By understanding more about your septic system, you can ensure that your system maintains peak performance levels throughout the year. Our team at Roto-Rooter High Desert provides a professional septic system service and helps homeowners throughout the region achieve exceptional performance from their equipment.
In this latest post, we’ll explore what you need to know about your septic system and its value in the home.
What does the septic system do?
Before considering your septic system service options, you should learn more about what the system does and why it’s required. The septic system is designed to neutralize and process home waste naturally. Any waste that leaves the home from toilets, sinks, and other plumbing fixtures is processed by your septic system. The system comprises four main components, including:
- The piping leading away from the house.
- The septic tank in which the waste is separated, with solids sinking to the bottom and grease and liquids rising to the top, while water remains in the middle.
- A distribution box, which takes the water from the septic tank and directs it towards the piping.
- The soil, also known as a drain field, which filters the waste and allows it into the ground.
In some cases, a home might require an alternative form of septic system. For example, if you live too close to a natural waterway or a source for well water, your home will require a septic system designed to mitigate the impact on local water sources.
Protecting your septic unit
If you live in a home with a septic unit, one of the first things you’ll learn after installation is that there are specific items that should not be flushed down the drain. These following products can cause significant damage to your home septic system:
- Cotton swabs
While these small pieces of cotton don’t look as if they could damage your home plumbing, they are not biodegradable. This means they’ll be sitting in your drain field for years if you flush them.
- Paper towels and tissues
Paper towels and tissues are specifically designed not to break down after contact with moisture. This means that you can cause long-term damage to the home by flushing these items.
- Kitty litter
Kitty litter is designed to clump when moist and so any litter flushed down the drains is likely to cause a significant blockage.
- Dirt
Soil will also clump when moist, so you shouldn’t flush dirt from within your home.
- Household chemicals
Harsh household chemicals are known to cause structural damage to septic system components. And any chemicals you place down the drain will end up in your drain field. So, avoid flushing any cleaning products or other chemicals down the drain.
Septic Tank Pumping
One of the leading ways in which to keep your septic tank performing properly around the clock is to have the system regularly pumped by professionals. Septic tank pumping involves removing solid waste from the system and eliminating any impurities that cause bad bacteria to grow within the area.
How often should my tank be pumped?
The scheduling of your septic tank pumping process should be decided based on the following factors:
- The number of people in the home
The more people within the home, the more often your tank will need to be pumped.
- The number of solids in the waste
If you use a garbage disposal unit, you might have more solids within the waste in your home and therefore will need to have your tank pumped more regularly.
- The tank size
The size of the tank is a leading consideration when evaluating pumping requirements. Tank sizes can vary from a few hundred gallons to 1500 gallons and smaller tanks must be pumped more regularly.
Remember: the general rule regarding septic system service work is that your tank should be pumped every 2-5 years. However, homes in which there is a higher water table or nearby surface water may require septic tank pumping annually.
Choosing a septic tank pumping service
Now that you know a little more about septic system service work and the steps involved in the process, it’s time to consider choosing a local service company. Take the following into consideration when choosing a quality service specialist:
Industry experience
You should be able to find an affordable septic service specialist with decades of experience in the industry. This experience is essential to ensuring the work is completed effectively the first time around, so ask about the company’s background and their work locally.
Their turnaround time
How quickly can the company’s service team come to visit your home? Find out more about the company’s turnaround times and ensure they fit with your schedule. During busy times of the year in the spring and early summer, septic teams may require two weeks’ notice for service calls, and so you should book your cleaning work well in advance.
Their location
Sometimes you’ll require septic service work on an emergency basis, so it will benefit you and your family in the long-term if you choose a specialist that respond quickly. Ask the company about their location and how quickly they can travel to your property in the event of an emergency.
Our qualified team at Roto-Rooter High Desert has helped many homeowners safeguard their homes with septic service work. Whether you’re scheduling your annual cleaning or simply have a question about septic system performance, please call our team at your convenience. We’re available now to book septic system cleanings and repairs.
To discover more about our company and the full range of services we provide, please call our team today.
