Your septic tank is part of your home, or business' wastewater treatment system. When things are working as they should, it's likely that you don't give much thought to your septic system. However, because your system is not centralized, meaning it is not part of a central wastewater system, you're responsible for fixing problems should they arise. So its a good idea to become familiar with common septic tank problems before they take you by surprise. Here are common causes of blocked septic systems and how to avoid them.
Blocked Tank Tubes
Your septic tank is designed to hold a certain amount of water. One common problem that home and business owners may find themselves in when it comes to septic tanks is excess water. This occurs when the tank has more water than it was intended to hold and it can cause a host of issues. When there is too much water in the tank, the solid waste is unable to break down prior to the tank water rising. This causes the waste to pass out of the tank in a more solid form and get distributed to tubes that were meant to handle broken down waste. Thus, the tubes become blocked. When this happens your septic system will back up and you'll have to professionals to clean it out and clear the blockage.
- Avoid blocked tubes by reducing the amount of water that goes into your septic system. You can do this by using your water more efficiently. For example, if you're a home owner, reducing toilet flushing frequency, shortening shower times, and decreasing washing machine frequency can make your water usage much more efficient.
Non-Biodegradable Materials
Your septic system is designed for remove waste that is broken down by the environment. Surprisingly many people aren't aware that some of the things they flush down the toilet are not biodegradable and will cause a clog. For example, many brands of paper towels are not biodegradable and it's common for paper towels to be responsible for toilet clogs. Other common toilet cloggers are certain brands of women's tampons and cotton balls. People often assume these items are safe to flush. Unfortunately, because cotton balls, most paper towels, and certain brands of tampons aren't biodegradable, they will get backed up and affect your entire septic system.
- Avoid these unintentional clogs by educated your family if you're a homeowner, or your employees, if you're a business owner, on the difference between biodegradable and non-biodegradable items. This way they are informed on what is safe to flush and what isn't. If you own a business and have experienced a backup, it may be a good idea to post signs in the restroom as reinforcement.
For more septic system maintenance information, check out sites like http://sullivanseptic.net today.
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