Reasons Why a Septic Tank Fails

February 13 2022

Reasons Why a Septic Tank Fails

If your sewage system isn’t connected with the city sewers, you probably have a septic tank system. It is your responsibility to attend to your septic system properly. If not taken care of, it can cause serious damage and be hazardous to you and your environment. Here are some problems you can avoid to keep your septic tank safe and secure.

Lack of Maintenance

Inside your septic system, the solids separate from the liquids once in the tank. While the sludge sinks to the bottom of the tank, the scum floats on the water and the remaining wastewater settles between them. If you are maintaining your septic system properly, you should be getting a septic tank pumping every 3-5 years. Neglect of pumping when recommended can cause the sludge at the bottom of the tank to build up and take too much space inside the tank, causing the scum to mix with the wastewater. Consequently, the tank will start to overflow with scum and wastewater mixed with sludge on the ground. This can contaminate the environment and air around you and cause the system to fail. You will naturally need a septic tank repair and inspection of the contaminated ground, which can further cost you more money as well. Overall, it is not a fun experience. You can call Septic Blue to deal with your septic tank repair.

Water Use

Sometimes your septic tank is not enough to meet your water usage. This means that your septic tank is simply too small to meet your needs, so you may want to replace it with a larger one suitable for your household. Usually what happens is the septic tank will receive your wastewater and slowly deliver it into the soil at a steady rate. If the tank refills before it can empty the previous contents, the wastewater may overflow, or return to you.

Physical Damage

The most apparent reason for a septic tank failure is getting your septic tank damaged. There are four parts to the system – pipe, septic tank, drain field, and soil. If even one does not work properly, the system will fail. Examples of physical damage can be stepping or driving over the septic system area, which you should never do, or building on or close to the system. The area around your system should stay clear at all times. Make sure there are no trees around either because tree trunks can fracture a part of the system from underground.

Incorrect Installation

You’ve kept up your regular maintenance, controlled your water usage, and made sure there was no chance of physical damage to your septic system, so what went wrong? Sometimes, it’s not your fault. The system was just installed incorrectly in the first place. Every component of your septic system is an important factor for determining where and how to install your septic tank. The most important factor is the soil you will be planting your tank in. If the soil is not appropriate to absorb the wastewater successfully, the system will have trouble functioning properly. If you have concerns about your septic system being installed incorrectly or want a septic tank pumping, feel free to call Septic Blue.