What Is The Life Expectancy Of A Septic Tank In Fairfax, VA

While constructing a septic system in their house, most homeowners can’t help but worry about the answer to the question, “what is the life expectancy of a septic tank in Fairfax, VA?” The septic specialists at Advantage Septic Service are fully capable of comprehending this concept.

There is no doubt that while looking at different septic tanks, one of the most crucial aspects to consider is their expected lifespan. To clarify any lingering questions that our customers may have on this topic, we will go through the typical lifespan of each component that makes up a septic system.

In most cases, a conventional septic system will continue to function well for twenty to thirty years. However, this industry guideline of 20-30 years of lifespan can only be expected from well-planned, designed, and maintained septic systems that are not overwhelmed by a massive amount of wastewater.

Drain Field: Life Expectancy

The drain field of a septic system is often the first component to fail in the whole system. In typical circumstances, a drain field that is only used seldom would have a longer lifespan than one used often. For instance, if just two people live in a home with three bath attached bedrooms, using water-efficient appliances and fixtures and pumping the system regularly, the drain field should survive very long. However, you may shorten the lifetime of a system by flushing toxic chemicals, grease, and food waste down the toilet. 

Moreover, the land around the drain field needs to be protected. Water that accumulates in your yard and on your roof should be directed away from the drain field to prevent the soil from getting saturated. On top of the drain field, there should not be any parking or driving, nor should there be any other form of activity that might potentially create soil compaction. While constructing a drain field, it is crucial to keep a safe distance from trees, and large shrubs since the roots of these plants might obstruct the perforated drain pipes.

What Is the Life Expectancy of a Septic Tank in Fairfax, VA?

Another critical component of a septic system is the septic tank that holds the wastewater. A lifetime of forty years is reasonable to expect from a concrete tank that has been designed properly. Steel tanks often fall apart after 20 years. However, high-quality plastic tanks may survive for up to 40 years.

Keep in mind that several factors might compromise the dependability of any particular septic system. Out of these, some aspects are out of your control, such as the kind of soil or how the system was constructed. On the other hand, if you take good care of your septic system, you might prolong the number of years—if not decades—that it serves its purpose.

If you want to extend the lifespan of your septic tank, the most important things you can do include regular pumping, efforts to conserve water, and careful monitoring of what gets flushed down the toilet (no chemicals, paints, grease, food scraps, or other trash). 

The Importance of Doing Regular Maintenance on Septic Tanks

The emptying of septic tanks is a vital step in the process of managing and maintaining septic tanks. This means that septic tanks must have their contents drained regularly to function properly. In addition, if you are acquiring a new property with a septic tank, you should look at the property plans to determine the location of the septic tank before you finalize the purchase.

When you have a problem with your septic system and need specialists to look at it, knowing the tank’s exact position will make locating it easier. It would be beneficial if you also requested the previous owner for documentation about the septic tank maintenance. After you have purchased the property, these documents will assist you in maintaining the septic tank as per the previous schedule.

However, if the previous owner does not have documents of the septic tank’s upkeep, you should think twice before acquiring that property. This is because a septic tank that has not been adequately maintained is a red flag. It can fail to work or collapse at any point, which is more likely when you do not know its correct maintenance schedule. This indicates that you will need to spend significant money to replace it. In other words, you should avoid purchasing a home with a septic tank that has not been correctly maintained.

It is crucial to remember that incorrect disposal of items such as used condoms, sanitary pads, coffee grinds, cigarette butts, and baby wipes into the septic tank may pose severe threats to you and your family’s health. Do you know that the life expectancy of a septic tank in Fairfax, VA, relies on how well you take care of it, which includes getting it emptied at regular intervals? Have you ever thought about what may happen if you did not pay the recommended septic tank maintenance as much consideration as you were supposed to?

In such a case, allow us to explain it to you. If the septic tank is not frequently emptied, it risks leaking and being destroyed, resulting in an expensive repair. As a result, it is better to empty the septic tank if you are using it frequently.

Always remember that if the volumes of waste accumulate to an unacceptable level, the septic tanks could overflow. This might potentially lead to a backup in the septic system and be bad for the environment. How may you prevent such unwanted outcomes? The solution is straightforward. Ensure that the septic tank inspection, pumping, and maintenance are done per the schedule. That is all there is to it.

What Is A Septic Alarm? How Does It Work?

Septic tank owners are often given regular notifications by a septic tank alarm, allowing them to determine whether to contact a waste disposal truck and get their septic tank pumped out before things get out of hand.

Apart from its principal purpose, septic tank alarms also sound if your septic tank is suddenly filled with water due to heavy rain or a violent storm. Under these circumstances, you could find that you need to do an emergency emptying or repair for your septic system. Keep in mind, however, that a septic tank alarm may sound for the simple reason that the tank itself or another component of the septic system may need maintenance.

When the float control switch on the septic tank reaches the level programmed into the alarm, the septic tank alarm will sound. When the alarm sounds for the first time, it signals to the owners of the septic tank that they are responsible for removing any solid debris and wastewater from the septic tank as quickly as possible. What happens if the owners cannot remove the tank’s contents immediately and a second, higher level is reached?

If this occurs, there will be a second alert. This time, there is a warning about an overfill condition. If anything like this happens, the sewage ejector within the tank is triggered, and it starts pumping out the top layer of the wastewater that the tank holds. This will continue until the level of the float returns to where it should be for safety. The sewage ejector pump will cut off by itself whenever the float level reaches the level that is considered to be safe.

The owners of septic tanks have a widespread but mistaken assumption that if they add water to their tanks on occasion, it will assist in breaking down the particles that are present in the wastewater. This is not true and is entirely fallacious. Adding water is analogous to opening the access door on your septic tank while there is a storm raging outside. By doing so, you will hasten the process of raising the float control switch, which means that you will be compelled to use an unneeded trash collection service.

It is essential to remember that an alarm for a septic system cannot warn owners of all the numerous issues that might arise during the septic tank operation. An alert system, for instance, will allow you to entirely sidestep the problem if your septic tank produces pungent scents.

However, we would not recommend relying only on the alarm system to detect problems with the septic tank. Hiring a professional septic tank maintenance crew like Advantage Septic Service is the most effective method for accomplishing this goal.

Chemical Cleaners – Are They Safe For Your Septic Tank?

The query “what are septic tank safe cleaners?” is one of our customers’ most popular inquiries. The plain answer to this question is that cleansers are insufficient to make your septic system perform effectively. Many of our customers are under the impression that various chemicals must be added to a septic system regularly to keep it in perfect functioning order.

Yet, the fact is that your septic system contains a wide range of microorganisms responsible for decomposing waste. You may think of your septic tank as a little ecosystem since the many species that live in it depend on one another for the tank to function correctly. 

The addition of chemicals that are not essential will do nothing except cause damage to these microorganisms and diminish the effectiveness of your septic system. Thus, take precautions to avoid eliminating these bacteria by preventing the introduction of excessive amounts of chemical cleansers into your septic system.

The naturally occurring bacteria in the tank are the most critical aspect of any waste treatment system. These microbes digest the biological waste, transforming it into a sludge that sinks to the bottom of the tank. Since these organisms can maintain themselves, there is no need to apply treatments or chemicals to protect them.

Please note that, your septic tank may be unharmed by some cleansers if you use them sparingly and in the recommended amounts. However, this does not imply that you can clean your septic tank all by yourself; you will still need professional assistance.

To do this, you will want the assistance of experts in the area, such as those at Advantage Septic Service. The life expectancy of a septic tank in Fairfax, VA, may be increased by having a professional do routine maintenance checks on it at regular intervals. This is true regardless of how well you take care of your septic system and maintain it.

However, remember that even though septic systems primarily comprise a biological process, you still need to perform routine maintenance on your septic tank if you want them to function without any issues throughout its lifespan. To ensure that septic tanks continue to function correctly, the professionals at Advantage Septic Service recommend having them drained at least once every two to five years.

Common Problems With Septic Systems

Since the treatment and disposal of the wastewater your family produces depends on a septic system, one of the things you want to avoid the most is a malfunction or overflow in the septic tank. If anything was to go wrong with your septic system, you need to be aware that things may rapidly spiral out of control and create an unpleasant situation.

Because of this, having a working understanding of the typical troubles that may occur with a septic system is always an asset for any homeowner, as it helps them prepare for the worst if it ever becomes necessary. To put it another way, the advantage of having this knowledge cannot be overstated. In the following paragraphs, we have outlined some of the most typical issues with septic systems.

• Soil Movement

Keep in mind that even a little movement in the earth may cause significant problems for your septic system, so be on the lookout for any changes. As a direct consequence, the walls of your septic tank, for instance, can crack or even break. If anything similar occurs, a septic tank will fill up more quickly, and the tank’s contents need to be emptied more often. Consequently, maintaining your routine of emptying the unit may become more complex and costly.

• The Existence of Roots from Trees in the Region

Since the roots of trees and bushes may grow through the walls of septic tanks, setting your septic tank in a place that is too close to the trees and shrubs can be troublesome and lead to more frequent repair work. These roots could even harm the pipes that go from the septic tank to your residence sometimes.

• Lack Of Systematic Septic System Maintenance

Despite being the easiest to fix, this is one of the most prevalent difficulties associated with septic systems. All you have to ensure is getting your septic tank inspected and pumped out at scheduled intervals by hiring septic professionals. It is essential to keep in mind that the frequency of pumping out a septic tank may range anywhere from once a year to once every three or four years, depending on the size of the tank and the amount of wastewater it can process at one time.

• Damages Inflicted on Property Due to Car Parking

As the owner of the land, it is your duty to be acquainted with the precise location of your septic tank and to take all necessary precautions to ensure that vehicles are never parked directly on top of it. This is because placing more weight on your septic tank may cause it to get severely damaged. If you want to extend the life expectancy of a septic tank in Fairfax, VA, you should always take additional precautions regarding vehicle parking on your property.

Why Should You Pick Our Company to Be Your Septic Service Provider?

Advantage Septic Service has been one of the most well-known septic contractors in Northern Virginia for more than 25 years. Since 1997, Advantage Septic Service has been catering to the requirements of both residential and commercial clients in terms of septic tank cleaning. We take great pride in the fact that our reputation for honesty, fair pricing, and dependability has endured for a long time. Our mission is to provide you with service that is not only quick and efficient but also highly professional and of the best possible standard.

If you have ongoing problems with your septic system and want to speak with the experts at Advantage Septic Service about fixing them, please fill out the contact form on our company’s official website with your contact details. 

As soon as we get hold of your contact information, we will ensure that one of our specialists will give you a call back at the earliest and that they will offer you a suitable solution to the problem you are having with your septic system.