Photo By KaliAntye at Shutterstock
In the course of our many years of serving the residents of Chattanooga, TN, a certain pattern has become apparent. We’ve noticed that people all too often make the mistake of having their septic tank pumping operations way too late.
Often, homeowners will call us when their septic tanks have already been damaged. More people need to understand that when it comes to septic tank pumping, it’s a simple matter of doing it regularly or installing a new septic tank system entirely โ an expensive proposition by any measure.
Why Is Septic Tank Pumping So Important?
Anyone who has ever experienced the aggravation and frustration of a septic backup in their homes due to a clogged and failing septic tank system will tell you how horrible it can be. We at Metro Plumbing, Heating and Air have extensive experience when it comes to tank pumping, installation, and repairs, so we know that when problems occur with these systems there is no easy fix. You won’t handle a septic tank problem with a few minutes of pipe-wrench work.
The surest way to maximize the life of your septic tank system and free yourself from the risk of potentially catastrophic failures on its part is through the scheduling of regular maintenance operations.
How Septic Tanks Work
There are plenty of Chattanooga, TN homeowners who rely on septic tanks to manage the waste produced in their homes. Metro Plumbing, Heating and Air is proud to be at the service of many of them. It’s useful for our clients to understand how their septic systems work so that they understand just how important regular inspection, maintenance, and cleaning is.
The purpose of having a septic tank is so that it can separate the solid waste from water waste, allowing the water waste to leach out into the soil absorption fields. You will find heavier solids in the waste matter settling down toward the tank bottom to become sludge. Lighter waste material will rise to the surface to form scum. The wastewater that goes on to the absorption fields is what is found between these two layers.
With time, however, these two layers at the top and bottom will grow so thick that they meet each other, meaning that the sludge and scum will begin exiting the tank and getting into the soil absorption field. This is the cause of drain field clogging.
The process itself is one that happens so slowly over time that most people will not notice anything amiss until the system fails entirely and begins to back up. Once this unfortunate point has been reached, septic pumping will not be enough to reverse the damage. An entirely new system will have to be put in place.
Maximizing the Value of Your Septic Tank Pumping Operation
We at Metro Plumbing, Heating and Air strive to guide our clients on the best way to take care of their homes especially when it comes to all matters plumbing-related. That is why we advise them on the wisdom of carrying out maintenance operations on their septic systems at least once every three to five years. The optimal duration might vary somewhat depending on the tank size and the number of home occupants it serves.
Now, septic tank pumping is the most basic maintenance operation you will undertake over the course of your septic tank’s life. This is when the solid waste matter in your tank will be entirely removed. Aside from this, it is important to note that the procedure presents a great opportunity for our service technicians to have a closer look at the components of your septic tank system.
Here is a quick overview of just how much value septic tank pumping operations may present to you as a home or business owner in Chattanooga, TN. These are some of the potential problem areas our service technicians will be able to inspect and correct for you.
Dividing walls: These are walls within septic tanks that separate them into compartments. They are useful in keeping sludge in one compartment and also stopping solid waste matter from seeping into the soil absorption areas. Most of these walls are made from concrete and are thus highly sturdy, but some plastic designs are prone to loosening, falling, or leaning within the tank. Septic pumping gives technicians a chance to see the wall’s condition and rectify it before more damage is done.
Leakages: Should the liquid level within your tank fall below the outlet level, chances are high that your tank has a leak. Most tank designs incorporate a top and bottom section design, with the seams between them being the usual culprits whenever leakages are discovered. In some cases, where the liquid levels seem to be okay, septic tank pumping will uncover the holes in the tanks as it enters the tank due to surrounding soil saturation.
Outlet and Inlet Tees/Baffles: The technicians will be able to check that these are present and free from any heavy clogging. When these are missing or obstructed, the system’s potential failure becomes more likely.
Roots: One of the most pressing dangers for underground septic tanks is the possibility of the roots from surrounding trees entering the tank through the lid, around the baffles, or at the tank seams. Septic pumping allows these roots to be cut back so that they do not grow enough to cause blockages in the drainage system.
Backflow: Should the drain field show signs of backflow, it would indicate that the fall from the tank to the drain field is incorrectly configured or that the waste liquids are not percolating into the drainage soils as they should be.
Why Call Us?
With extensive experience in the greater Chattanooga, TN area, Metro Plumbing, Heating and Air should be your first call should your septic pump be due for maintenance. Septic tank pumping and maintenance should be a priority for every homeowner. Clean it or replace it, as the saying goes. Give us a call today.
