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Septic and plumbing systems are two of the most underrated, yet essential systems in your home. If these are not serviced and maintained by a professional, you may have quite a messy situation on your hands. To help you have a better understanding of how your septic system operates we’ve answered some of the most common questions we get!
Q: What is a septic system?
A septic system is an underground system that is dedicated to wastewater treatment for your home.
Q: How does a septic system work?
Septic systems operate by taking all of the wastewater from your various drains and directing it into your septic tank. The tank holds the wastewater to allow solids to settle at its base and to enable grease/oil to float on top. The liquid, which is known as effluent, flows from the tank into the soil which treats the fluid and will disperse it into groundwater.
Q: Is there bacteria in my septic tank?
Your septic tank is also home to different types of bacteria that make up a living ecosystem. This bacteria is incredibly vital for maintaining the health and functionality of your septic system. The bacteria is responsible for cleaning the wastewater within the tank so that when it leaves the tank and enters the soil, it’s not contaminating the land.
Q: What harms the bacteria?
Items that cause the most damage to the bacteria within your septic system are typically household cleaning products. This is because these chemicals are engineered to kill the harmful bacteria within your homes and they cannot tell the difference between “good” and “bad” bacteria.
Q: Why do I need to get my septic system inspected?
In our experience, the cliché of “prevention is better than cure” applies to your septic system. Septic systems have a recommended operational lifetime, and even before that, they are susceptible to failures that can that be both costly and unhealthy for you and your home. A routine inspection helps to identify these issues and neutralize the risks promptly.
Q: What dangers can a failed septic system pose?
As we previously indicated, these systems are responsible for the proper handling of wastewater and its contents. You should keep in mind that these contents such as coliform (bacteria found in feces) are not healthy for human beings. A damaged system can result in sewage backing up into your home, slow sink drainage, terrible smells, and poor drainage of sewage that leads to air/water pollution.
Q: What causes plumbing systems to fail?
While a damaged plumbing system is usually because of material breakdown or rapidly changing temperatures pipes, there are quite a few factors we are aware of that could either be indicative of or result in a failure/damage. These factors are age, neglect of maintenance, ignoring breakdowns that are in need of repair, sustained high water pressure and the presence of harmful particulates in the water flowing through the system.
Thinking about your septic and plumbing system doesn’t end after installation. It’s something you should be performing regular inspections and maintenance on to ensure that everything is in working order. Unfortunately, you can’t just apply a “set and forget” mindset to these complex systems.
If you don’t follow a proper maintenance and inspections schedule, you could be looking at damage that extends far past the septic tank itself and health concerns for you and your environment. For all of your septic and plumbing needs, don’t hesitate to reach out to the experts at Brownie’s Septic and Plumbing. We have over 70 years of experience providing various septic and plumbing services to Orlando residents and business, and we are available 24/7. We stand ready to respond to your routine and emergency needs anytime you call.