Washing hands is the single most effective way to prevent infections. Wash your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds before and after preparing food, eating, caring for children or the elderly, blowing your nose, taking medications or handling pets.
Septic system failures release untreated sewage into the soil, which can contaminate well water and nearby waterbodies for drinking, shellfish harvesting and agricultural uses. Proper maintenance and periodic inspections can help prevent these problems. To learn more contact your local expert for their Septic Service Fresno.
1. Clogged Drains
Clogged drains are one of the most common problems homeowners experience, and can lead to serious damage if not addressed promptly. The good news is that there are a variety of DIY options for handling minor drain blockages. These techniques range from using a household snake to chemical drain cleaners. However, if your clogged drains persist, it’s important to know when to stop and call a plumber.
When food particles, hair, and other debris get trapped in the pipes, it can result in a complete clog. Pouring cooking fats and oils down the kitchen drain can also lead to tough clogs as they solidify. To prevent this, use a sink strainer and dispose of cooking grease in the trash.
Bathtub and shower drains are frequently clogged by hair. To avoid this, regularly remove the drain cover and use a pair of needle-nose pliers to extract any hair clogs. Soap residue can also cause clogs, especially in bathroom sinks. To prevent this, switch to liquid soaps that don’t leave a sticky film and clean drains with hot water on a regular basis.
Other causes of clogged drains include small objects that slip into the drain, such as toys or jewelry. For bathtub and shower drains, consider installing drain guards that catch these items. It’s also a good idea to clean the drain guards often.
Another sign that the septic system is overloaded or clogged is water backup into the house. This can occur when the septic tank is full and the wastewater can’t pass through the soil absorption field. Alternatively, the septic tank may be overflowing into the basement. The septic tank may have been overfilled due to an increase in the number of people living in the home, or the addition of new water-using appliances.
The most common reason for septic system failure is that the soil cannot absorb the waste from the septic tank and/or the drainfield. To help prevent this, ensure that there is enough room in the soil for the septic tank and drainfield. Also, be careful not to divert surface or groundwater into the septic tank and drainfield area; this can overwork the system and lead to contamination of groundwater.
2. Clogged Inlet Baffle to Tank
A septic tank may seem like a large reservoir for waste, but it also has a lot of smaller parts that work together to keep the system running smoothly. The inlet baffle, located near the entrance to the tank, is one of these important pieces that helps prevent clogs and ensures proper wastewater treatment.
Baffles are large drainage pipes that are installed in the bottom of a septic tank to block certain materials from entering the septic tank and causing clogs. They can be made of concrete in older homes or thick plastic such as PVC in newer systems. The inlet baffle is connected to the main pipe that drains from your home into the septic tank. This is how all the waste in your home travels to the septic tank, so it’s important that this baffle doesn’t get clogged.
If a home’s inlet baffle to the septic tank becomes clogged, then waste will back up into the house through sink and shower drains, as well as toilets. This could also cause a foul smell to enter the home, as the sewage will not be able to escape from the septic tank.
An easy way to check if a septic tank inlet baffle is clogged is to look inside the tank through an inspection port. If there is a lot of toilet paper and other debris floating in the tank, then the baffle may be clogged and preventing the septic system from processing wastewater. If the inlet baffle to the septic system is clogged, it’s important to contact a septic company for inspection and pumping services.
Corrosive gases in septic tanks can break down baffles over time, and these parts need to be replaced in order to prevent clogs and other serious problems. Luckily, these are relatively inexpensive repairs and can be easily done by a professional plumber.
Other common signs of a clogged inlet baffle to the septic tanks include an overflowing toilet and excess water in the yard, which can indicate that wastewater is not exiting the tank quickly enough and it’s flooding the drain field. It’s a good idea to have a family meeting about what should be flushed, and have your septic system inspected annually to ensure it’s functioning properly.
3. Clogged Pipe from House to Tank
When a clog occurs in the septic tank drain line that takes wastewater from the house, it can cause waste to back up into toilets and sinks. This sewage is not only a health hazard, but it can also get into groundwater, surface water, or marine water, where it could make people and animals sick.
One of the most common reasons for this issue is a blockage caused by items that should not be flushed, such as tampons, condoms, and wet wipes. It is also possible for tree roots to infiltrate the pipes, especially if they are planted within ten feet of the sewer line. Adding more waste to the system will only worsen the problem, so it’s best to call for a professional as soon as you notice any signs of a clog.
A clogged septic system will put an enormous strain on the septic tank and the surrounding drainfield, which leads to premature failure and costly repair services. The most effective way to prevent this is to only flush human waste and toilet paper, and have the septic tank inspected annually.
All the drains in your home lead to your sewer line, which carries all of your wastewater to the septic tank and municipal waste management system. Sewer lines can last for many years, but if the waste in them builds up too much, it may start to back up into your house. Another sign of this issue is if you smell sewer odors in your home.
If you suspect that your septic tank or drainfield is experiencing an issue, look for these warning signs:
Standing water around the septic tank or drainfield. Sewage backing up into toilets, showers, or sinks. Dark gray, green, or red wastewater in your drains. Gurgling noises when water is running through the plumbing system. Smelly, foul-smelling drains or toilets. Unusually wet or damp soil around the septic tank or drainfield. Contact us at BioMicrobics for a full septic tank evaluation to find the right solution for your home or business. We can help you keep your septic system working at its best so that it provides years of reliable service.
4. Clogged Drainfield
A septic system’s drain field handles the final stage of wastewater treatment. Effluent leaves the tank and flows into a series of perforated pipes buried in gravel trenches. Here, soil naturally filters out bacteria, viruses and nutrients. But if the system isn’t working properly, this vital filtration fails and effluent surfaces in the yard or saturates soil. This leads to clogged drain fields that are not draining.
Resident bacteria break down solid waste materials as they enter the septic system. But these helpful organisms can disappear when chemical products, like antibacterial and solvent cleaners, contaminate the system. These chemicals kill or weaken the bacteria population, causing solids to build up in the septic tank and drainpipes. Over time, this causes the septic tank to clog and the sewage backs up into the house.
Septic drain fields can also clog due to soil compaction or heavy water use. The septic tank’s pump can overwork and cause failure. And if the drain field’s leach lines are damaged by tree roots, they won’t disperse wastewater.
Recognizing the early signs of septic system problems can help prevent serious damage. Standing water in the yard and foul odors around the septic drain field are often indicators of a failing septic system.
Preventing septic system clogs starts in the house. You can help reduce the risk of septic tank and drain field clogs by using a kitchen sink strainer to catch food scraps. And you can keep your septic system running smoothly by regularly having your septic tank pumped out.
If you do experience a septic system clog, contact a professional plumber right away. A sewer jetter (hydro jetting) blasts away grease, debris and mineral buildup in the septic tank and drainfield pipe, which usually eliminates the clog. And to reduce the chance of future septic tank and drain field clogs, limit household water usage to avoid overworking your septic system.