The Clever Homeowner. The Clever Homeowner is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. For one reason or another, you need to know how long septic tanks last. This is important to know and understand because replacing the septic tank is not cheap. To give you a quick answer, here are some rough guidelines for how long a septic tank might last, depending on what kind of system you have.
The short answer is that a septic system can last anywhere from 15 to 40 years. According to Inpectapedia. A steel septic tank will eventually rust out depending on the acidity in the soil as well as the septic tank quality. The cover on steel septic tanks will also last until it rusts out. Most septic systems will last between 25 to 30 years if they are properly maintained. Proper maintenance can help you avoid costly repairs and extend the lifespan of your septic system.
Septic systems are supposed to last for several decades, but you should always keep an eye out for problems even if the tank is fairly new. Some of the signs of a malfunctioning septic system include:. If you spot an issue with your septic system, contact the health department in your city or reach out to a local company that services septic tanks. These issues will need to be addressed quickly. A septic system issue can ruin your perfect lawn and impact everyone around you , including your neighbors and other people in your community.
Protect the health and happiness of yourself and others by properly maintaining your septic system and repairing issues as soon as they arise. Login Support About Us. For instance, if you do not clean the outlet filter regularly, it might get clogged thereby leading to failure of the entire septic system. In a bid to reduce wanton neglect of septic systems, the government has made it mandatory for septic system owners to pump them every couple of years.
Solution: Make sure to pump your septic tank after a couple of years or as is needed. We also recommend adding biological additives periodically to help improve septic system health and efficiency. Problem: Different locations have different soil types, bedrocks, groundwater levels, and gradient. Ignoring such factors when designing the septic system will lead to the design of a system that will cause lots of problems for the owner. Solution: For best results, the septic system must be designed and installed as per the unique requirements on the property.
Make sure to consult a qualified engineer and invite them to do a site inspection in order to furnish you with the information you need to choose the best design for your septic system.
Problem: Driving, paving or constructing over the septic tank can result in physical damage of some important components of the septic tank. The tank or the pipes might shift or break and this will result in the malfunction or failure of the system.
Solution: Avoid driving, construction or any other physical activity that might exert undue pressure above and around the septic tank. Problem: Most septic system owners unknowingly use lots of harmful products. Products like bleach, solvents, detergents, drain washers, antibacterial soaps are made from chemicals that can drastically reduce the bacteria and enzyme population in the septic tank.
In fact, the average septic system has over a hundred traceable chemical compounds. Solution: Avoid using products that might harm your septic system. Go through our free eBook which has a comprehensive list of all the products you should avoid. Problem: Apart from human waste, the only other thing that is safe to flush in the toilet is tissue paper.
Unfortunately, people flush all manner of things including condoms, floss, hair, expired pharmaceuticals, and facial tissue. These products contribute to the tank filling up too fast and some of them can even clog up the pipes. Solution: Do not flush anything in your toilet apart from human waste and tissue paper. Problem: Roots are very intrusive and they will push themselves into the pipes thereby resulting in a clogged up system. Over time, the roots can also burst the pipes as well as cause damage to the septic tank thereby causing leakages.
Solution: As a rule of thumb, avoid planting trees and shrubs near the septic tank. A failed septic system is not only a nuisance but also a public health hazard. This is why any problem that occurs in the septic system should be fixed pronto. Septic systems usually fail due to biological or mechanical problems. Shock treatment is usually sufficient to repair a system that is failing on biological grounds.
Most septic system owners unknowingly use products that drastically reduce the population of bacteria in their septic tanks. As a direct consequence, organic waste is not digested quickly enough. As new wastewater from the house enters the septic tank, some of the wastewater in the tank will have to flow into the drain field. Since the bacteria population was reduced by the harmful substances used in the house, some solid waste might escape into the drainfield and that could easily lead to a blocked drainfield.
Biological additives introduce billions of bacteria and enzymes and that will help your septic system to continue breaking down the organic waste optimally. You can take advantage of this product too. Click here for a free quote.
Mechanical problems are pretty rare but there is always an exception. If a septic system fails, the first thing you should do is try out a biological solution. More often than not, the biological solution will work and that will save you thousands of dollars. This notwithstanding, mechanical problems still happen.
For instance, a concrete tank could get cracked due to poor construction, driving cars and other heavy machinery above the septic tank and even corrosion from gases like hydrogen sulfide which are a by-product of anaerobic bacteria activity. Such issues may result in the concrete tank cracking and these cracks will allow water to seep into the tank or wastewater to leak out before it is treated.
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