Septic and Sewer Systems – What You Need to Know - By: Mark Maupin
When wastewater leaves your home it is likely going to one of two places. Either a septic system or a city or county sewer system. But what do you know about the process that gets the waste out of your home and keeps it out? Here's a little look into the workings of septic and sewer systems and why you should do your part to keep your end of them working properly.
No matter which type of system you have, wastewater leaves your home the same way. There is a pipe that leads the water out of your sink, toilet, tub, etc and into an S-shaped pipe. In this pipe is a drain trap. This is essentially a one-way door for your pipes, it allows water to go out, but keeps that water, and any unwanted septic and sewage odors from creeping into your home. It does this by holding enough water in the curve that it will act as a deterrent to anything trying to come back.
Generally, this pipe does it's job without complaint, but if you have a bathroom or sink that doesn't get as much use as others, it could need a little help to keep doing it's job. If the water that holds the wastewater and gasses out has evaporated, you will be less protected. For those fixtures that are less commonly used, you should make sure to periodically turn them on for a few seconds to allow that trap to refill.
While a lot of people think the drain on their kitchen sink is meant to get rid of anything and everything, there are a lot of things that really should not be flushed down the drain. Whether on sewer or septic you should avoid pouring grease or any very strong cleaners down the drains. This is especially important if you have a septic system as those caustic cleaners can kill the bacteria that break down the waste leaving your home.
If you use a garbage disposal on city sewage, it is important to note that you should allow the water to run for at least a minute after using the disposal to make sure you get all of the debris out of the line and don't clog things up. You should also use cold water to do this job. If you are on a septic system, you should try to avoid using a garbage disposal as any such debris can clog up the system.
Finally, for those with septic systems, you should set up a schedule for maintenance of the system. Many companies recommend a once a year cleaning of your septic system, but if you have a relatively small household you may be able to do this less frequently.
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