When you are not familiar with septic tank installation for your Chappaqua, NY, home and property, the digging and big machinery can feel daunting. Here are the ins and outs of septic tank installation to help you understand the way a septic system functions to keep your home healthy.
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What is a septic system?
There are two types of waste removal systems for a home. The first is municipal sewer service that is provided by the city or county where you live. The second is for homes that have no access to municipal sewer service and this is called a septic system. Both systems remove the waste from your home, but the septic system is the only one that is environmentally friendly.
A septic system is composed of a septic tank, the pipes that remove the waste from your home, and the drain field. The septic tank is an airtight fiberglass tank that is buried at a lower grade than your home. This way, the waste flows down toward the tank by gravity.
Your septic installer will dig a huge hole and bury the septic tank completely beneath the ground so you don’t even know it is there.
The pipes carry the waste that is flushed down the drains and when the toilets are flushed. This empties into the septic tank where it separates into three layers. The solids sink to the bottom where they are decomposed by beneficial microorganisms. The middle layer is all the watery fluids that flow out of the tank through a pipe to the drain field. Once there, the water filters slowly back into the ground where the impurities and pollutants are removed along the way.
The top layer is composed of greases and oils that don’t decompose and float on the top.
Septic Tank Installation
The “Outs” about septic tanks: The septic tank is an essential part of your home waste removal system and you should care for it by not doing the following:
Don’t flush litter, feminine products, cigarette butts, chemicals, or baby wipes. These can clog the pipes and cause the septic tank not to function properly, resulting in costly repairs.
Don’t park cars, RVs, or any heavy vehicles on the drain field. Parking vehicles there can cause the soil to become compacted which can affect the absorption. When the drain field does not absorb the water, it will back up into the tank to cause damage.
Don’t take multiple showers and wash multiple loads of clothes in the same day. Too much water flowing into the tank can damage the tank can cause it not to work correctly.
The “Ins” about septic tanks: The septic tank will work for many, many years when you care for it well by doing the following:
Do keep grease and oils and any other substance which can clog up the tank out of the drains.
Do have the septic tank pumped every 1-3 years to ensure it runs smoothly can doesn’t fill up.
Do space out washing and other activities that use large amounts of water at one time.
Do be careful about how much toilet tissue you use and flush.
Do pay attention to how your drains are functioning and call your septic professional if you suspect a problem with the system.
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