There will come a time when your septic system needs to be cleaned. Knowing the difference between septic tank cleaning and pumping is important so you can ask the right questions when getting service. Wastewater from your toilets and sinks flows into your septic tank. Solid materials settle at the bottom to create sludge, and lighter greases and soaps float to the top, creating a scum layer. For more information, visit this website at https://www.septictankarmadale.com.au/.
Septic Tank Inspection
When you flush your toilet or wash your laundry, you send wastewater and solid waste into the septic tank. This waste undergoes a process of liquefaction and anaerobic decomposition by bacteria. It is then separated from the liquid septic tank effluent, which leaves the tank to flow into the drain field, where it is absorbed into the soil. A septic tank inspection is when an inspector looks at the working components of your septic system, identifying problems that might cause leaks or failure.
Septic tank cleaning specialists use vacuum trucks with a pump and a heavy-duty hose to remove the waste from inside your septic tank. Before he begins, he checks the liquid level in your septic tank to see whether it’s normal or too high. He also assesses the condition of your septic tank baffles to ensure they are in good shape and securely attached to the outlet and inlet pipes. He also looks for wetness in the soil around the septic tank or drain field, which indicates a failure to absorb or distribute wastewater evenly.
A routine septic tank inspection is recommended twice a year. However, if you suspect that your septic tank is full, you can request an inspection sooner. The cost of an inspection is less than the price of a septic tank pumping or septic system repair.
It is possible to have both a septic tank pumping and septic tank inspection done at the same time, but it’s recommended that you schedule your pumping and inspection for different days to avoid over-filling your septic tank. The inspection requires removing the lid of your septic tank, so it is important to hire a professional to do this work.
A septic tank inspection should be performed before any major repairs or maintenance are done on your septic system. This inspection can reveal potential problems that could save you money in the future. Some signs that you need a septic system inspection include: odors near drain lines, slow-draining toilets or sinks, wet spots in the yard, or lush grass over your septic drain field. It’s also important to avoid using chemical products to unclog your drains, as these kill the bacteria in your septic system that break down the solid waste. You should also be mindful of what you put into your garbage disposal and not flush medications, coffee grounds, eggshells or grease down your drains.
Pumping
Getting your septic tank pumped every 3 to 5 years helps prevent sewage from backing up into your home. Keeping track of when your septic system was last pumped is a good way to know when it needs to be done again. If you move into a new home, request documentation from the previous owner of when it was pumped.
A septic tank that is too full will not be able to separate and treat wastewater properly. Sludge will build up in the septic tank and then enter your house through drains and toilets. You will notice a foul smell, and your drains will slow to open and may become backed up.
After a professional cleans your septic tank, they will use a pump truck with a long hose to vacuum up the sludge from inside your septic tank. They will also look at the liquid levels of your septic tank to assess whether it is normal, too high, or too low.
If your septic tank is overflowing, this is an indication that the septic system is not working as it should and there are problems with your drain field or septic tank baffles. A professional can repair or replace these components to help restore your septic tank’s function and protect the health of your family.
The drain field is an aspect of your septic system that sieves wastewater and toilet paper into the soil. To keep your absorption field healthy, avoid driving or parking on it and plant grass around the immediate area of the drain field. You should also avoid planting trees and other deep-rooted plants in the drain field area as their roots can clog the pipes that connect to the absorption field.
You can save money on septic tank cleaning by using your household water more efficiently, including spreading out loads of laundry over several days instead of doing multiple washings in one day. You should also put non-biodegradable materials, such as plastics and paper other than toilet paper, into the trash, rather than putting them down your drains.
Sludge Removal
The main difference between pumping and cleaning is what’s removed from the tank. Septic tank cleaners use a vacuum truck with a pump and heavy-duty hose to remove the sludge from all of the septic tanks compartments. This sludge is then hauled away to the waste treatment plant and used for sludge processing or other purposes. A full septic tank cleaning takes much longer than pumping alone, but it’s essential for keeping the system working properly.
If the septic tank isn’t cleaned on a regular basis, the solid waste will eventually build up in layers that prevent the wastewater from flowing through to the drainfield. This can lead to pooling water in the yard, stinky smells, and sewage backups. Septic tank cleaning removes all of the sludge and scum from the tank, so that the liquid waste can flow freely to the drainfield.
To determine the sludge level of your septic tank, you can purchase a kit that includes a small stick and a sludge test. To test the sludge, push the stick into the scum layer until it hits solid bottom and let it rest there for three minutes. If the sludge is too thick, you’ll need to have it pumped out.
Septic tank sludge is typically made up of solid waste that hasn’t broken down as far as the bacteria in the septic tank can go. It’s very thick, dark, and smelly, and it needs to be removed from the septic tank on a regular basis. Proper aeration also helps to keep sludge from building up by giving it the oxygen it needs to break down aerobically.
Many septic tank cleaners will use a hose to probe and disintegrate the sludge and scum layers before they are pumped out of the tank. This can take quite a while, and some companies may even need to use a hydro-jetting device to break up compacted solids that have settled at the bottom of the tank.
Septic tank cleaners also typically avoid using products that claim to speed up the microbial party in the septic tank by acting like tiny Pac-Men chomping on the sludge. These additives can throw off the primordial ecosystem that’s developed in the septic tank, making it difficult for natural enzymes to do their job of breaking down the waste sent to the tank.
Septic System Maintenance
There are several different things that can clog your septic system and prevent wastewater from properly flowing to the drainfield. Solid wastes, such as feminine hygiene products, diapers, facial tissue, cigarette butts and wipes can all clog your septic tank and cause problems throughout the entire septic system. Fats, oils and grease are also very common causes of clogs.
Another way to keep your septic system functioning properly is by scheduling routine inspections with a professional inspector. During an inspection, the inspector will look at the sludge and scum layers to determine whether a cleaning or pumping is necessary. The inspector will also make note of any potential leaks in the septic tank and the drainfield.
The most important thing you can do to help your septic system is to avoid adding any unnecessary materials into the tank. A septic tank relies on natural organisms to break down household waste, so anything that disrupts these bacteria can lead to failure of the system. Toxins from various cleaning products like bleach can be harmful to these organisms, so using natural and plant-based cleaners is a better option for your septic system.
Keeping up with routine septic tank pumping can also help keep your septic system working correctly. The professional who pumps your septic system will also inspect the sludge and scum levels and make sure that the septic tank is operating properly.
Maintaining proper maintenance of your septic tank and drain field can help you avoid costly repairs. A septic tank and drain field that are neglected can develop problems, such as failing to filter out waste, causing sewage backups in the home and surrounding areas, or even contaminating groundwater sources.
Having your septic tank inspected and cleaned on a regular basis is the best way to ensure that the waste that flows into it is being treated properly. When you call All Pro Septic for septic tank services, the professionals will know what you mean when you ask for “pumping” or “cleaning.” It never hurts to be clear with your service provider and understand the difference between these two services in case they ever recommend one to you!
