When it comes to your septic system, prevention through regular maintenance and care is key to a long life. From pumping to using treatments that break up the waste, taking care of your system prevents backups, bursts, and other common issues – but how well do you know the different parts? Understanding the components of your septic tank and system will help you get a better idea of why maintenance is important, as well as determine where problems are when issues do happen.

Pipes Leading to the Tank

Waste leaves your home through pipes that lead to your septic tank. These deliver all the waste from your toilets, sinks, showers, washers, dryers, dishwashers, and other fixtures directly into your tank.

The Tank

Your septic tank is the large, water-tight container buried underground that holds your wastewater. Once the water is deposited into the tank, solids can sink to the bottom, forming sludge, while oils float to the top and form scum.

Bacteria digest and break down the waste in the tank to keep it under control until it needs to be pumped, and many monthly treatments work by introducing more of those healthy bacteria into your tank to reduce the buildup of sludge. Once it’s treated and separated, the leftover water, called effluent, travels out of your tank into the drain field.

Drain Field

A carefully excavated and covered area in the soil, your drain field processes the effluent. After it travels through pipes into a purification and absorption layer, the special rock or gravel in the drain field absorbs most of the water, naturally filtering it, while the rest evaporates.

The absorbed water is eventually introduced into the soil, which further acts as a filter for the water, removing final impurities, harmful bacteria, and other contaminants before the water is released as groundwater. If the drain field isn’t large enough, the water isn’t absorbing quickly enough, or another issue occurs, it will back up into your sinks and toilets or cause sewage to back up into your yard, leading to messy headaches.

Chris Mote’s Pumping Service will provide you with the best septic tank services in the greater Gainesville and Cleveland area. Since their start in 1987, they’ve been state-certified pumping service professionals. Whether you need field lines repaired or your tank pumped, rely on Chris Mote’s Pumping to deliver the best septic pumping and installation around. They’re fully licensed, bonded, and insured, so you know you’re in good hands. View their full list of services on their website or call (770) 530-2034 for a free, honest estimate.