In an ideal world, off-mains septic tanks would be left in the ground and forgotten about. But as with any machinery, things can always go wrong. At CESS, we’ve fixed all manner of septic tank mishaps over the years, from faulty equipment to botched installations. We’ve also learned that a spot of TLC is vital to prevent future mishaps and prolong the life of a sewage system. In this article, we explain the top five common causes of septic tank failure and how to avoid them.
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Septic tank failure due to age and poor maintenance
Most septic tanks will run into performance issues after a few years of natural wear and tear. This is especially likely if you’ve not had your system regularly serviced. At CESS, our experts recommend getting a check-up once a year, especially if your tank is more than 10 years old. This includes emptying your septic tank and checking for any faults or damage.
Age is another big factor. Believe it or not, some septic tanks in the UK are over 100 years old. Many were designed without dip pipes (see Cause #3) and have only one chamber instead of the two found in most modern tanks. Naturally, outdated systems are less reliable than newer models. The same applies for soakaways – while there’s no definitive lifespan for a soakaway, older drainage fields can struggle with treatment and percolation.
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A poor installation job
A septic tank is not simply a hole in the ground – it’s a full sewage treatment system that requires a careful installation process. We strongly advise using professionals to install your septic tank and soakaway, for three reasons.
First, you’ll need to comply with new UK environmental laws; a botched job could land you with a hefty fine from the Environment Agency. Second, a professional will be better able to judge the correct size and depth for both the tank and drainage field. And third, a trained eye can help pre-empt some of the more obscure causes of septic tank failure, such as installing too close to tree roots or vehicle traffic.
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Collapsed baffle
Any septic tank expert will tell you: there’s nothing worse than a collapsed baffle. But what exactly is a baffle? Put simply, it’s a barrier inside every tank that prevents solid matter from escaping into the soakaway system. If your baffle fails, there’s nothing to stop solid waste from ruining the percolation process, whereby the liquid waste is properly treated before soaking away into the ground. A collapsed baffle causes waste to pool on the surface and eventually back up all the way to your house. Yuck.
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Damaged dip pipes
A dip pipe sits inside your septic tank and ensures that only the correct type of waste (separated liquid waste) exits into the soakaway system. But it can easily become dislodged or damaged, often during a routine emptying of the tank. This video explains what happens when a dip pipe stops working – in short, it’s a similar situation to a collapsed baffle, with all the implications for your off-mains sewage system.
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Ground movement and changing conditions
What goes on underground can often be hard to spot from above. Our team has been called out to fix dozens of septic tanks failures and problems caused by ground movement. Such movements can be impossible to notice at first, but they can result in cracks or fractures to the walls of the tank due to increased pressure. This may lead to your tank backing up or taking on ground water, two outcomes that are fatal to the proper separation of waste.
Another unavoidable issue is that ground conditions can change over time. Even if your tank was installed in a dry area after passing a percolation test, it may gradually become vulnerable to an excess of ground water. This saturation will scupper the smooth functioning of your septic tank or sewage treatment plant.
Is your septic tank or soakaway causing headaches? The best way to diagnose the issue is to contact CESS for a professional check-up. We are adept at identifying and fixing faults in septic tanks and drainage fields, with over 30 years’ experience in the industry.