Septic System Replacement
Why Septic Systems Fail – When septic systems fail, it is generally due to a build up of solids. The tank is generally a stable environment. The soil environment changes with season conditions. The soil fails when liquids are prevented from passing through it.
Solids - Solids can come from many sources. Surprisingly, the washing machine is a primary cause of septic system replacement due to solid based failure. Washing machines generate significant volumes of lint. Some sources say that a typical washing machine can produce enough lint to carpet an entire living room. That’s a lot of lint. Lint screens trap less than 5% of the lint because most of these particles are very small and light. They do not settle in the septic tank. The link particles stay in suspension and are eventually flushed out to the leach field where they plug it up.
Since most clothing, carpeting, and other fabrics we launder are manufactured with synthetic materials, such as polyester and nylon, this compounds the problem. Synthetic materials are not biodegradable and stay intact within the septic system. There, they accumulate and clog the soil. They become permanent fixtures in the septic system.
Solution - To save your septic system from replacement, have the tank pumped and inspected regularly. Invest in reusable, inline filters which attach to your washing machine discharge hose.
Septic System Replacement – A properly designed, installed and maintained leach field will last approximately 15-30 years. If additional bedrooms are added to the house, septic system replacement may be necessary sooner.
