ONE OF THE MOST COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS I HEAR IS THAT A SEPTIC TANK DOES NOT NEED TO BE PUMPED BECAUSE THERE ARE NO NOTICEABLE PROBLEMS, OR BECAUSE SOMEONE TOLD THE HOMEOWNER THAT THEIR TANK WOULD NEVER NEED PUMPED. NOT PUMPING/CLEANING YOUR TANK BECAUSE OF THIS REASON COULD LEAD TO BIGGER PROBLEMS. DO NOT LET OUT OF SIGHT OUT OF MIND OR SOMEONE ELSES MISINFORMATION GET YOU INTO TROUBLE WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT!!! REMEMBER THAT A TANK NEEDS TO BE PUMPED/CLEANED EVERY 3-5 YEARS!! THINK OF IT LIKE CHANGING THE OIL IN YOUR VEHICLE, IT NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR GOOD MAINTENANCE!!!!
FOR THOSE WHO ARE WANDERING, THIS IS HOW A SEPTIC TANK WORKS:
A SEPTIC TANK OPERATES FULL AND IS JUST A HOLDING TANK FOR EVERYTHING THAT GOES DOWN YOUR TOILETS, SINKS, BATHTUBS AND WASHER. SOME OF THE STUFF THAT GOES INTO YOUR TANK DOES BIODEGRADE, BUT IT IS WHAT DOES NOT THAT NEEDS TO BE CLEANED OUT.
FOR EVERYTHING THAT GOES INTO YOUR SEPTIC TANK, YOU HAVE ITEMS THAT SINK (SLUDGE) AND ITEMS THAT FLOAT (SCUM). BETWEEN THESE TWO LAYERS IS A JACKET OF WATER THAT GOES AROUND A BAFFLE (USED TO STOP FLOATERS IN THE TANK) TO THE FIELD LINES. THIS ILLUSTRATION IS SEEN IN FIGURE A.
WHEN A SEPTIC TANK IS NOT PUMPED/CLEANED REGULARLY, THE SINKERS AND FLOATERS (SCUM AND SLUDGE LAYERS) MEET, CAUSING ONLY SLUDGE, NOT WATER TO GO THROUGH THE BAFFLE AND OUT TO THE D-BOX AND THEN TO THE FIELD LINES. THIS EITHER CAUSES A STOPPED UP LINE FROM THE TANK TO THE D-BOX, OR PUSHES THE SLUDGE OUT TO THE FIELD LINES, CLOGGING THE PORES OF THE SOIL. THIS RESULTS IN HAVING TO REPLACE THE FIELD LINES (SEEN IN FIGURE B AS ABSORPTION FIELD) WHICH COULD COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS!!
IF YOU EVER SEE WET SPOTS OUT IN THE YARD PAST THE TANK, IT IS USUALLY EITHER A BAD FIELD LINE OR A FIELD LINE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED. THIS IS GENERALLY AN EASY AND FAIRLY CHEAP REPAIR.
ISAIAH 41:10
HOGUE SEPTIC TANK CLEANING
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