Greater than a third of homeowners in the United States rely on septic tank systems to handle and dispose of their household’s wastewater. Septic tanks are stand-alone systems that cannot be connected to public municipalities due to their remote or rural locations. Septic tanks reside below ground where they are not seen and therefore easily forgotten about, until one day a problem occurs should as a septic system backup. To prevent such problems, the wise homeowner arranges for routine septic tank inspection in Doylestown, PA.
A septic system is comprised of at least two holding tanks each capable of containing 1,000-2,000 gallons. All wastewater exiting the home is routed into the first tank through an inlet pipe. Once the wastewater enters the first tank, it begins to separate into different layers. The top layer is made up of those substances that weigh less than water, like fats and oils, and is called the scum layer. The middle layer or gray water is made up of beneficial bacteria and nitrogen and phosphorous that act as fertilizers. The bottom layer is called sludge and consists of the heavy substances that sink to the bottom.
The gray water eventually gets displaced by incoming household wastewater and flows into the second tank. The sludge layer which cannot decompose further continues to accumulate until it is pumped out by a septic pumping service company like George C Allen & Son Inc. The natural decomposition results in noxious gasses that are safely vented outside through a vent pipe extending well-beyond the roofline.
After several weeks, an almost clear effluent leaves the second tank and flows into the drain field, often called a leach field. A drain field is a series of perforated PVC pipes laid in trenches that are lined with gravel or coarse sand. The size of the field is proportionate to the house and number of bathrooms and residents. The effluent gradually trickles or leaches, from the pipes and into the ground which traps any remaining impurities.
As with any piece of home equipment septic tanks require routine maintenance and Septic Tank Inspection in Doylestown, PA to remain in top operating condition. A properly designed, installed and maintained septic system operates efficiently and seamlessly, for many years, even decades. The worst that may ever happen is a clogged pipe if the homeowner has taken the time to provide routine maintenance and inspections.
