You might understand, in theory, how your septic tank works and even why you have to get septic tank pumping in Petaluma, CA from time to time. But the more you know about this system, the better you can maintain it over the years and the less you will have to call the septic company. Your septic system is one expensive piece of utility in your home and it does a huge, very important job. Here are some of the things you might not know about your tank and the system as a whole.
Septic Tanks Are Like Layer Cake—In A Gross Way
If you love to create, or at least eat, layer cake, this is a strange comparison, but it’s the truth. Septic tanks have layers in them as well, but instead of deliciousness, it’s rather gross. There are three main layers in the tank. Solids and human waste drop to the bottom and become the sludge in the tank. The lighter waste items, like hair or grease form a scum layer on the very top. In the middle, there is bacteria that is naturally present in the system. The waste at the bottom can get broken down and released into the drain field. However, the sludge can also harden and become an issue if you aren’t servicing the tank soon enough.
Septic Tanks Have Good Bacteria
You may have heard of good and bad bacteria before. Good bacteria can be helpful while bad bacteria are what you think of when you get sick. It’s the bacteria (the good kind) in the septic tank that breaks down the sludge and solids in there. You don’t want to kill those bacteria off. It’s important not to use anti-bacterial in the house because they can make their way down the drain and kill the bacteria. You will need to get your tank pumped out a lot more often without that bacteria working for you. For an example, just two gallons of bleach can completely wipe out all of the bacteria in a septic tank that can hold 1,000 gallons. And it can take five full days, if not more, for the tank to build up more bacteria and recover.
These are just a few things you might not know about your septic tank. While it’s recommended that every tank get septic tank pumping in Petaluma, CA every 2-4 years, depending on the size of your family and the average use, you don’t want to have the service company come out for pumping more often. If you need advice on how to keep your tanks in as good a shape as possible, contact the professionals at American Sanitation Inc. We can pump your tank out when the time comes, help with maintenance, give advice, and answer questions. We want your system to ask as long as possible and operate as well as it possibly can for your family, so you barely remember it is there, for the most part.
