Septic tanks are the lifeblood of small scale septic systems for millions of homes throughout the country. Through a series of biological processes, septic tanks work well on their own to eliminate waste for many years without needing too much attention, but it is important to perform annual inspections to ensure their efficiency. If you don’t inspect and pump your septic tank, you could face drastic consequences, including thousands of dollars worth of repairs.

A typical septic tank rests underground and contains two chambers. Household waste flows into the first chamber where the sewage accumulates, separating into three layers. The solid waste sinks to the bottom where it creates a layer of sludge, fats and oils rise to the top forming scum, and the effluent is the middle layer where the liquid waste flows through into the second chamber which is free of scum and sludge. Anaerobic bacteria, or bacteria that thrives without oxygen, eat most of the solid waste in the first chamber while the clear effluent exits into the second chamber and then into the leaching field.

The frequency of maintenance depends on two things: the size of your household and the size of your septic tank. The more liquid you use at home, the more frequently you have to pump your septic tank. While great at decomposing waste, anaerobic bacteria form a layer of thick, black slime that accumulates at the top of your septic tank in order to block out oxygen. This is known as “biomat” and over time it grows thicker, along with the layers of scum and sludge providing the effluent with less room to settle and less time to be freed of waste before it is pushed into the second chamber by even more wastewater.

Every gallon of incoming waste equals one gallon of clear effluent leaving the septic tank into the drain or leach field. When you allow the layers of scum, biomat, and sludge to build up, you are prepping the inside of your tank for disaster. As these components accumulate they start to clog the pipes in your septic system, leading to unclean effluent reaching the drainfield. This can have disastrous consequences not only on your wallet as you call for repairs, but on the delicate ecosystem where you live.

Underground septic tanks too frequently fall under the “out of sight, out of mind” mindset, leading to too many homeowners experiencing too many problems. Sludge buildup is a slow process, but if you put off pumping your septic tank for too long, you face needing to repair the entire septic system. This can literally cost you thousands of dollars. Stay on top of your tank and the environment with regular pumps and Maxx’s Products, an environmentally-friendly product containing billions of “good bacteria” that acts like a vitamin to boost your septic tank’s performance. Order now!

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