How Long Does A Septic Tank Last?

If you don’t have adequate access to the mains sewage system but are able to accommodate a safe drainage area, a septic tank system is the ideal solution to deal with your water waste. It is important that your septic system is installed properly and well-maintained to ensure that it is as effective as possible and lasts as long as possible.

Problems with septic tanks can cause unpleasant smells at best, and damage the local environment, contaminate rivers and lakes, and endanger public health at worst. It is vital, therefore, that if you have a septic wastewater system, you ensure that it is properly looked after.

Optimal septic tank maintenance is key to extending its lifespan, which typically ranges from 15 to 40 years. Proper care helps prevent issues like leaks, cracks, and blockages. Regular maintenance can significantly prolong its life. In cases where neglect has led to severe problems beyond repair, a replacement septic tank might become necessary.

Understanding the life expectancy of your septic tank and knowing how long it is likely to last is an important factor to consider. By knowing when it is likely to need to be replaced, you can look for signs of failure and ensure that you are protecting yourself and the local environment.

The average life expectancy of a septic tank

The life expectancy of a septic tank can vary according to many different factors, from the environment that it is being kept in, to the material that it is made from. Generally speaking, a septic tank should last for between about 15 and 40 years.

For more information about how long your septic tank is expected to last, you should speak to the people who installed it for you or a professional wastewater company.

If you are moving into a house with a septic tank system, you should get an official Homebuyer Drainage Survey carried out. This will give you all of the information that you need about the age of the tank and how long it is likely to last.

Factors that influence the lifespan of a septic tank

There are several factors that can affect the lifespan of a septic tank. These can include:

How it is installed – You should get your septic tank installed properly, by a professional company, to ensure that it lasts for as long as possible.

Emptying and cleaning – It is important that you empty and clean your septic tank on a regular basis. By ensuring that it is clean and never over-filled, you can help to make sure that you are not putting any extra strain on the system and reducing the risk of backup that can cause septic tank failure. It is recommended that you check with a professional company to find out how often you should empty and clean your septic tank.

Use – The amount of time that your septic system is in use can also affect its lifespan. The more you use it, the lower the lifespan. Whilst it is important that you use water as you need to, being water-conscious about how much you are putting down the drain and how often can have an impact on how long your septic tank will last. The less frequent, more spread out it is, the longer the tank will last.

What is going into it – You can help your septic tank to last for longer by ensuring that the right things are being put into it. Try to avoid flushing sanitary products, baby wipes, nappies, and chemicals down the toilet, and limiting it to biodegradable items and water.

Servicing – Periodic servicing of your septic system is also important in both ensuring that it is working at an optimum level (and, therefore, reducing the risk of problems) and also spotting minor issues that can escalate to larger ones. This can help to ensure a longer life expectancy of your septic system.

Material – The material that your septic tank is made from can also have an impact on its lifespan. Steel tanks, for example, can be affected quickly by corrosion and have a relatively short lifespan, whereas plastic and concrete septic tanks are usually sturdier and have a longer life expectancy.

Location – The location of your septic tank can also impact how long it lasts. A professional company should be able to advise you on the best place to put it, but you should try to avoid areas with acidic soil, where there is excess water, or that are close to rivers and streams.

How to Extend the Life of Your Septic Tank 

Inspect And Pump Your System Out Regularly

One of the easiest ways to take care of your septic system and make it last longer is to check on it often and pump out the tank.

Most experts say you should have a professional look at your system at least once every two to five years. But you will likely cut that time in half if you have a lot of people living in your home. This will make the system work harder because there are more people.

You should have your tank pumped out often so that sewage sludge doesn't build up at the bottom. What can happen is that sludge can overflow, leak into your drainage field, and cause your pipes to back up.

Don't Overload The Septic Tank

Depending on when your septic tank was built can influence how much it can store. Also, as a nation, we have begun using more water for our daily activities, showers, washing dishes, etc., which can increase the load on your septic tank in the long run.

These three simple-to-implement tips can help you reduce water usage, take a little bit of the strain off your septic tank, and extend its life.

1. Change to power showers as they are better at utilising water
2. Switch to low water washing machines for your weekly washes.
3. Check and fix all leaking taps, toilets, and valves.

Maintain Your Drain Field Properly

Any septic system absolutely must have a drain field. This system section performs a secondary filtration of the sewage leaving your septic tank.

Make sure you adhere to these guidelines to maintain the health and functionality of the entire system:

●      Never park or drive onto a drain field. Cars, trucks, campers, and other vehicles can damage the pipe work and clog drains.

●      Strategically plant trees and plants. Tree and shrub root systems may grow into the drain field and cause harm. For the adequate distance between plants and the drain field, consult a septic consultant.

●      Keep the drain field clear. In case of a problem, ensure your septic system contractor can quickly access the area.

●      Make sure roof drains and downspouts point away from the drain field. Excess water might overwork the area and cause flooding or backing up.

Use Water Efficiently

Every septic system has a maximum capacity for the volume of wastewater that it can process safely and effectively. Therefore, your system's volume of sewage is directly proportional to its size.

Most residential systems process anywhere from 600 to 2,000 litres of wastewater each day. Therefore, having less wastewater means having greater life—that is, for the system.

If you reduce the rate at which wastewater enters your system, it will be able to treat sewage more effectively, allowing it to function for longer.

Hire a Septic System Professional When Necessary

It is in your best interest to seek the assistance of trained professionals if you have questions regarding the upkeep of your septic tank.

It is not recommended in any way that you empty a septic tank yourself. Instead, you could contact a septic tank pumping service and let them do the dirty work for you. This is the best course of action. They should also dispose of the waste a licensed waste disposal site.

Things can go extremely badly for you and your septic tank if you do not have the appropriate equipment. In addition, it is not advisable to come into contact with sewage, as there is a possibility that the sewage contains several pathogens, including bacteria and diseases.

It is in everyone's best interest to delegate responsibility for everything that needs to be done to trained professionals who possess both the necessary expertise and protective gear.

We provide long-lasting septic tank solutions across trusted distributors, such as Marsh Industries, Clearwater and Klargester. Get in touch today to find out more!