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Home Buying - Septic Systems

Operation & Maintenance

When discussing private waste disposal systems, it is helpful to understand the type of system that you are dealing with. There are septic systems and there are cesspools. Septic systems are newer than cesspools.

Operation of the Septic System:
The typical septic system has two components, the first being the tank, and the second is the leaching system. The purpose of the tank is to contain the liquid, solids and scum until these substances are broken down by the bacterial action, and discharged into the leaching system. The purpose of the leaching system is to reintroduce the liquid into the ground, thus filtering the water.

The typical system is usually sized to handle the average water usage of the dwelling it was designed to service. This design factor is usually based on the number of bedrooms in a home. If any additional bedrooms are added, the system will in most cases need to be upgraded. A septic system may last as long as 40 years depending upon past maintenance, soil conditions, and location. Now we have touched base on how the system operates. Maintenance suggestions will be helpful.

Maintenance of the Septic System:
The maintenance of a septic system is fairly easy. The first method is preventative maintenance. You should avoid the introduction of greases and cooking oils into the system, they tend to clog the soil. Paper towels, plastic wrap, and hair will cause clogging, as will heavy sludge buildup, coffee grounds and excess vegetable matter. The introduction of cleaners, disinfectants, medicines, paints and other materials of this nature, will cause damage to the bacteria, and may contaminate the ground water. The second method of maintenance is the routine pumping of the tank. The frequency of pumping depends upon these factors:

1.) The volume of waste water generated
2.) The size of the tank
3.) Composition of solids. This can be a concern if a garbage disposal is used.

An average family of four, with a 1000 gallon tank, and normal usage of water, pumping every 2.5 years would be a fair estimate.




	Home Buying - Septic Systems Operation & Maintenance When discussing private waste disposal systems, it is helpful to understand the type of system that you are dealing with. There are septic systems and there are cesspools. Septic systems are newer than cesspools. Operation of the Septic System: The typical septic system has two components, the first being the tank, and the second is the leaching system. The purpose of the tank is to contain the liquid, solids and scum until these substances are broken down by the bacterial action, and discharged into the leaching system. The purpose of the leaching system is to reintroduce the liquid into the ground, thus filtering the water. The typical system is usually sized to handle the average water usage of the dwelling it was designed to service. This design factor is usually based on the number of bedrooms in a home. If any additional bedrooms are added, the system will in most cases need to be upgraded. A septic system may last as long as 40 years depending upon past maintenance, soil conditions, and location. Now we have touched base on how the system operates. Maintenance suggestions will be helpful. Maintenance of the Septic System: The maintenance of a septic system is fairly easy. The first method is preventative maintenance. You should avoid the introduction of greases and cooking oils into the system, they tend to clog the soil. Paper towels, plastic wrap, and hair will cause clogging, as will heavy sludge buildup, coffee grounds and excess vegetable matter. The introduction of cleaners, disinfectants, medicines, paints and other materials of this nature, will cause damage to the bacteria, and may contaminate the ground water. The second method of maintenance is the routine pumping of the tank. The frequency of pumping depends upon these factors: 1.) The volume of waste water generated 2.) The size of the tank 3.) Composition of solids. This can be a concern if a garbage disposal is used. An average family of four, with a 1000 gallon tank, and normal usage of water, pumping every 2.5 years would be a fair estimate.									Home Buying Septic page1 Septic page2 Radon Agency Relationships Buyer Links
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