When people hear the words ‘septic tank’ they conjure images of large scale septic tank systems that are buried in the typical backyard and only leap to the forefront of the mind when there is a bad smell, or someone receives a very expensive plumbing bill. Most don’t realize that part of the problem can often happen much closer to home: your drain. Surprised? You are not alone; most homeowners only put time and effort into drains once a year (if they are lucky!) when they are cleaned out, and accept that as long as things are moving (even slow at times) everything is ok. Unfortunately, for some homeowners, neglected drains can be a ticking time bomb for your septic tank system, and regular drain cleaning can be all the difference between a healthy system and an absolute mess. Next, let’s explore the connection between clean drains and septic health, and how regular drain cleaning can save you lots of headaches and, in the long run, thousands of dollars.
The Hidden Link: Landscaping and your specific septic tank
A septic tank is, at its core, a living organism. It consists of delicate microorganisms. Microorganisms require a constant supply of nutrients to sustain healthy activity and processing. And a septic tank relies on a constant movement of both solids and liquid. Much of that movement starts at your sinks – kitchen drain and bathroom drain – as well as washing machine. Things that can impede flow can cause waste to either travel too slowly or not at all. Minor pausing or slow drains you have to consider it “waste” has been deposited into the septic tank. That situation can cause:
- The bacteria process of deteriorating waste becomes disrupted
- The overall volume of solids in the tank will accumulate at a faster pace and volume
- Large volumes of liquid waste and materials accumulate faster
- And wastes or back-up
And worse, of all the gunk left behind: grease, food, soap, and hair — all contribute slowly to a building block that will coalesce and eventually harden and trap larger debris. Eventually everything moves downstream until the drain tube restricting flow even to the septic tank.
Small Slow drains have BIG implications
It’s easy for you to ignore a sink that doesn’t drain as fast or a flush this gurgles. Not only is it inconvenient, this small sink or toilet nuisance might be the indicator of a much larger drain problem. Here is a look at the things that happen when you ignore the “little things” with respect to drain problems:
- Back-up Convert into Everyday Experiences
When water and waste can’t flow it isn’t unusual for them to back up into your sink, tub, or toilet. I doubt if you’d like your bathtub full of poop or your toilet with poop, urine and toilet paper floating around. You’ll understand that this is not considered a normal experience. And still some people ignore or minimize the back-up from occurring and blame it on something else.
- Septic Overflow
A slow drain clogs the entire system. If the wastewater is not going to the septic tank as it should be, your septic can overflow and push contaminated water into your soil, possibly even your water supply.
- Costly Repairs
Ignoring your septic tank incurs thousands of dollars to repair or replace. On the contrary, hiring a professional to clean your drains is relatively inexpensive and will eliminate many of these issues before they start.
Drain Cleaning: More than Just Unclogging
Most people think that drain cleaning is only necessary in the event of a blockage. As a homeowner, you make the best decision when you regularly clean your drains before there is an issue.
Regular drain cleaning is not only about maintaining unclogged drains, but doing this will also:
- Reduce the chances of accumulating harmful debris materials such as grease and soap
- Allow all items to flow evenly to your septic tank
- Lengthen the lifespan of your pipes or tank
- Protect the soil and groundwater from potentially toxic materials
Professionals can take advantage of tools such as high-pressure water jets, as well as cameras to clean and assess your system inside and out. This will remove the debris and discover early indicators of rotting or failing infrastructure.
An Unexpected Culprit: Your Kitchen Sink
The most underestimated contributor to septic system distress? The kitchen sink. Grease, oils, and food materials are septic tank foes. With or without a garbage disposal, these substances can come together and cling to other debris. Over time, they create a thick sludge in your pipes — and once they reach your septic system, they are even more difficult to decompose. If you are rinsing pans or allowing food to be washed down the sink, you are setting your septic tank up for a failure.
Prevention Strategies: What You Can Implement Right Now
It is imperative that you have a professional drain clean. However, even small practices may create a significant, positive impact on your septic system. Here is what you can do in just a couple of steps:
- Don’t pour fats or oils down the drain – let them cool and throw them in the garbage.
- Utilize sink strainers to capture food and hair.
- After each use, run hot water to help maintain clear pipes.
- Get your drains professionally cleaned once a year.
Why Perth Homeowners Are Taking Drain Health Seriously
In Perth, where a good percentage of households are still on septic systems, preventative treatment is becoming a means of necessity rather than a means of extravagance. The increasing climate and unforeseeable weather may impose additional pressure on MEP systems. Add in old pipes or heavy home use, and you are asking to have a septic over load.
Drain cleaning Perth has thus become a credible guide of the people living in Perth who need to take care of their drain and prevent the unexpected issues that can cause problems with their septic collection. Given the proper tools and professionalism, your sewerage lines, and by extension your septic tank, will be flowing mechanically.
The Bottom Line
Your drains facilitate the access to your septic system. And after ignoring, you will have a flood of troubles, such as notorious smells and congestions, to complete septic breakdown. However, most of these issues can be completely avoided with the help of uncomplicated manner or periodical cleanings. Therefore the next time your sink is draining a little slow do not shrug it away. Think of it as a plea by your septic tank, it is trying to tell you to do something or it will be left with no choice but to yell.