Video: Understanding Your Septic System

What a lot of customers don't understand is all plumbing leads to one line called the main line. That pipe leads directly into the septic tank itself. In the tank, it's given the opportunity to settle. The solids go to the bottom, the toilet paper and the grease go to the top, and then flows into the second chamber where it has another opportunity to settle before going out the outlet pipe into the leach lines.

If a tank is not pumped properly, the solid levels on the bottom continue to rise. The stuff on the top floating continues to grow, therefore making a smaller window of affluent water, which is ultimately the only thing you want into your leach lines. When the solids make their way into the leach lines, it does plug up the perforated pipe, which causes failure in the leach line itself.

Knowing about your septic system thoroughly will help you make decisions on how to maintain it or repair it in the future.