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.
Conventional septic systems use a drainfield to spread wastewater underground, keeping it away from above-ground water sources like streams and ponds. Bacteria in the soil break down the waste, and it's filtered as it slowly seeps further into the ground. This eliminates any harmful bacteria or viruses that may be in the wastewater, preventing it from contaminating nearby wells or streams.
The drainfield consists of a small network of perforated pipes that slowly release the wastewater into the nearby soil. Since the pipes are so small, they can easily become clogged. When the pipes in your drainfield are clogged, wastewater won't have anywhere to go, and it will start to back up inside your home.
One way that you can unclog the pipes in your drainfield is by having them hydrojetted, which is a process that forces high-pressure water through the pipes to break apart any clogs that are in them. To learn what types of clogs hydrojetting can remove from your septic system's drainfield, read on.
Bacterial Biomats
Bacterial biomats are one of the most common sources of clogs in septic drainfield pipes. They consist of a layer of bacteria, both dead and alive, along with the waste products they produce when they break down the effluent entering the drainfield from your septic tank.
Water has a difficult time flowing through thick bacterial biomats, so they can cause a clog in your septic system's drainfield. The high-pressure water used during hydrojetting can easily scour the biomats away, removing the clog and allowing the pipes to discharge water again.
Tree Roots
When you own a septic system, you should never plant any trees nearby. Trees love septic drainfields because the soil is always moist from all the wastewater discharge, and it's also full of nutrients. Tree roots will seek out the drainfield because of all the moisture, and they can start growing into the perforations in the pipes in the drainfield.
Tree roots can completely clog the pipes, causing your septic system to back up inside your home. Hydrojetting uses enough water pressure to break apart tree roots that have started growing in the pipes, so it can clear your drainfield of clogs caused by tree roots.
Plastic and Other Inorganic Materials
When you accidentally flush plastic down the drains in your home, such as tiny pieces of food packaging, it can clog the pipes in your septic system's drainfield. The bacteria in your septic system can't break down inorganic substances like plastic. It normally stays in the tank, and it's removed when you have your septic tank pumped. However, small pieces of plastic can float out of the outlet pipe that leads to your drainfield and clog it. Hydrojetting the drainfield pipes will push all of the inorganic material through the pipe, eliminating the clog.
If you have a clog in your septic system drainfield, call a septic system service in your area and have it examined. If your drainfield pipes are clogged, they can hydrojet them in order to break the clog apart. The pipes in your drainfield will be able to discharge wastewater normally again, preventing the waste you flush down your drains from coming right back up into your home.
For more information on septic system services, contact a professional near you.
Share19 June 2023
