Septic tanks consist of two different parts: the drain field and the tank. The sewage and water separates into two layers when it goes into the septic tank. The solid matter sinks to the bottom, and the oils and other lighter matter drift to the top and go to the drain field. There are three things to look for when you want to know if there is something wrong with your septic tank:
- Odor– If you smell sewage in your yard, make sure you contact us at Lee Kirk & Sons Septic immediately in order to prevent further issues.
- Swampy soil– It is obvious you have an issue with your septic tank when your yard is soggy, but it has not been raining in the area.
- Drain backups– If your drains are not draining well and you have already tried using Drano, then you might have another issue with backups in the septic tank.
Other routine procedures you can do to prevent major issues with your septic tanks are:
- Filters: Some septic tanks have filters, and if yours has a filter, you need to learn how to clean it out regularly.
- Conservation: Conserve water as much as possible because septic tanks can only handle so much water at a time. You can do this by checking for leaky faucets and running toilets and choose the right size for the load of laundry you are washing.
- Pumping: Make sure you pump your septic tank regularly. How often you need to do this depends on the size of your septic tank and number of people living in the household, but it will probably be every 3 to 5 years.
- Garbage disposals: Avoid using your garbage disposal as much as possible because it can lead to clogs in the drain field and create more wastewater.