Are you among the 14% of Canadians and 36% of New Brunswick residents who use a septic system?
Septic tanks are an integral aspect of the rural lifestyle. If you live outside the reaches of the nearest town's city-treated water, you'll likely need a septic system to treat your wastewater.
Those new to septic systems may have questions and concerns about how they work. In today's post, we'll quell those anxieties by telling you three things you need to know about the parts of a septic system and how a septic service Moncton can help you understand them.
The more you know about how your septic tank works, the easier it will be to diagnose issues. Keep reading and find out how a good septic company can help.
1. Everything Goes Through the Pipes
There are a few main components of a septic system, the first in the process being the inlet pipe. All your home's wastewater, even the "grey" water that exits the sinks and appliances, through the septic system inlet pipe attached to your home and into the septic tank.
On the other side of the septic tank is the outlet pipe, which is positioned slightly lower than the inlet pipe to ensure proper drainage. The outlet pipe sends the treated wastewater (effluent) into another series of pipes called the drain field or "leach field," which we'll discuss shortly.
2. The Sophisticated Septic Tank
Most homeowners think of their septic tank as a large pit in the ground that holds their household waste. On a base level, this is correct, but there's a lot of sophisticated stuff going on in the septic tank.
This watertight container in the ground is made of fibreglass, concrete, or plastic. It works by allowing the solids in your wastewater (sludge) to settle at the bottom of the tank and the lighter oil and grease to rise to the top (scum).
As the remaining water level rises, it flows slowly out of the outlet pipe and into the drainfield, where further treatment occurs. The sludge and scum that sits in your tank will build up over time, so you'll need to have it cleaned by a septic company every 3-5 years.
3. The Drainfield and Soil
When the effluent passes through the outlet pipe - which is designed to refuse sludge and scum - it enters the drainfield. This is a system of pipes that slowly drains the wastewater into the soil, where its bacteria and nutrients can do the final treatments on the water.
You need good, porous soil to properly remove the remaining bacteria, viruses, and harmful nutrients from the wastewater. As the water slowly percolates through the soil, it replenishes the groundwater supply, thus completing the cycle.
Get the Right Septic Service in Moncton
These are the main components of your septic system. It's important to understand what's going on, but by no means do you need to be an expert - that's what septic companies are for.
If you're looking for a septic service in Moncton to help with septic cleaning, maintenance, repair, or replacement, Carter's is here for you.
Since 1960, we've been providing reliable septic services in Moncton and the surrounding area. Contact us today to learn more about what we do and how we can help you treat your water.