Owning a home with a septic system can feel overwhelming because you are essentially responsible for your own waste management. When you use your plumbing, the waste goes into a tank underground instead of to a municipal treatment plant. Unfortunately, many homeowners forget about their septic systems until there is a problem, such as a slow drain or a major backup. This is the wrong approach because it leads to expensive repairs, serious property damage, and mold remediation in some cases. Routine inspections are critical because they keep trouble at bay, which protects your home and your bank account.
The Anatomy of a Healthy System
To appreciate why routine inspections are so important, you must understand how the system functions when it is in good condition. Your septic tank is a living ecosystem filled with bacteria that break down solids into a liquid known as effluent. This liquid then flows out to the drain field. Once here, the soil will function as a natural filter to clean the water before it reaches nearby groundwater sources.
One of the first things an inspector will do is check that the sludge in the tank is not getting too close to the exit pipe. If the sludge layer gets too thick, it can spill over into the drain field. This will clog the soil and cause the system to fail.
Catching Small Cracks Before They Crater
After checking on the sludge level, the inspector will make sure the system is structurally sound. They will feed specialized cameras into the pipes and check the integrity of the tank baffles. These are the guards that keep the solids from escaping. Concrete tanks can develop cracks over time, so they will make sure none are present. The inspector will also make sure the risers are not becoming brittle and are effectively keeping rainwater out. If a significant amount of rainwater gets into the system, it will become overloaded and will be unable to do its job. It is better to spend a few hundred dollars to replace a component than to purchase an entirely new system, which can cost thousands.
The Drain Field Vitality Test
The drain field is the most expensive part of your system. The only way to truly monitor its health is through routine inspections. The professional will walk around your property to make sure there are no spots that are overly lush and green, which indicate that the drain field is too saturated. They will also perform a stress test by running water inside the house and seeing if the level in the tank falls sufficiently. If levels take a long time to drop, your system is on the verge of failure.
If it has been some time since you had your system checked, do not wait any longer to get help. Contact Mustang Septic to schedule your septic tank inspection to protect your College Station, TX home today.