A Queen Bee's Septic LLC Elkton, Md. 410-620-2006
Helping you maintain a healthy living environment.
The Septic Tank
The Septic Tank
One of the key components of your septic system is the tank. Modern septic tanks are constructed of concrete and sometimes plastic. Either are acceptable but concrete is more widely used. If you have a septic tank that is made of steel, we strongly reccomend that you make plans to replace it with a modern tank. These steel tanks have long outlived their use and are dangerous as they typically have litte structural integrity. Plastic tanks are typically used as a replacement and in our area, they must be approved by the Cecil County Health Department prior to installation. They do appear to be suitable if they are properly engineered for use as a septic tank.
In most instances, the septic tank has no moving parts, but are subject to deterioration. The inner environment of the tank is very caustic. The contents of your septic system will corrode cement, steel, aluminum and will do it's best to even eat away at stainless steel.
Septic tanks typically have two or three large access points on the top to faciltate cleaning and inspection and an inlet port on one end and an outlet port on the other end. The inlet port is located several inches higher than the outlet port. (If your outlet port is higher than the inlet port, your tank has been installed backward. We do see this occasionally) On the inside of your tank you will typically find a baffle surrounding the inlet and outlet port. Not all septic tanks are designed and built the same way, but they all do the same thing.
You may also have one or two tank risers installed on top of your tank directly over one or more of the access points. These risers are very beneficial and make your system easier to clean and inspect. If your tank has an 8 inch pipe coming up to the surface, this also allows access to your tank. This 8 inch white or green pipe that you see is no longer approved for installation. The larger (approx.24" diameter) risers are the norm and are superior. If you do not have any access from your tank to the surface, you should give consideration to installing a riser. If you have the aforementioned 8" plastic riser, you should give some thought to upgrading to a larger (approx. 24 " diameter) riser. This makes servicing the tank easier and allows the worker to do a more thorough job.
IMPORTANT
One of the most recurring problems we see and we see this on a daily basis, is baffle deterioration. This is when the baffle, which is the most important feature of your tank, is eaten away. It usually takes 15 to 20 years to occur but if you have a water conditioner that backwashes into your septic system, or you have neglected your system completely, could take as few as 5 years to completely destroy
your baffle. This baffle we speak of is the only feature that keeps the sludge and scum out of your drain field. If allowed to enter the drain field, scum and sludge will render it useless in no time at all. Just about every service call we make to Glenn Farms or Tara, we find a deterioated or broken baffle. We are starting to see more cases of this in Brantwood and many of the older established communities.
One of the key components of your septic system is the tank. Modern septic tanks are constructed of concrete and sometimes plastic. Either are acceptable but concrete is more widely used. If you have a septic tank that is made of steel, we strongly reccomend that you make plans to replace it with a modern tank. These steel tanks have long outlived their use and are dangerous as they typically have litte structural integrity. Plastic tanks are typically used as a replacement and in our area, they must be approved by the Cecil County Health Department prior to installation. They do appear to be suitable if they are properly engineered for use as a septic tank.
In most instances, the septic tank has no moving parts, but are subject to deterioration. The inner environment of the tank is very caustic. The contents of your septic system will corrode cement, steel, aluminum and will do it's best to even eat away at stainless steel.
Septic tanks typically have two or three large access points on the top to faciltate cleaning and inspection and an inlet port on one end and an outlet port on the other end. The inlet port is located several inches higher than the outlet port. (If your outlet port is higher than the inlet port, your tank has been installed backward. We do see this occasionally) On the inside of your tank you will typically find a baffle surrounding the inlet and outlet port. Not all septic tanks are designed and built the same way, but they all do the same thing.
You may also have one or two tank risers installed on top of your tank directly over one or more of the access points. These risers are very beneficial and make your system easier to clean and inspect. If your tank has an 8 inch pipe coming up to the surface, this also allows access to your tank. This 8 inch white or green pipe that you see is no longer approved for installation. The larger (approx.24" diameter) risers are the norm and are superior. If you do not have any access from your tank to the surface, you should give consideration to installing a riser. If you have the aforementioned 8" plastic riser, you should give some thought to upgrading to a larger (approx. 24 " diameter) riser. This makes servicing the tank easier and allows the worker to do a more thorough job.
IMPORTANT
One of the most recurring problems we see and we see this on a daily basis, is baffle deterioration. This is when the baffle, which is the most important feature of your tank, is eaten away. It usually takes 15 to 20 years to occur but if you have a water conditioner that backwashes into your septic system, or you have neglected your system completely, could take as few as 5 years to completely destroy
your baffle. This baffle we speak of is the only feature that keeps the sludge and scum out of your drain field. If allowed to enter the drain field, scum and sludge will render it useless in no time at all. Just about every service call we make to Glenn Farms or Tara, we find a deterioated or broken baffle. We are starting to see more cases of this in Brantwood and many of the older established communities.
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