Many homes in and around Calgary have septic tanks, normally because they are located outside the city's municipal sewer service. A good many homeowners have relied on these systems to treat and manage their waste water for quite some time. However, new homeowners may not be as familiar with the process or how a septic system operates, much less how to care for it and properly maintain it. As a result, many homes with septic tanks in Calgary end up needing service or repairs far more frequently than the manufacturer of the tank ever intended. Adapting to a septic system does take some doing, requiring that you break some old habits and build some new ones. By the same token, it also means you'll need to add an extra chore to your to-do list periodically, as septic systems don't treat or maintain themselves. Septic tanks in Calgary function as a closed system for the storage and treatment of waste water from the home. All of a house's drains eventually deposit their contents into the holding tank itself. Solid waste sinks to the bottom of this tank while liquid waste seeps slowly out into a drainage field around the tank. Septic systems rely on bacterial and enzymatic actions to break down solid waste over time, gradually allowing it to also seep out into the drainage field. However, if solid waste builds up in the tank too quickly due to poor drainage, low bacteria population, or over use, it will eventually clog the drainage field and the system will need to either be drained professionally or completely replaced. Avoiding these kinds of excessive, expensive and unpleasant repairs isn't hard, but it does take a bit more effort than would be necessary in a home relying on municipal sewer lines. The first step towards preserving the function of septic tanks in Calgary is simply proper use. Certain things can and can't go into your septic system, either because of their composition or because they cause the volume of solid waste to increase faster than the system can process it. This means putting more into your trash can, but many of these things should have been going there in the first place. Cigarette filters, paper towels, facial tissues, feminine hygiene products and left over food should never go into a septic system, as they take much longer to process than the organic solids already there. This is why most homes built with a septic system don't have garbage disposals in the kitchen, though some newer, high efficiency disposals are said to be viable. Apart from regular waste, you should also limit anti-bacterial agents and detergents containing phosphorous. Anti-bacterial soaps can destroy the anaerobic colonies, hindering their ability to process waste while phosphorous has been linked to the growth of algae in self-contained systems. Proper use is important but so is maintenance, and properly maintaining your septic system means applying monthly treatments to ensure maximum efficiency. Further, you should find out prior to purchasing a property with a septic system all you can about that system. Inquire about it's capacity, the last time it was pumped out, how old it is, and any other key information you feel is important. This will help you plan for the future rather than discovering all this after the fact. Finally, remember that it's not just your storage tank that is important, but so too is the drainage field as well. To that end, preserving and ensuring its functionality is just as critical. The biggest hindrance in this case actually comes from your washing machine in the form of small fibers. You call it lint, but in this case it can actually clog the spaces within the soil and kill off the aerobic bacteria which finishes the treatment process and breaks down waste water before it reaches the water table itself. If you need help with your septice tank system contact a company like Action Auger Canada Inc. / Gentlemen Plumbers to answer any sewage questions.
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