Having a house in a rural area often means having a septic tank system. It’s safe to say that septic tanks are an essential part of every such household. They can take care of all the wastewater from your kitchen and bathroom, and they’re environment-friendly after all.
Like everything in life, your septic tank will need a replacement one day. If you take care of your septic tank and maintain it properly, it would probably last longer.
Here is the main question: “How long do the septic tanks last?”
The Lifespan of The Septic Tank
The average lifespan of the septic tank is between 15 and 40 years. Maybe you should have in mind that there are so many factors that can affect its lifespan, something like:
Size of your household
As a general rule, the larger the household and the more family members, the faster replacement is needed. If you have a huge family, you’ll probably need to maintain your septic tank more often than someone who lives alone. You’ll need to pump all the wastewater every third year or even sooner. It would be best to contact septic tank cleaning Miami for more information.
Maintenance or, better say non-maintenance
Good septic tank maintenance is essential for excellent functioning. Pay attention to what you are throwing into that septic tank. Everything that came down the drain will end up in the septic tank. Avoid throwing the diapers, women’s hygiene products, food, or anything but toilet paper. Be aware that your septic system needs a break, and you need to pump it out every 3-5 years.
Be careful with the chemicals
Try to pay attention to what chemicals you can use on your septic tank. It’s up to you how long do septic tanks last. Try some eco-friendly and non-toxic solutions. Use some DIY natural cleaners from baking soda, lemon, and vinegar. The thing with the water-based cleaners is that they don’t kill all the good bacteria in your septic tank. They take care of an excellent bacterial level meant to decompose the layers of solids inside the tank.
How Long Does Drain Field Last?
Well, on average, it could last about 20 years if it’s designed and built correctly. What is vital for the right drain field? The excellent drain field installation plays the primary role. Very important is the depth of the water table and all dimensions of the leach field. Then comes the effluent discharge system. Not to mention that it needs to be great-built because some of these mechanisms can overload your drain field with wastewater, which is not good.
How to Know When to Replace The Septic Tank?
The first signs that something is wrong are slow-flushing toilets and backed-up sinks. Try not to ignore this because wastewater can come back into your sink or through some other household pipes. The next step is a bad odor. Your septic tank is full of gases, and if they find a way back to you and your house, that’s not good. If you ignore this, it will probably flood and cause a massive disaster in your neighbourhood by making a big stinky swamp. Try not to schedule pumpings because, with that, you are ruining the chance of repairing. In the end, you’ll probably need to replace your septic tank, which can cost you more than $3000.
Can You Repair Your Septic Tank?
The answer is yes, but have in mind that you’ll need to replace it someday. You can’t repair it and expect it to last forever. There are some cheap elements like the tank lid and costly ones like the drain field. That is the most expensive part to replace, but the price mainly depends on the septic tank element’s position and size.
Conclusion
Taking care of your septic tank is a thing you can never forget about. If you let it go, it can be dangerous for you and your health if all that wastewater comes back to the surface. So, how long do septic tanks last? It depends only on you. Follow these steps and be aware that septic tank maintenance is the key to success. Choose a cleaning service by someone’s recommendation and don’t forget to pay attention from time to time and if you see some changes, call the experts. Put your septic tank in the right hands.