“Who’s still using a septic tank?”
You might ask yourself who still uses septic tanks in this day and age.
The answer may surprise you – there are actually a lot of (mostly rural and commercial) properties around Melbourne that are still using septic tanks instead of sewage!
And just like a more conventional sewage connection, your septic system needs regular maintenance to ensure that it continues operating at its best.
What sort of maintenance are we talking about? We’re glad you asked – settle back and get comfortable as our commercial plumbers in Melbourne explain the basics of residential and commercial septic tank maintenance.
Septic tanks 101
The first step towards understanding what sort of maintenance your septic system needs is understanding how your septic system works.
Luckily, our commercial plumbers are here to help!
Instead of washing wastewater down to the sewer system via a sewer connection pipe, wastewater in septic systems is piped to a large septic tank underneath your property.
A lot of people assume that it simply functions as a giant storage tank, to be cleaned out periodically. This is incorrect.
Instead, the septic tank acts as a filter:
- Wastewater enters the septic tank
- Over time, solid waste settles at the bottom and forms sludge
- At the same time, grease and oil float to the top
With the lion’s share of waste naturally filtered out, the water in the middle is left relatively clean (key word: relatively – you don’t want to drink this water!)
This “clean” water is then piped to a drainage field, where it’s released into the soil.
Not only does this stop your septic tank from overflowing, but this can also be an excellent additional source of water for plants!
Here’s a short video demonstrating how septic tanks work.
Common problems with a commercial septic system
While septic tanks function differently from sewer connections, they’re still similar in certain ways – namely, they need regular, ongoing commercial plumbing maintenance to prevent problems!
Being mindful of ways that things can go wrong with your septic system can go a long way towards preventing them – knowing is half the battle, after all.
So if you notice one of these common signs and problems in your commercial septic system, it may be time to get in touch with a commercial plumbing service!
Clogging
One thing septic systems share with sewer connections? A reliance on pipes.
Whether it’s the connection from your home to the septic system or the connection from the tank to the drainage field, pipes are the key to keeping water moving in a septic system.
Unfortunately, pipes aren’t immune from blockages!
Luckily for you, pipes are pipes, no matter what they’re transporting – as such, our expertise in dealing with blocked pipes is completely transferable to pipes in septic systems.
Our team of emergency plumbers ensure that waste like grease, food scraps, and more don’t block water from moving into your septic system.
We’ll turn up at your commercial property in record time, detecting the location of the leak and unclogging it for you.
Damaged and worn pipes
Pipes are prone to wear and tear – unfortunately, this can often affect the function of your septic system.
A leak can lead to water draining outside of the designated leaching field, which can turn the soil soggy and lead to contaminated water draining into your property.
Tree root contamination is another issue to look out for.
Tree roots are drawn towards moisture. Once they realise there’s plenty of it to be had in your septic pipes, they’ll aggressively grow and work their way into cracks until the pipe is completely blocked and backed up.
Whether it’s replacing a leaking section of pipe or installing brand new ones, our plumbing team ensures that pipe damage is fixed before it can damage the rest of your commercial property.
Damp spots and nasty odours
In many cases, a leaky or broken septic pipe doesn’t just affect your septic system’s performance – it can also affect your commercial property.
Some symptoms include:
- Damp spots around your property
- Nasty smells arising from the ground
- Algae blooms in ponds
- Spongy and discoloured lawns
Needless to say, none of these are a good look (or odour!)
In many cases, the root issue is a problem with the pipes in your septic system. Luckily, these are problems that our commercial plumbing service can fix for you!
Maintaining your commercial septic system
Schedule a regular maintenance with a commercial plumber in Melbourne
Drainage and commercial septic system problems aren’t new to commercial establishments.
However, they do occur – keeping on top of them with regular septic system inspections can go a long way towards helping you avoid these problems.
In addition to inspecting and maintaining your plumbing setup, our commercial plumbers can also take a look at your septic system, identifying potential leaks and issues, as well as fixing them for a discounted rate.
Commercial plumbers like the Watermaster team can help you diagnose any potential septic tank problems before they get to be a major (and costly) issue.
Get it cleaned out every now and then
We mentioned above that septic tanks filter grease, oil and solids from water before draining into a designated drainage field.
Unfortunately, the waste left behind stays there, and can build up over time!
Eventually, you’ll need to have your septic tank drained and cleaned to remove all of this buildup, lest it clog your pipes or end up travelling into the drainage field.
Septic tank drainage requires the assistance of a professional septic tank drainage service, as only they have the powerful vacuums and cleaning systems needed to get the job done.
Rapid assistance for all sorts of commercial plumbing services, including septic tanks
Contact our commercial plumbers in Melbourne today!
When plumbing emergencies strike, you need an emergency plumber to fix the issue and get you back in business.
That includes septic problems as well.
Just like any other plumbing feature, for your septic system to function efficiently, it needs a regular maintenance schedule.
However, your septic system isn’t the only thing we can look after for you!
Watermaster Plumbing provides various plumbing services to commercial establishments including:
- Drainage cleaning
- Commercial appliance installation and repair
- Gas fitting, testing and replacement
- Backflow prevention
- Hot water system
- Hydraulic plumbing
If need be, we can even set your commercial property up with a sewer connection if you’re tired of relying on a septic system for your wastewater needs!
Contact Watermaster Plumbing on 1300 156 650 or fill in the form to request a quote from us today.
You can also visit us for commercial plumbers in Melbourne: pop into our headquarters at 9/22 George St Sandringham, VIC 3191, if you prefer a more hands-on approach.