Drain Field Advice from Atlantic Septic

Properly maintained septic systems help keep groundwater clean and they can last from 25 years to even longer than 30 years when they are properly maintained. Understanding how laundry can affect the overall health of your septic system can help homeowners know the proper way to take care of their septic system. Did you know that the average, American family washes about 300 loads of laundry each year, and can use as few as five gallons of water per load in newer, more efficient washers? Older washers use much, much more – up to 29 to 45 gallons of water per load of laundry! Draining large amounts of water through numerous wash cycles can throw off the balance of water in the septic tank and can cause several problems, like plumbing backups, flooding or sewage leaks. As wastewater enters the septic system, the tank needs time to accurately treat the wastewater and suspended solids. A few simple tips can help to prevent problems and keep your septic system working properly: Space your laundry out. Many people schedule a “laundry day” but that can cause damage to your system. Washing numerous loads of laundry in a short period of time doesn’t allow the septic system enough time to treat the waste, causing build-up and overloading the system. As a result, solids may cross into the drain field. To prevent this, do one or two loads a day, and make sure to leave some time in between loads of laundry. Set your washing machine to the properly sized load setting. Using a large setting for a small load wastes both water and energy. When it’s time to replace your washing machine, look for machines that are certified energy-efficient. Not only do they use less energy, but they need about half as much water as a traditional washing machine.
 Spreading out your loads of laundry can protect your tank and will help your septic system operate at its best. For septic system help or questions call Atlantic Septic today. 386-738-1005

Most older septic systems use the “rock & pipe” type of drain field. Often referred to as a French drain system this centuries-old technique of dispersing wastewater into the ground has proven to be an effective method. Here are the basic steps to laying a drain field using rock & pipe. Dig a trench Add crush rock Lay the perforated pipe Cover the pipe with a thin geo textile fabric to prevent Florida’s sugar fine sand and roots to enter the small holes in the pipe Cover the pipe with more rock Cover with native soil to hide the drainage system and keep odors from escaping While this method is simple and effective there are a number of disadvantages which have caused trouble with this type of system for many years. A common issue in Florida with the structure of a traditional rock and pipe drain is what is called “blinding” of the geo-textile fabric. This is the process by which small particles of sand, and silt are stopped by the fabric and, over time, the fabric becomes stopped up with sand and roots and will no longer allow water to pass through. When enough sand, clay or silt gets past the fabric, the gravel spaces fill and the effectiveness of the french drain ends. Instead of the old rock and drain system, at Atlantic Septic we prefer the newer chamber system and here are 3 reasons why. 1. 100% Efficiency The Chambers by Advanced Drainage Systems are shaped like a hut and are completely open on the bottom. The line of connected chambers results in a long tunnel of air which serves as a buffer to hold the liquid waste from the septic tank as it seeps gradually into the soil beneath. This approach gives 100% efficiency because there is nothing that prevents the absorption of the waste water into the ground. No crushed rock taking up space that would otherwise be used for storage volume No small perforated pipe holes to clog up. The chamber sidewalls have unique narrow slits that allow wastewater to trickle out the sides for added effectiveness while simultaneously preventing soil from filling into the chamber. The result is total waste water absorption that is up to 2x as effective as rock & pipe within the same trench area. 2. Long-term reliability With no small holes to clog up, plastic drain field chambers are not affected by small objects such as rocks which can cause a backup of a rock & pipe drain field system. And with a large cross-sectional area within each chamber, tree roots have no negative impact on the system's ability to disperse the liquid which prevents backing up of your system. Chamber-type drain field systems also offer inspection ports which allow easier monitoring of the system without having to dig up your yard. 3. Overall Cost Savings Past onto Our Customers When laying a rock & pipe drain field, tons of rock must be delivered using a dump truck. Often more than 100 feet of perforated pipe must also be purchased along with couplers, fittings, glue and other supplies. In some cases going with a chamber drain system saves the consumer money just in materials alone. But the real savings is in the labor costs which is where the chamber system really beats out rock & pipe. Overall the costs of installing a chamber system will saves money over the old-style drainage system and we pass that savings directly to our customers. At Atlantic Septic we pride ourselves on using these superior Chambers system made by Advanced Drainage Systems. We know that even though the cost of the chambers is more we are able to offer a superior product at an amazing price. Not only that, we know that you will be able to enjoy worry free drainage for many years to come. For more information on what we offer please feel free to call or text us at 407-402-1948

Are you putting things down your drains that are damaging your septic system? You may be shocked to learn how many items can damage or clog your septic tank and drain field. Here is a list of items you should not put down your drains, or in your toilet in order to avoid costly septic repairs.