First of all, the nearby earth should be pre-inspected before digging and installing your soakaway. In particular, soil with high clay saturation is never suitable. Don’t use your hands: It sounds quite obvious, but most people do not know that an easy and effective way of removing clogs from the sink is by using a rubber-gloved hand. Do not forget to use your gloves because you wouldn’t want your hands to get dirty. Pour in some power wash later to remove the debris. If the entire household is taking baths and showers over a short period, and the washing machine and dishwasher are running at the same time the tank is receiving a significant amount of liquid.

If, however this doesn’t fix the problem, or perhaps your current soakaway is nearing the end of its life, or the problem is being caused as a result of a poor installation, it will most likely need to be replaced Septic tanks have 3 layers of effluent. At the bottom, you have what is known as “ sludge” – solid waste from your home that has yet to break down. In the middle, you have a liquid which consists of wastewater and dissolved / partially dissolved solids. The top layer is commonly known as “scum” and this includes fats, oils and greases (FOG). If you attempt to clear the pipe with a snake or hose attachment, can locate the plug and determine how long it is, it might save a little work to cut out and replace that section if it is at one end of the pipe. Rubber gloves: Drains are dirtier than what you have imagined them to be. It is also as smelly as it is dirty, and that is why a good pair of rubber gloves would always be handy when going through a drain.

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This is because a foul water drainage field has two functions - the first is to soak the liquid away and the second is to treat the effluent and digest it via aerobic ( oxygen breathing ) soil bacteria. While we may love roses bushes to look at outside our garden window, plant life is always on the lookout for convenient water sources from which to drink. Their roots often grow in the direction of the nearest possible access point. These dips occur when the earth becomes compacted. This then causes the ground to sag as the soil compresses in on itself. Superdrug adds new 'VIP Rewards' offers to its existing loyalty scheme – here's what you need to know However, too much flushing, as well as inorganic matter, can also choke your bacteria. Again, fats, oils and greases (FOGs) are also big nemeses of your tank microbes. As you will likely be hosting aerobic bacteria, you need to keep in mind that they love natural waste. The Importance of Septic System Care?

You’ll prevent the need for regular pumping. Septic tank pumping can and will cost a lot of money if you do it regularly. Eventually, all tanks need a good pump – but topping up your bacteria means the difference between a pump once every five years, and once every five months. Remember the 3Ps– Pee, Poop and Paper. Ideally, you should only ever be flushing the 3Ps down your septic system. Yes, that means your toilet wipes need to go in the bin, NOT the toilet. Just as they clog up sewers, they clog up your tank, and your soakaway, too. You can ensure that the drain pipes outside your house do not get clogged by protecting the entrance of the following into the drainage system;

Nowadays, although gravel is still sometimes used, the most favoured equipment is what is known as a plastic soakaway crate. Looking a bit like a large overturned milk crate, the soakaway crate acts identically to traditional gravel. Beauty Advent calendars are significantly pricier than chocolate ones, but they've become increasingly popular in the last few years as a way of bagging beauty products at a fraction of the normal cost. They often sell out early, but can also be heavily discounted later if they don't, so here's a round-up of some of the best I’ve seen. We often find that once a soakaway has become clogged though it is hard to get it working as efficiently as it did previously. In these cases we can either excavate a new soakaway or re-excavate the existing one. Keep in mind, too, that the more you leave your tank to fester, the sooner you will need a pump out. These are expensive, and apart from the pumps you’ll likely arrange once every five years, completely avoidable. Do You Need to Look After Your Septic Tank and Soakaway Too?