3 Situations That May Warrant a Bigger Septic System

1. Accommodating Additional House Occupants

Increasing the number of house occupants will likely increase the volume of wastewater because most activities are repetitive. For example, suppose the number of house occupants increases threefold. Each occupant contributes to the wastewater when showering or doing laundry. Thus, the occupants will likely generate more wastewater, overwhelming the septic system.

You may notice issues such as slow drainage and toilet backup, which pose health and safety risks. Specifically, toilet backups pose severe health risks and can cause disease outbreaks in your home. Remember, raw sewage contains fecal matter, which may have viruses and bacteria from infected persons. You do not want to wait until the situation is severe to start thinking about modifying your septic system. 

Homeowners should consider optimizing their septic systems to handle the wastewater efficiently. For example, septic service contractors may replace the current pipes with larger ones to ease drainage. Using larger pipes may prevent toilet backups, mitigating potential health risks. They may also enlarge the septic tank to increase its holding capacity.

2. Changing Routine Activities

Changes in water usage within a household may also warrant optimizing a septic system for efficient drainage. Consider a household that shifts from dry cleaning services to doing its laundry in-house. Also, suppose that the homeowner stops using car washing services in preference for DIY cleaning at home. Such changes will likely generate additional wastewater.

Homeowners may notice changes in drainage efficiency should the current septic system be incapable of handling the additional volume. Such signs warrant optimizing your septic system to avoid overflows and pipe bursts. Remember, pipe bursts may cause water damage on your walls and ceiling, costing you unnecessary repair expenses. Pipe bursts may also cause pest infestation. 

A septic service company may recommend increasing the volume of the septic tank to accommodate the wastewater. The technicians will account for the additional activities when determining the right septic tank size for your home.

3. Constructing New Houses on a Property

Many people build additional structures on a property without accounting for the drainage needs. In extreme cases, the new structure may be a self-contained house with a standalone plumbing system but share the same septic tank. Whereas two or more houses can share a septic system, they may likely have drainage issues in the future, necessitating modifications.

The best alternative would be to install a new septic system to complement the old one. For example, you may install a standalone septic system for each new building. The size of each septic system may vary according to its building's water use.

Alternatively, you may install a secondary tank and connect it to the main one. The secondary tank will receive the overflow from the primary tank, ensuring the wastewater does not overwhelm the system.

Homeowners should monitor their septic systems to determine whether they can handle the generated wastewater. Even better, they may consult septic services for reliable advice on optimizing their septic systems. Contact Southern Sanitary Systems Inc today for professional septic tank inspection services. You will also receive a free estimate of any necessary repairs.