Realtor Tips: Septic Tanks and You

Everyone has heard of a septic system but how it actually works remains a mystery for many. As a local real estate agent in the area I get lots of questions. Think of it as your very own private wastewater plant.  It uses nature to return the sewage from your home back into safe ground water.  It’s really an amazing process carried out without mechanical or chemical help!  The heart of the system is the tank. This is typically a large concrete ‘box’  buried underground.  Many modern tanks are a composite material designed to outlast a masonry tank which can crack and degrade. On one end of the tank is an inlet. This inlet is the sewage line from your home. Everything you put in the kitchen sink, flush, and water from the washer ends up in the tank.  

 On the other end of the tank is the outlet which goes to the leach field. There is a baffle here that simply forms a barrier around the outlet to keep solids, toilet paper, floating grease, etc out of the leach field. Only liquid should get to the drain lines of the leach field. The solids settle to the bottom where natural bacteria break down the waste and  only liquid, called effluent at this stage, can trickle into the outlet to be distributed to the leach field. The broken down solids are referred to as sludge. This sludge will accumulate over time and needs to be pumped out by your local septic professional. Plan on $300 - $500 for this service in the Dayton OH area.  When purchasing a home you’ll want to have the tank pumped so it can be inspected for cracks, broken baffles and clogged drain lines.  

You save money each month by not having to pay the city for use of a public system but the flip side is, if something goes wrong then the total cost is on you. Remember, this is your own private wastewater plant so you have to take care what goes in it. The system works only because beneficial bacteria colonies are hard at work.   A lot of things we use in the house can kill those colonies. Bleach, toilet bowl cleaners, solvents, degreasers, nail polish remover are tough on the bacteria. In small quantities they are ok but try to use ‘green’ products and those labeled ‘septic safe’ when you can. As a local Realtor in Dayton OH I sell homes each year with septic systems. Particularly in areas that have some more rural parts like Beavercreek, Xenia, Bellbrook, Springboro that may not have access to city utilities.  Always happy to help guide you through the process, just reach out when ready!