Septic systems are sewage treatment devices installed on your property to keep the area safe and clean. If you have one in your home, maintaining it is a bit different compared to a municipal or city sewer connection. Since it's a system, several components work together to dispose of and manage waste effectively. Here's a closer look at its anatomy.

What Components Make Up the Septic System?

1. Septic Tank

The septic tank is where all the wastewater goes in, collects, and separates before draining out. Inside the tank, grease, fat, and oil float at the top and form the scum, while solids sink to the bottom and become sludge. Its size depends on factors like the number of users inside the house and their habits.

Although the average lifespan of septic tanks is 20 years, depending on the material used, it remains susceptible to corrosion and cracks. If you skip regular septic pumping, it will overflow or reach its full capacity.

2. Distribution Box

After the graywater leaves the tank, it flows into a distribution box. As the name implies, it disperses the effluent through several pipes and into the leach or drainfield. When it fails, the effluent can contaminate surrounding groundwater sources.

3. Leach Field

It is the final treatment for the remaining wastes in the water via bacteria in the soil. The size of the field is contingent on the soil’s absorption rate. For instance, hard clay doesn’t soak up water quickly, so you’ll need a larger leach field area to prevent flooding.

Most fields prematurely fail when there’s a massive structure over them, such as pavement, a driveway, or a garage. Refrain from landscaping or planting deep-rooted trees or shrubs near the field, as these can damage the pipes buried underneath.

4. Pipes and Baffles

Septic systems have many pipes that carry wastewater into the tank, distribution box, and leach field. Meanwhile, the baffle in the septic tank restrains the scum from accumulating around the inlet and outlet pipes. Most pipes and baffles need replacement after a few years, but it can be shorter without routine upkeep. Sometimes, drain pipes sustain damage from water-seeking roots or indiscriminate digging around your septic system.

While it’s essential to know the anatomy of your septic system, leave routine maintenance to the professionals from County Sanitary Service. Based in Chillicothe, OH, they’ve provided top-notch septic services, such as pumping, repair, and drain cleaning, to residents in and around Ross County for over six decades. Call (740) 772-1189 today to schedule septic maintenance or learn more about their other services online.