Septic System Failure Requiring A Septic System Repair
What Is Septic System Failure – Why To consider Septic System Repair Immediately
Septic System Failure:
A septic system failure is really an extremely big deal! A failed septic system creates severe health and environmental hazards, and is quite expensive to restore or replace. Homeowners can efficiently shield their septic system from untimely failure by proactive management of the septic system by means of easy day by day care and regularly scheduled septic tank pumping.
When you think that your septic system could be failing because you are seeing the warning signs of a septic system failure, you should contact A-1 Environmental Septic system services instantly to have the drainfield tested and checked out. If we deem that the septic system does certainly have to be repaired or replaced, A-1’s certified Master Installer will need to prepare a repair proposal to King County Health Department.
Routine septic tank pumping and septic system inspections will help to uncover signs of septic system failure prior to an emergency scenario arises. The home-owner must be proactive by taking speedy action to fix any problems that are identified by the septic system technician. The home owner needs to always be alert to the indicators of possible septic system failure.
What’s septic system failure?
A septic system has failed when the drainfield lateral lines and the soil beneath the lines will not allow the wastewater to drain into the soil. When this happens, wastewater could surface above the drainfield and around the septic tank and D-Box, you’ll have raw sewage back-up into the house as a result of septic system failure. This happens because the drainfield lines are already full and cannot accept wastewater into the soil.
A much less obvious situation, however is a real issue for concern is that the wastewater can contaminate your well water and close by surface waters with dangerous micro organism and disease pathogens and nutrients (phosphorous, nitrogen).
Most septic system drainfields will last roughly 20-30 years, when the septic system reaches the end of its working life, what happens is what is known as biomatting in the soil just under the drainfield lines. Biomat creates a situation where the soil is so clogged up with bacteria that it forms a seal that will not allow the wastewater from the septic tank to drain into the soil and ultimately surfaces above the drainfield lines, Distribution Box and septic tank. In older septic systems up until about 1975, drain tile was used and the tiles erode and collapse onto itself making a clog and the wastewater can’t drain. This clogging will occur prematurely if high quantities of scum layer are in a position to get into the outlet baffle and flow into the drainfield (occurring when the septic tank is not be pumped out for years and/or the septic system is consistently overloaded). Improper care and upkeep followed by too many people using the septic system therefor overloading it, is the primary cause of septic system failure.
Frequent causes of septic system failure:
– Placement in poor drainage area (slow draining soils or soils which are saturated by storm water)
– Improper septic system installation (drainfield positioned too deep)
– wastewater overloading (the properties every day wastewater use exceeds the quantity of water your system was designed to deal with)
– Detrimental household habits equivalent to: pouring kitchen grease into drains, anti bacterial soaps, flushing inorganic materials (diapers, baby wipes, cigarettes) down the toilet
– Use of a garbage disposal
– Tree and/or shrub roots clogging and breaking baffles or pipes within the drainfield
– Crushing drainfield lines as a result of the usage of heavy machinery on drainfield, excavation activity, driving over drainfield, etc.
What are the warning indicators of a failing septic system?
The following warning indicators usually are not absolute proof of a failing septic system, but they need to heed severe concern–and immediate proactive action. You should call A-1 Environmental immediately if and wehn you discover any of these warning signs.
– Gurgling sounds in your bathtub, toilet or drains
– Sewage backs up into the tub, drains or toilets
– Pooled or surfacing liquid, soggy space’s in the yard close to the septic tank, D-Box and/or drainfield.
– Lush green grass over the drainfield space, D-Box or septic tank) even durring dry weather (This indicates that wastewater from your drainfield lines are surfacing rather than draining downward, as it ought to)
– The presence of nitrates or bacteria in your well water (as determined by a water test from your local health department
– Buildup of aquatic weeds or algae in lakes or ponds around to your home
– Unpleasant odors in and/or round the home
Septic System Repair:
If you happen to think that there is a problem with your septic system, get recommendation from our septic system professional, whose expertise and inspection of your septic system problem should be your guide for proactive action for septic system repair
What is the process for repairing or replacing a septic system?
Similar to the installation of a new septic system requires a septic system design that abides by King County Health Dept codes, so does the septic system repair and/or replacement of your failed septic system. This isn’t an ordinary design as with a new system, but shall be a repair proposal presented to the health department for approval. As soon as approved by KCHD, a repair permit to perform the septic system repair or replacement will be issued only to a certified Master Installer.
Most properties will have a designated reserve area for drainfield replacement, when the original drainfield fails. Even though the property has a reserve area designated on your as-built, you will still have to have a site evaluation by our certified Master Installer and a septic system repair proposal submitted to KCHD in order to obtain a septic system repair permit. Depending on your particular property and situation, the current failed septic system might not be able to be replaced with another conventional septic system. Depending on available space and soil type, our professional in-house septic system designer may have to design an alternative treatment unit or ATU. An ATU is used to pre treat the wastewater prior to entering the drainfield and draining into the soil and down to the water table. An ATU may consist of the following units: Whitewater ATU system, Sand filter system, Aerobic Treatment Unit, and many others