Do you use a septic tank for your home’s waste management? Typically, homes use either the sewage pipes from their water supply company or a septic tank that’s buried underground. The latter option is for those who live too far from the sewage pipe system or live in more elevated areas.
However, even if you have no problem with your sewage pipes, you might want to consider using the more eco-friendly septic tank. Don’t worry about how you’re going to attach it to your house’s pipes; you can contact a septic tank installation service like the one here so you can rest assured that an expert will be handling the procedure.
What does a Septic Tank do?
Before we try to convince you, it’s better to understand how a septic tank works and how it differs from the sewage pipes. First uses a tank where any wastewater that passes through is treated using filters or a liquid effluent from the term itself.
In short, it makes sure that your house’s plumbing won’t get clogged by scum, soil, or grease. These can be a pain to clean and require a lot of work since cleaning a part of the plumbing means that the problem isn’t solved at the root.
You can also choose the type of septic tank you want. Each has its own set of pros and cons, so consider which one would suit your home’s needs.
- Concrete
- PRO: needs less maintenance than most other types
- CON: can crack and clog, which means regular manual inspections because problems can remain undetected for a long while
- Steel
- PRO: quicker, less burdensome maintenance since you can replace by part and any rust is easy to find
- CON: shorter lifespan than concrete due to rust, which can corrode and weaken its structure
- Fiberglass
- PRO: considerably durable because it won’t crack like concrete nor get rust like steel
- CON: lightweight and may shift while underground, especially when the surrounding soil gets damp
- Aerobic
- PRO: most efficient of all
- CON: expensive in terms of usage and repairs since they’re powered by electricity.
Benefits of a Septic Tank
If you’ve decided to invest in a septic tank for your home, we’ve written a summary of what improvements you can expect:
1. Environment-friendly
Septic tanks are perfect for the environment since they contain a drain field that can filter the bacteria from wastewater. In leaks, which can and do happen in both sewage pipes and septic tanks, the water that reaches the soil is already filtered clean.
Without the filter, the wastewater would have polluted the soil and the groundwater as well. This needs to be avoided to protect the ones who live off the ground; specifically, plants and animals gathering nutrients and food that come from it.
Moreover, having a septic tank means that any leaks are limited to your area, minimizing the affected land. The filtered wastewater that does leak out has become cleaner water that can even replenish the soil’s moisture.
2. More Affordable
The next benefit for septic tank owners is the low cost of maintaining it. Whether you’ve chosen a concrete or steel tank, it can last you for years. Some say it can last around 20 to 40 years or even more with regular pumping and proper care.
Pumping is required around every three to five years and inspection every two years so that any clogging can be cleared as soon as possible. If clogging does happen, reach out to a professional who won’t damage your septic tank in the process.
To add, it’s also less costly to install a septic tank than a whole sewage pipe system. This is especially true when your property area is large, though the cost will depend on the type and size of the tank you need and where your location is.
3. Practical and Economical
As mentioned above, having a septic tank means that it only affects your property and won’t cause large-scale effects on the community. This means that you are free to manage the septic tank without relying on others, waiting for someone else’s approval or paying any extra fees.
The practice of utilizing a septic tank also trains you to be more conscious of your water usage. This is because septic tank systems, while durable, will only last longer with proper care, so this will make you form good water usage habits.
Read More About Please Click Here: Septic Tank Diagram
Guide to Maintaining Your Septic Tank
Taking good care of your septic tank is vital to surprise you with a big problem in the future. The length of time it takes before cleaning is due depends on your household’s water usage. Here’s some advice on how to maintain your septic tank:
1. Septic Tank Records
Make sure to have copies of your septic tank system’s plans and records of any service done on it. Since it’s underground, not having any plans would save you the time searching for it. It can also be a basis for how often it will need cleaning.
2. Food Waste and Toilet Paper
Since you would want to avoid clogging your septic tank system, it’s better to throw any food waste into the trash bin and avoid thick flushing material like paper towels or wet wipes down the toilet.
3. Laundry and Fabric Softeners
The key to prolonging the life of your septic tank is to have controlled water usage. An example of this would be washing the laundry a little bit throughout the week instead of piling it up all in one day. It also helps to use a biodegradable fabric softener so that the filter can achieve its breakdown process.
4. Medicine and Enzymes
The same reasons apply to medicine and other enzymes. Old medicine is best thrown in the garbage and not flushed down the toilet. Substances like antibiotics and enzymes can affect the septic tank and weaken the filter properties.
5. Other Things to Avoid
Things like oils and grease can clog your septic tank over time, and this also makes filtering it more difficult. Using a drain cleaner for this also won’t help because the chemicals in it will also strain the tank. Check your floor drains and try to limit the gas and dust that can get in, for these will need to be filtered by the septic tank eventually.
A septic tank can bring you several benefits and gives you the overall effect of improving your use of your utilities. You may never have had to overthink about your sink or toilet, but with a septic tank, you are simultaneously made to take care of them as well. Lastly, if you’ve decided that a septic tank is for you and your home, get permission from your local government first and see if your area has a site that’s appropriate for one.
