Ok, when you think about your septic tank, the words “interesting” and “fun” probably don’t come to mind. Actually, you probably don’t spend a ton of time thinking about your septic system at all. Most people only think about a septic tank when something goes horribly wrong and they must call for professional repairs. However, routine septic pumping and maintenance can cut down on the need for those repairs. Find out more about some interesting facts about septic maintenance and how it can benefit you and your home.
1. Your Septic Tank Never Takes a Break
You may be wondering why a giant holding tank that lives underground needs maintenance. The answer to that question requires you to change how you perceive your septic tank. It’s not just a giant concrete (or metal) tank that holds waste and wastewater. It works non-stop, even when you’re not running water, flushing toilets, or sending materials into it. Solids settle in the bottom of the tank, oils and grease go to the top, and your partially treated wastewater moves into the drain field around your tank. Since your tank is always doing something, routine maintenance helps it keep up with the non-stop demand that you put it through.
2. Pumping Doesn’t Always Mean Your Tank Is Empty
Lots of homeowners assume that septic tank pumping means that everything that’s in their tanks come out, but that’s not necessarily the case. The goal isn’t to completely clean out the tank as much as it’s to remove the sludge and scum that accumulate naturally over the course of time. Getting rid of the scum and sludge helps make sure that your septic tank can keep separating wastewater, which leads to a reduced likelihood of backups or problems in your drain field.
3. What Happens Inside Affects What Happens Outside
You may not realize just how important your plumbing habits are for the long-term viability of your septic system, but the things that you put down your drains and flush down your toilets have to go somewhere. That somewhere is your septic tank. Putting things down the drain that could be tossed in the garbage means that your tank fills up with solids sooner than it should. Also, if you have a lot of people in your house (or you host a lot of guests), you should expect your tank to need pumping more often.
You may never consider your septic system an interesting part of your house, but that doesn’t mean that it still doesn’t deserve some special consideration. It’s truly an unsung hero that keeps your home functional and safe. Knowing some of the interesting aspects of tank maintenance can help you get a better understanding of why you need routine septic tank maintenance. When you need septic pumping services in College Station, TX, contact Mustang Septic.