When you have a home that is not hooked up to a sewer system, it has a septic tank to perform the task of waste-water removal from the house. Many people know little about how a septic tank works and how to maintain it. This can be detrimental, because these systems can cost as much as a small car when they are installed. When they fail, the costs to repair can cost anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. Unlike large appliances, septic tanks don’t come with manuals. Even so, you need to know some basic information about them in order to keep your home free from the effects of a failed system. What do you need to know about Septic Tanks Olympia WA area?
Septic failure occurs when the drain field (leach bed) becomes clogged with solid materials that were not properly broken down by the tank. As such, the liquid will not be able to pass through the soil effectively. This material comes in the form of paper products or lint from the laundry washer. A tank that has not been pumped for many years can become full of solid materials, and this will eventually cause the drain field to fail.
If your drains are acting odd, and making gurgling noises, it may be time to consider having your septic tank pumped, especially if it has been three years or more. A Olympia Septic Tanks service such as Advanced Septic and Construction will be able to come to your home with a pump truck. The technician can even locate the septic tank if you are not sure of its location.
One solution to minimize the amount of solids that are introduced into a septic tank is to manage the lint that is produced by a washing machine. The amount of lint produced by laundry each year in a typical home could be used to weave a carpet. This lint flows out of the washer and into the septic tank. Bacterial action that breaks down materials has a difficult time with lint, especially is it is mostly composed of non-organic material such as polyester or nylon. As such, it is helpful to install a lint trap in the washer drain area to capture these particles.