Understanding the Components of Your Septic System

All of the sinks, bathtubs, toilets, and water-related appliances in your home drain into the main waste pipe. This pipe likely originates from your basement or crawlspace, and carries all of your household wastewater and solid waste out to your septic tank to be treated.

There's not much to know about the waste pipe; it's fairly self-explanatory. However, if it becomes clogged, all of the drains in your house can back up with sewage - or the solid waste can enter your drain field and cause irreparable damage. If you suspect a clog, call a professional right away.

From the waste pipe, sewage travels into a septic tank that's buried in your yard. This tank is usually between 1000 and 1500 gallons, and is made of concrete, fiberglass, or a synthetic material such as polyethylene. If you don't know where the septic tank is in your yard, look for the cover - the only visible part of the tank.

When sewage enters the tank, the solid waste falls to the bottom. There, bacteria feed upon the solids, and it forms sludge that will accumulate over time. Any oil or grease in the wastewater will rise to the top and float; the wastewater, known as effluent, composes the middle layer.

If your tank has two compartments, the wastewater - not the sludge or oil - enters the second compartment through an outlet pipe for further filtration. If it's a one compartment tank, the effluent will discharge into your septic drain field, or leach field. Don't worry, we'll get to that soon.

The most important thing to know about your septic tank is that it needs to be pumped on occasion. Over time, the sludge at the bottom will build up; if it's not pumped out before it gets too high, the solid waste can back up into your home or enter your drain field. The average tank needs to be pumped every 3-5 years, but this will vary with household water usage.

After leaving your septic tank through a t-shaped outlet pipe, the wastewater enters your septic drain field for further decomposition and drainage.

A typical septic field consists of trenches filled with gravel and specially selected varieties of soil. Wastewater is distributed through perforated pipes that run through the trenches; then, it drains into the septic field, which is specifically designed to further treat the wastewater. In addition to the natural filtration provided by the gravel and soil, bacteria helps to break down any remaining solids in the effluent.

Ideally, your drain field remains out of sight and out of mind. However, if notice any water pooling in the area, your drain field may be saturated, so call a septic company immediately. Do the same if you notice the smell of sewage coming from the drain field.

While it's helpful to know a little bit about how your septic system works, you shouldn't attempt to fix plumbing problems on your own. Plumbers have the training and equipment necessary to safely fix problems. For example, plumbers have small camera that they can snake through drains to identify blockages.

If you run into plumbing problems, reach out and call a Express Plumbing and Drain to schedule an appointment today.