Many new terms and concepts come up for buyers and sellers during the house selling process. Believe it or not, even those who own septic systems have no idea how septic systems work.
However, knowing about how septic systems work can immensely benefit your home as a new homeowner.
This article helps provide an insight into what a septic tank is and how it works.
What is a septic tank?
Generally, there must be a way to dispose of waste in homes that are not connected to a public sewer system. This is where septic tanks come in. Septic systems are used to clean and remove waste from a home’s plumbing, including the toilets, sinks, and laundry.
You may be surprised to learn that septic systems are more common nowadays. More than a quarter of all U.S. residences have a septic system. And this is something to keep in mind when looking to buy a home.
How septic systems work
Every time you flush the toilet or wash the dishes, the wastewater leaves your home through a single main pipe and drains into an underground septic tank, typically located some distance from your home.
The septic tank is nothing more than a watertight container, typically constructed of concrete or fiberglass. Sludge and scum form naturally as the solids sink to the bottom and the grease floats to the top of the wastewater.
Drain fields are areas of dirt where treated “effluent” (wastewater) slowly leaks out. The water is filtered through pipes and porous ground layers until it reaches the groundwater, further filtered and disinfected.
What’s the connection between a well and septic systems?
The majority of homes with septic systems also have a private water well. It’s true. However, the septic system is separate from the well. Its objective is not to cleanse wastewater so it may become edible but to distribute it to prevent pollution carefully.
How Can I Maintain the Septic System as a New Homeowner?
When maintaining a healthy septic system, you don’t need to do anything more complicated than mowing your lawn and keeping the drainage area clear of tree roots. A basic understanding of how septic systems work will keep your system running as it should.
As a general rule, bear in mind that flushing anything but toilet paper and human waste down the toilet is not recommended.
How Frequently Should You Pump Your Septic Tank?
It would help if you had a septic service remove the solids from the tank every two years. Solids build up in the tank, and they’ll eventually find their way into the leach field, which will become clogged. Untreated effluent will seep out of the tank and into your home if you don’t do something about it.
As a new homeowner, having a basic knowledge about how septic systems work helps prevent unnecessary surprises. Even if you’re looking to buy or sell a home, it’s essential to handle a system like a home septic system with care. And the best approach to know if the tank system is in good working order is to schedule a septic system inspection for your new home. With this, you can rest assured knowing your septic tank system will serve you for a long time.
