Septic Tank Inspection
Septic Tank Pumping and Septic Tank Inspection
Inspection and Maintenance is an extremely important part of any on site septic system. Part of that maintenance is inspecting and pumping your tank on a regular basis. How frequently a tank needs to be pumped depends on several things. The size of the septic tank, waste materials disposed of, and water usage are the most important factors. Because these factors vary from house to house it is extremely important to have your system inspected and pumped regularly by a reputable company. Inspections are necessary to .locate any ongoing issues in your septic system and prevent any future problems. A proper inspection in Tyrone, Peachtree City, Sharpsburg, Fayetteville, and Senoia should be completed by a state certified, as well as Fayette county and Coweta county certified inspector. You can begin by contacting your Coweta and Fayette county environmental health department. These departments can refer you to a reputable septic company such as Firehouse Septic.
The first step during any inspection is to locate your septic tank. Sometimes this is extremely easy but in most cases the best option is to have your septic company contact Fayette and Coweta county to retrieve your septic system drawing. If no sketch is available your septic company will assess where they believe the septic tank and will need to probe the ground to verify the correct location. In some cases the tank may be too deep for the probe to locate so a radio transmitter must be used. The transmitter will be flushed down a toilet and will make its way to the septic tank. A receiver can then be used by the septic professional above the surface to track the transmitter and locate the tank. Once the tank has been located the professional can retrieve their transmitter.
Uncovering the tank is the next step in the inspection process. Sometimes the homeowner will have the tank located and dug up prior to the septic company arriving. Sometimes this may even reduce the cost of the inspection. It will also reduce the time necessary for the inspection.
Once the tank is opened, the inspection of the tank and its components can occur. A septic professional will assess several aspects inside the tank. They will inspect all lids for cracks, the tank itself for cracks and leaks, both the inlet and outlet baffles, as well as the inlet and outlet pipes.
After the tank parts are inspected the professional can inspect the different levels inside the tank. Septic tanks come in numerous shapes and sizes and can all have different components that need to be inspected. The professional will assess the level of solids in the top of the septic tank as well as the level of sludge at the bottom of the tank. The single most important aspect of a septic tank is whether or not it is water tight. This keeps the waste water from contaminating the ground water as well as keeps the ground water from filling up your septic tank. The only sure way to determine that your tank is water tight is to have the tank pumped and inspected.
As we have already discussed a professional should inspect all components of your tank, including your baffles and tees. The baffles and tees allow the waste water entering and leaving your tank to enter and leave slowly. This allows the waste water to settle and separate correctly. In a concrete tank the baffles are also made of concrete and need to be checked for corrosion. If indeed a baffle is corroded or missing then a tee should be put in its place. A tee is a pvc pipe fitting with an 18″ pipe dropping straight down. The septic company should also inspect the pipes entering and leaving the tank. They should be inspected to make sure that water is flowing into the tank properly as well as out of the tank properly. It is critical that no water inside the house be running so that the septic company be sure that there are no plumbing leaks in the house. Any water that may be draining back into the tank could be a red flag for a drain field issue. If your tank contains a filter then it will need to be inspected as well. Filters are installed inside the tee on the outlet side. The filter needs to be cleaned and inspected on a regular basis just like pumping the tank.
It is important to remember that your septic system is an extremely critical home system. Like any other system in your home it will need to be maintained and serviced regularly. Septic professionals like Firehouse Septic can help you make this process easy and painless.
