When a New Septic Tank Is Your Only Option in Briarcliff Manor and Peekskill NY

November 11, 2021 Halstead Media Group

When your Briarcliff Manor and Peekskill NY septic system is beyond repair and you need a new tank, here are some tips to help you locate a reliable septic professional. When a new septic tank is your only option, follow these helpful guidelines.

Why Your Septic Tank is Important

A working septic tank is a critical component of any septic system. After you flush or rinse something down the drain in your home, it flows through the pipes to end up in the septic tank. There, the waste and water separates into layers.

The solids sink to the bottom of the tank where they are decomposed by beneficial microorganisms and bacteria. The watery substances float in the middle and then drain out through a pipe to the drain field.

Once at the drain field, the watery fluids seep back into the earth which separates pollutants and other debris from the fluids. The oils and grease float on top and stay there because they cannot decompose.

Reasons the Septic Tank Fails

There can be several reasons why septic tanks fail. While the main reason can be failure to care for your septic system, one or more of the following can affect the working of your septic tank.
Tank is overloaded: A septic tank can become overloaded when you do too many loads of laundry in one day. Because the water must filter out of the tank, when the container has too much water, it can be ineffective and the watery fluids will back up into the house. When the tank is overloaded regularly, the system can fail.
Poor maintenance: Part of caring for your septic system can be having it pumped by a septic professional at regular intervals. When you neglect to have your septic system and tank inspected and pumped during the intervals recommended by a septic professional, the tank can fail.
Installation problems: A septic system works by using gravity to move the waste and water from the house to a lower location where the tank is buried. Sometimes, the septic installer does not place the septic tank at the proper location for the gravity to work well. When this happens, a septic expert must correct the position of the tank.
Drain field fails: Related to the septic tank being properly situated, a drain field needs to be in a location where the watery fluids can slowly seep back into the ground. If the soil becomes compacted due to heavy foot traffic or parking cars on top, the drain field can fail which can cause the tank to fail, too.
Wrong system: A septic tank size is typically decided by the number of bedrooms in the house. The installer assumes that there will be two people per room and chooses the appropriate size. If the tank is too small, it will be overwhelmed regularly and the contents can back up into the house. This can be a serious health hazard.
Tank is cracked: If a septic tank develops a crack, tree roots can grow into the tank and cause it to fail. This is why you should never park cars or heavy vehicles where the tank is buried. Once a tank develops a crack, you need a replacement.