What Are The Main Components of a Septic System?
As a homeowner, you have to maintain your septic tank, and you should take this duty seriously as it can go a long way in protecting your investment in the property. If you properly construct, treat, and maintain your septic system, it can serve your home for decades. On the other hand, poor construction, treatment, and maintenance of a septic system might result in high repair bills and other problems like environmental pollution and groundwater contamination. To properly maintain your septic system, you need to understand it. Here’s an insight.
What Are the Two Main Components of a Septic System?
The two primary components of a septic system are the septic tank and the drainfield. However, two more components make the whole system work; the pipe from the home and the soil under the drainfield. You likely are asking yourself – how does a septic system work?
- The pipe from the home
As the name suggests, the pipe from the home transports wastewater from the house to the septic take. This component faces very few issues which can be blockage of the pipe or breakage – both of which can easily be fixed.
- The septic tank
The septic tank is undoubtedly the most essential component of a septic system. This is typically a watertight container that’s usually buried underground. The watertight container can be made of fiberglass, concrete, or polyethylene. The tank’s function is to hold wastewater for a sufficient amount of time for the solids to form a sludge (settle out) at the bottom of the tank and the grease and oil to float to the surface as scum.
Additionally, the septic tank provides time for the solid materials to decompose partially. There are compartments connected to a T-shaped outlet with a screen that works together to stop the scum and sludge from leaving the tanks and flowing to the drainfield. Newer septic tanks have lids on the ground level to enable easy location and inspection.
- The drainfield
Once the wastewater leaves the septic tank, it enters the drainfield, where it gets distributed over a wide surface area for additional treatment by the soil. Every time wastewater is discharged to the drainfield, new wastewater is added to the septic tank. A poorly constructed septic system can result in an overloaded drainfield, resulting in "not-fully-treated" wastewater reaching the groundwater and backflows on plumbing fixtures. This is why in many states, it’s mandated that you have a backup drainfield.
- The soil
The soil under the drainfield is responsible for "fully" cleaning the wastewater on the drainfeild before it gets to the groundwater. Make sure your drainfield is set up on suitable soil for wastewater treatment.
Do You Need Septic Tank Maintenance in Cleveland, TX?
All Pro Septic is a top-notch septic system cleaning and maintenance company. We are a family-owned business located in Cleveland, and we provide our services to residential, industrial, and commercial properties. We have unmatched experience cleaning lint and grease traps, sewage pump repair, line cleaning, and aerobics systems. At All Pro Septic, we provide free estimates for improved consistency. Call us today.
Categorised in: Septic Pumping