Welcome to our information section. In this section you will find directions for usage of various Telamode products as well as handy information about your septic system. Please note, if you are having serious problems with clogging or need more information, please do not hesitate to contact us directly for further information or product suggestions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
HOW DOES YOUR SEPTIC SYSTEM WORK?
Your septic system is designed site specific to treat wastewater from your home. Proper wastewater treatment is necessary as it prevents health risks as well as contamination of surface and groundwater.
According to the dictionary, a septic tank is 'a sewage disposal tank in which waste material is decomposed by anaerobic bacteria.' Septic systems are found in areas where there are no city sewers to carry household waste material to a treatment plant. Thus the septic system becomes a private wastewater treatment plant.
First of all the wastewater from your home flows into a solid tank, which may be two tanks in a row or one large tank with two compartments in some cases. The tank has an inlet and an outlet baffle. The inlet baffle forces the entering material to mix into the effluent in the tank and also prevents the scum layer from flowing back into the house. The outlet baffle prevents the scum from flowing into the drainfield. There is also a manhole cover to allow access to the inside of the tank if necessary. A healthy tank is always full to the level of the bottom of the outlet pipe.
The contents of the septic tank divide into three layers:
The top layer is the scum layer - this layer floats and consists of things like grease, soap and toilet paper which will be converted to liquid through bacterial action.
The middle layer is the effluent or liquid layer - this consists of clear water, liquid and suspended solids. The effluent is the only layer that should flow into the drainfield,
At the bottom of the tank is the scum layer - this is heavy organic and inorganic material, also the by-products of bacterial digestion.
Natural occurring bacteria in the septic tank breakdown the organic material, however with all the chemicals that are added via cleaners, soaps, etc, this natural bacteria is killed off. Thus it becomes necessary to use septic tank additives/digesters such as the products manufactured by TELAMODE to replace these necessary bacteria and thus keep the septic system functioning in a healthy manner.
From the septic tank the wastewater continues into the drainfield, which is composed of a series of pipes with holes so it can distribute throughout the field. The drainfield is isolated from the rest of the yard by trenches filled with rock or it is built into a mound (elevated seepage bed) so that bacteria, disease causing pathogens and fine sewage solids are removed or destroyed by naturally occurring microscopic organisms found in the soil. Drainfields are usually slightly raised so that heavy rainfall will not saturate the field and disturb the process.
ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR SEPTIC TANK AND DRAIN TILES?
A sewage system, which has been properly installed, should provide many years of service with proper care and maintenance. There are however, some things that you the homeowner, should be aware of that will help the system to function properly. These are:
- Do not connect foundation or roof drains to the septic tank or drainfield. This may cause flooding of the drainfield. Divert pipes away from the drainfield area.
- Do not flush non-decomposable items such as diapers, sanitary napkins, tampons, cigarette butts, bones and paper towels into the septic tank. These items can clog pipes and plus the drainfield, causing the tank to fill too quickly.
- Use bleaching compounds moderately. Chemical or solvents should never be disposed into the septic tank. (Telamode products are designed to digest most chemicals)
- Do not hook backwash from water treatment devices into the septic tank or drainfield.
- Put a good sod cover over the drainfield to prevent erosion of the bed area.
- Vehicles should never be allowed to drive over the septic tank, drainfield or unprotected pipes as they can damage the tank and ruin the drainfield.
- Never pave over a drainfield.
- Have the septic tank inspected yearly until a pattern of filling is established
- Have the tank pumped out every 3-5 years depending on the demands placed on the system. When the tank is pumped make sure you add extra bacteria, such as the products manufactured by TELAMODE back into the tank, as most of the needed bacteria are removed during the pumping process.
The tank will need to be cleaned by a licensed septic tank cleaner if one of these conditions exists:
- The total depth of scum and sludge exceeds one-third of the liquid in the tank
- The scum is within three to five inches of the bottom of the outlet or inlet device
- The sludge is within eighteen inches of the bottom of the outlet or inlet device
Pumping and using Organic Earth Friendly cleaning products will keep the above problems from existing. If the above problems do exist then your septic tank does require ‘immediate pumping or cleaning.’ Using TELA-CHEM DRAINLINE CLEANER, RC-4 DIGESTER and for clogged systems our TELA-MS7 DEGRADER can eliminate the above conditions. TELA-CHEM DRAINLINE CLEANER is formulated to keep all pumps clean and lubricated to eliminate premature burnout. All TELAMODE products are designed to ADD NUTRIENTS to the drainfield and rejuvenate the ground source.
You may notice pools of water in the disposal area. If so use water sparingly for a few days. If the problem persists and you cannot find the source of the problem, contact your local Department of Health office and ask to speak to the Public Health Inspector responsible for your area.
CARE AND MAINTENANCE TIPS FOR A SEPTIC SYSTEM
If you live in the country than you probably have a septic system. It is surprisingly simple to keep your septic system functioning properly if you follow these guidelines:
Reroute water away from the drain field by developing landscaping, roof gutters, and foundation drains.
- Check your water usage for the size of wash being done
- Don’t run your dishwasher without a full load
- Do routine checks for leaky faucets or toilets
- Help cut down on water flow: use aerators on faucets and flow reducer nozzles in showers
- Displacers are great to decrease water needed for toilet flushing (link for what displacers are)
Take out all roots near the septic system (100 ft away). Trees like willows have an aggressive root system. Keep them further away.
Cat litter, diapers, napkins, tampons, towels, tissue, coffee grinds, cigarette butts, etc… All belong in a garbage bag at the side of the road NOT in your septic tank.
The better ground up food is, the better. Choose a top of the line garburator disposal unit that won’t result in improper septic tank digestion.
Septic solids will not break down with the use of Heavy Duty and ANTI-bacterial cleaners that kill off good bacteria that digest. Regular TELAMODE product maintenance counteracts and digests small amounts of Chemical Cleaners.
The soil in your drain field cannot absorb liquids if clogged with grease, resulting in the need for a new drain field, thorough drain tile/leach bed/drain bed cleaning or SHOCK treatment from TELAMODE bacteria.
Not only are they harmful to you and your family, they stress your system and the drain field absorption. Dispose of chemicals properly. Do not flush chemicals down drains of toilets. Check with your local municipality for designated days to dispose of chemicals, paints, etc…
Driving over your drain field, construction on top of it, concrete/asphalt covering, grass planting are all leading causes to erosion or severe damage to your drain field. Do not cover the drain field wet spots with soil more soil just creates more problems. Contact our staff at TELAMODE to clean your drain field from the outside.
Pumping is recommended every 4-6 years if you’re using a proper bacteria and enzyme maintenance product. The gases and bacteria in a tank are dangerous. NEVER OPEN YOR TANK YOURSELF! Your septic system can kill you. Always have a RESPONSIBLE PUMPING COMPANY open your system if the need arises between pumpings.