A septic system is an underground waste system. About 25% of people in America depend on septic systems, according to WBUR Radio. Understanding how this type of waste system works is important if your home is equipped with one. Here is what you need to know about your septic system.

Your System's Key Components

A few key components make up your system. There is a tank that collects all the waste. Your home's plumbing leads into the tank. From the tank, treated waste may disperse into a leach field. Your system may include a pump system, as well. Each component plays a critical role in a healthy system that you can rely on for waste management.

Your Home's Sewer Pipes

Every toilet, sink, bathtub, and shower is connected to your home's main sewer pipe with drain pipes. The waste leaves each of these fixtures and moves into the main pipe, which carries the waste to the tank. Once the waste arrives at the tank, the sludge settles to the bottom. It's important to avoid flushing anything that won't naturally degrade in the septic system to prevent clogs and keep your tank from filling too quickly.

Your Septic Tank

The tank is where all the waste ends up. Perforated pipes lead from the tank to a leach field. The water waste will empty from the tank into these pipes, which carry it to a leach field away from your home. A healthy tank environment is a necessity for the process to work correctly. A septic system depends on microbes to biodegrade the solid waste in the tank. Keeping your septic tank healthy requires caution when flushing chemicals, food waste, and anything else that wouldn't naturally end up in your sewer system.

Your Septic System's Pump

Not every system is outfitted with a pump that moves the waste away from the tank and into the leach field, but many are. If your system has a pump, it will require regular maintenance to ensure that it operates as it should. If you hear any strange sounds from your septic system, call for pump maintenance.

Septic system maintenance is necessary to keep your system running as it should. Maintenance includes pumping your tank every few years to remove solid waste buildup. Partnering with a septic company will ensure that your system remains reliable. Call Advance Sewer & Drain Solutions today.