leaves the semi-solids and solids to sit. The solids almost always sink to the bottom of the tank with the sludge. The semi-solids float around in the tank until they dehydrate and/or disintegrate. They may attach in small amounts to the drainage ports on/in the tank. It takes a very long time to accumulate. If it actually accumulates to the point where a clog results, the septic pumping technician only has to flush the ports with enough forceful hot water to blast away the clogs. Then the tank is pumped out, removing the clog material and anything else that could cause a new clog to form. If you suspect that your tank has a clog, call a septic pumping company immediately.
Share9 October 2018
