Your eyes widened when your sink gave out a foul smell and didn’t drain as fast as before. You panicked when your toilet flushed and drained very slowly. You tried to use the plunger but everything stayed the same. It was definitely a job for your septic expert. You went downstairs and had coffee to calm you down. Somehow it helped to take your mind off your slow draining septic system.
For years, you have avoided to deal with anything that pertained to the septic system. You were just too squeamish about it. But ever since you had your own home, you had to deal with everything about it. Sadly, because of your busy schedule, you didn’t have enough time to pay enough attention to your septic system. You always used the drains, toilets, and sinks properly and made sure that your septic expert helped you with the pump out sessions on time. It was so confusing for you. You didn’t understand why such a crisis could happen when you think you have done your best in caring for your system.
When the septic expert arrives, he told you the following possible causes of your slow draining septic system:
a) Physical damage
The septic system could be damaged physically because of old age and soil compaction. You should know the age of the septic system that’s installed in your property. This would let you know if there are some parts that already need to be replaced because of deterioration. If there are structures and vehicles on or around your septic system, soil compaction is inevitable. Soil compaction crushed the physical components of the septic system. These physical damages result to cracks and leaks that interrupt with the natural flow of the wastewater treatment. If this isn’t corrected, surely the slow drainage will continue.
b) Clogging
Septic system clogging can be brought about by tree roots, grease, and non-biodegradable materials. Tree roots and hardwood plants have invasive roots that get into the components of the septic system. They block the continuous flow of the wastewater system and results to slow draining. Non-biodegradable materials and grease cannot be degraded by the resident bacteria and just stay in the tank to accumulate. These prevent the wastewater from entering the tank to be treated up to the drain field. Slow drainage is inevitable.
c) Not following pump out schedules
You should follow the pump out schedules set with your septic expert. Sludge levels should always be kept at a normal level because this could fill up the tank and occupy the space that’s meant for the wastewater. Over accumulation of sludge will prevent the incoming wastewater from entering and cause it to back up. it will also make drainage very slow.
d) Wiped out bacteria
If you have always used antibacterial solutions and harsh chemicals, then surely, the bacterial population has significantly wiped out. Without the presence of bacteria, the solid waste products remain in the tank and fill it up. They occupy the large amount of space in the tank and make the incoming wastewater back up into the house or onto the yard. This results to slow drainage.
e) Drastic increase in water load
If there is a drastic increase in water load, the resident bacteria don’t have enough time to break down the solid waste products. This also stirs up the sludge and disperses it into the drain field, thereby clogging it. The heavy clogging will result to slow drainage and eventually failure.
The septic expert inspected the indoor plumbing and the septic system itself. He pumped it out and discovered that there were non-biodegradable materials collected in the tank. Before he left, he gave a list of reminders for you to follow. You knew that you would have to enlist the list of a few friends with the list because you tend to be too occupied with work. Hopefully, if you keep following them, you won’t have to deal with slow draining septic system anymore.