Septic Systems: Preventing a Stink
It's Not a Pretty Picture, but Maintenance Is Simple If You Know What to Look For
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Saturday, September 22, 2007
Whether you have a septic system or are buying a house with one, know that whatever you flush or pour down the drain can come back to haunt you, either in major repair expenses or in simple embarrassment.
Consider the diabetic who hid in the bathroom to munch on forbidden candy bars and flushed the wrappers. The septic system contractor eventually found that secret.
Other contractors tell stories of finding toys, tampons, condoms, drug paraphernalia and even pet remains in septic tanks.
However, there are simple steps you can take to avoid surprises and ensure that everything operates properly for years. First, though, you should understand how a septic system works.
Breaking It All Down
The private treatment and processing of human wastewater is an out-of-sight, gravity-driven process that allows houses to be built in areas not served by public sewer services.
A conventional septic system doesn't have moving parts. Naturally occurring bacteria and other microorganisms break up biodegradable substances.
Wastewater flows from the house through a pipe into an underground tank, where it separates into three levels. Grease and light waste form the top layer, called scum. Heavier solid waste becomes sludge on the bottom.
Between those two layers is partially filtered wastewater, called effluent.
As new waste enters the tank, a corresponding amount of effluent flows out to a drain field, usually via a distribution box that sends it evenly through a network of underground perforated pipes.
The drain field is the modern replacement for cesspools. In drain fields, a series of trenches provide additional layers of filtering as the effluent trickles through several feet of soil and gravel below.
Look Around Before Buying
"Do your homework upfront," said Brent McCord of Environmental Services and Products in Manassas.
Have a thorough inspection done. Repairs to a septic system generally are the home seller's responsibility before closing, so hire an experienced inspector or septic contractor to see what work is needed.
