Solving Septic Tank and System ProblemsSolving septic tanks and system problems requires a scientific approach. Armed with enough information about how your system is acting up you can easily identify the probable cause of the problem. First a little background on septic systems is necessary: Septic Systems come in two basic designs: Conventional Soil Absorption Systems and Aerobic Systems. Both systems have certain similarties: waste and waste water is carried from the home via drain pipes to the septic tank. From there the discharge from the tanks is carried to a leachfield where it is dispersed. In a conventional system, all this movement is a result of gravity flow. In an aerobic system, the tank contents are aereated, then the water that is to be discharged is chemically treated. Some aerobic systems passively discharge the treated water into a leachfield. In other applications the the treated water is forceably discharged via above ground sprinklers. Since an aerobic system contains an electric pump, vanes, other moving parts, and requires electricity there could be more opportunities for problems to develop. All septic systems require routine maintaintence. On average, conventional systems must be pumped free of scum and solids once every four to five years. Aerobic systems may require more frequent pumping as they are more sensitive to solid buildup. North Texas residents may Click Here to request a Septic Solutions pumping service call. Leachfields will need to be replaced every 20-25 years or sooner if tanks are not pumped as needed. In most instances conventional septic tanks, including their access ports, are completely buried, whereas the access ports on aerobic systems are usually above ground. When dealing with conventional systems and the problem appears to be in or near the tanks, it's probably wise to call in a qualified septic tank service to determine cause. Here are some typical problems related to conventional systems: House drains don't work or sewage backs upThe key here is to locate the source of the blockage: in the house, between the house and the tank, or between the tank and the absortion field. Blockage in the house plumbingTo check this possibility you will need to locate the plumbing cleanouts between the house and the septic tank. Usually these cleanouts look like two portruding 4" round pipes, sealed with round screw-in caps.( If your system does not have these cleanouts installed, you should consider having them installed as they will reduce the cost of maintenance over time.) Remove one or both caps and you will have a view of the bottom of the drain pipe. If the bottom has no standing waste water, your problem may be with the plumbing in the house. Call a plumber or run a snake a short ways toward the house to see if you can clear a jam. You may find it more effective to run the snake down the stacks on the roof as these almost always direct the snake toward the tanks. Soil stacks are plastic pipes that portrude above the roof about 8-10 inches. There is one stack for each bathroom or sink. If you are running the snake from the outside cleanout, you may notice a sudden flow of wastewater. That would mean that at least one problem was within the house. Now run water from the room that was backing up and see if it flows cleanly. If not, check the bottom of the pipes from the cleanouts to see if water is now standing in the pipes. If so, then the blockage is further along toward the tanks.Clogged stacks can cause drains to operate slowly. If you notice a gurgling sound well after a flush, the cause may be a clogged soil stack. In Northern climes this can be caused by snow and ice. In southern climates, leaves or wasps are common causes. Run a snake down the stack to clear these problems. Blockage between the house and the tankA blockage between the house and the tanks can be caused by a broken pipe or pipe joint that has been penetrated by tree roots. This problem is best checked by a professional. Though you may be tempted to run a snake toward the tank, the end of the snake can break the tank inlet baffle causing additional problems and needed repairs. If roots are the problem the pipe will need to be uncovered to identify the place the roots are penetrating and appropriate repairs need to be made to prevent the problem's reoccurence. It's also possible that the scum layer has clogged the inlet pipe at the tank. This can be only determined by removing the tank covers, pumping the tank and checking the inlet port.Blockage between the tank and the leachfieldThree things can cause this type of blockage: either the tank outlet port is plugged, the line between the tank and the leachfield has been damaged, or the leachfield itself has become clogged.In septic tanks that have seen many years use, it's fairly common for the outlet port baffle to deteriorate and come apart. When the baffle fails, sludge and
other solids overflow and plug the outlet line to the absorption field. The line between the tank and the drainfield can become clogged by solids overflowing from
the tank, tree roots getting into a joint, or by collapse of the drain pipe itself. If the liquid level in the tank is above normal level, one of the above three factors
is probably the cause of the problem. |