Find Out More About Septic Systems

If you haven't been in a home that has a septic system for very long, then you'll find this short article on questions about septic systems to be a worthwhile read. You'll likely find that some of the questions covered here are ones that you have also asked yourself, and answers are provided to those questions. 

Where is the septic tank?

You will usually find that the septic tank is located close to the house, and it will be connected to a sewer pipe that is for your indoor plumbing system. You can determine the exact area where the septic tank is by using a soil probe. You can use any means you choose to mark off the whole area around your septic tank if you want to make sure it is always known. This can help you ensure it doesn't get driven over or that heavy machinery isn't set there. 

What things can cause problems with your septic system?

The safest thing you can do to ensure that nothing is going down into your septic system that can cause problems for you is to only put toilet tissue and natural products down it. You also want to be sure that no one flushes feminine products, cigarettes, condoms, or anything else down the toilets. In homes with young children, childproof locks should be placed on the toilets so the child doesn't flush small toys or anything else they decide they would like to watch go down the toilet.

Why do septic tanks sometimes give you problems when it rains?

When there is a good amount of rainfall, it is not uncommon for you to experience some backup in your home. This is due to the drain field being saturated, which makes it so the water won't be able to come out of the septic system. If this happens to your own septic system, then just know that as soon as the rainwater clears a bit, the septic system will begin functioning as it normally does again. 

What should you know about septic pumping?

Know that you will have your own schedule for pumping, depending on the water usage in your home, so you may need your septic tank pumped more often or less often than someone else would need. A good rule of thumb is that they generally need to be pumped about every 3 to 5 years. Pumping doesn't take long, but there can be a horrible lingering odor in the air for a little bit. Also, the septic tank pumping service may need to dig up a bit of the yard in order to get to the parts that they need access to in order to perform their job.

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