Do You Know What A Septic Tank Is?

Most people probably never think about a septic tank or where the waste water from their home goes. Washing dishes, taking showers, doing laundry and flushing the toilet are tasks we perform every day without realizing how much we depend on our public sewer or septic system.

Many people who live in the country or places distant from a city sewage system are perhaps more aware of their septic tank than most, because for them it is an essential part of life. Nothing in their home would function smoothly without one. Every home that has running water or flush toilets has either a septic system or a city sewage system (a giant septic septic system for towns and areas of higher population). Most of the time you can't tell the difference between having one or the other, except that a tank will need to be pumped out regularly by a septic services professional.

A septic tank is one of main components of the self-contained system which holds all of the waste that drains out of your home. The tank that is used in a septic system can be purchased in a variety of sizes but is generally very large and can reach nine feet in length. It is an container suitable for underground storage which can be made of concrete, fiberglass or plasic and normally works without maintenance for several years at a time.

How A Septic Tank System Works

When waste water drains out of your home and into the tank through your water lines, it separates. If you run your washing machine, the waste water will flow into the tank and the suds will usually float to the top. The same thing happens when you take a shower or wash your dirty dishes.

It works a little differently when you use the restroom however. When you flush your toilet, the solid part of the waste settles to the bottom of the septic tank. As those solids build up a large percentage of them will decompose over time with the help of active bacteria in the system, but they do not disintegrate altogether. After a couple of years, those solids will eventually form into a thick film or sludge at the bottom of the septic tank.

For this reason every few years you may may need a septic company to come and pump out the build up in the bottom of your tank. This is a simple routine that comes with owning this kind of drainage system. If you don't have a schedule for getting your septic pumped, then you will know when your water pipes and toilets begin to function sluggishly, that it is time to have it pumped. There are many companies that specialize in this kind of service who are educated and experienced in how to properly pump the tank without causing any sanitation issues. Not having the tank pumped when needed can result in the drainfield (or leach bed as it is sometimes called) becoming blocked to the point where your plumbing will not work at all. A backed up drainage system can mean nasty odors, and possibly even expensive repairs to get it working again, so do not neglect your septic system when you notice a problem.


The holding tank itself can be manufactured of concrete, plastic, or fiberglass

Most of the time you won't notice any difference when you have a tank as compared to a traditional sewer drainage system. Don't forget that it does need to be pumped out at regular intervals and its wise to call a septic services professional for this job and for any problems you may experience with your septic tank.