Though most city dwellers are used to being connected to the main sewage channels, many homes in country and rural areas use underground septic tanks. These tanks are where all of the wastewater and solids from the home are stored. This means that water from showers, kitchens, baths, laundries, and toilets all ends up in the septic tank. The large waste either settles to the bottom of the tank or floats to the surface creating a scum layer. The remaining water typically drains into a sand layer or into the soil and back into the environment.
Maintaining the Septic Tank System
In many ways, this process represents an eco-friendly way of dealing with effluent and organic waste material. As the waste settles and decomposes in the tank, it can be pumped by a professional septic tank service such as septic tank cleaning in Allentown, PA. For many tanks, this should be done every few years. If a septic tank cleaning is not performed, it can cause any of the following problems:
- Blockages: When pipes become blocked, they can burst and cause other problems in the home. This may lead to expensive plumbing repairs.
- Flooding: Once the septic tank is full and cannot drain, it may flood. This can cause a backing up of the system and can lead to waste water flooding back into the home. In the worst case scenario, this water may even contain organic waste material and raw sewage.
- Health: If raw sewage backs up out of the tank and into the home, it can cause all manner of health problems. This waste may contain dangerous chemicals and bacteria, and the damage it causes may be irreversible.
Septic tanks are common on many properties, but it is wise to make sure that they are pumped, cleaned, and maintained regularly. Not doing so may cause structural, health, and plumbing problems. Always use professionals to do your septic tank cleaning.
