How are septic tanks and cesspools cleaned? Effective Cesspool Cleaner: How to Clean with Chemicals Drain Pit Cleaner
In order to choose the right tool for a cesspool, and during operation they require regular maintenance, it is necessary to study how to clean it.
This work is unpleasant, but it must be done regularly. In this matter, the type of sump and other factors are important, such as:
- The presence of a bottom or lack of tightness of the structure.
- Existence of access roads for sewage trucks.
- Stock type.
- Overall volume.
Studying these points will help you choose the right ones. A small volume can be cleaned on its own, without the involvement of specialized equipment. And for cleaning the sump with biological means, it is important to take into account the chemical composition of the effluent in the pit.
Advice: the outdoor toilet does not have to be cleaned. It is simply buried, adding a composting agent, and a temporary structure is placed in another place.
The most common cleaning methods:
- chemical method;
- mechanical cleaning;
- the use of biological products.
When choosing one or another method, they are guided by the cost of the work and their availability.
Chemical
Such substances are quite common for drain pits. The most popular drugs:
- bleaching powder;
- formaldehydes;
- ammonium compounds.
It is important to consider that they are very aggressive. However, they do a good job of cleaning waste, but can damage metal pipes and other communications.
Mechanical
Attract a specially equipped sewage machine. The use of technology allows you to quickly and efficiently clean up drains. During operation, a characteristic smell can be felt in the air, which makes this method not the most pleasant.
For this method, two points are important: the availability of access roads for the car and the length of the suction hose, which is three meters. At greater depths, additional cleaning methods should be used.
biological
Biological preparations are increasingly being used to work with sedimentation tanks. This is a set of different bacteria that ensure the processing of wastewater. The processes that take place in this case are safe for the environment and human life.
Anaerobic and aerobic bacteria are used. Their operating principle is slightly different. So, the first of them need oxygen to work, while for others this condition is not so important.
How to clean with chemicals
Signs of contamination of the sump are bad smell from the sink and the slow flow of water. It is urgent to start cleaning work. To begin with, you should study the principle of action of the substances used to clean cesspools and their composition. For do-it-yourself cleaning, biological products are used in the form of:
- powder.
- Liquids.
- Tablets.
This substance is used for the accumulation of fat, feces and other household waste. Their essence is that after the action of biological products, all this mass turns into a safe slurry that is easy to pump out.
Powders
The action of the tool can be described using the example of cleaning a 2-cube pit. In ten liters of warm water, dilute half a cup of the drug powder.
For the appearance of bacterial activity, stir the composition and put it in a warm place for two hours. Then pour it into the sump and wait for the desired result.
After cleaning the container mechanically, it is also recommended to use biological products. With their help, the drainage properties of the sump and its disinfection are restored.
Powder mixtures of preparations are used in outdoor toilets with a volume of 5-15 cubic meters. m. They contribute to the decomposition of feces and other household waste that enters the sump. Dilute the powder in warm water. Consumption rates - 50 g of the drug monthly. The finished liquid has an earthy color and is odorless. Apply at temperatures from +20 °C to +45 °C.
Liquid
Used in small and not very dirty toilets with a volume of up to 2 cubic meters. m. The product removes an unpleasant odor, it is mainly used for prevention and for wastewater treatment.
The liquid is diluted one to two, insisted and poured into the sump the next day. Apply at the rate of 2.5-5 liters per 100 cubic meters.
Tablets
An effective means for cleaning the sump up to 5 cubic meters. They tend to break down feces, and there is no need to use a sewage machine.
Tablets are used in finished form, by throwing into a container. Validity - 4 months. Unscented product.
It is worth noting an important point - biological products are effective only in water. Therefore, running water must flow into the sump.
How to choose the right drugs
Biological cleaning agents have a number of advantages:
- a chemical agent for sewer pits is effective at different temperatures, including negative ones, while the use of biological products is possible only at positive temperatures. In the cold season, chemicals are used;
- Chemicals react normally to hard water, chlorine, and household cleaners. Bacteria in such an aggressive environment for them die, and their action is reduced to zero;
- a significant disadvantage of the use of chemicals is the gradual destruction of the sewerage system in the house and a bad impact on the environment. Particularly aggressive effect on the metal parts of communications. Biopreparations in this regard seem to be preferable. They are absolutely safe for human, animal and plant health. In addition, they do not affect metal and concrete in any way;
- the chemistry is toxic, corrodes the metal, and accumulates in nature over time. It leads to the destruction of beneficial microflora and creates conditions for the reproduction of pathogenic bacteria in the pit.
Important: chemically processed sump waste must be removed from the site, and not used as fertilizer for the soil.
The mechanical method has a number of advantages over other types. The main thing is the absence self made. Cleaning is carried out automatically using special equipment - a sewage machine. it freight car With vacuum pump and sealed tank.
Purify country toilet or drain hole independently with the help of a household pump. It is necessary to use the unit for pumping out feces, since it has an enlarged inlet and allows you to work with a highly contaminated and viscous liquid.
There are two types of such devices: vibrating and centrifugal. The latter have greater productivity and a huge resource of work. The disadvantages of their use include high cost, consumption a large number electricity and overall dimensions.
For work, you will need a large container, commensurate in size with a pit into which sewage will be pumped out. This method is suitable for small country houses, where a small number of people live during the summer season. It fills up after a few years.
More details on the pros and cons of the application different ways shown in the table:
Cleaning method | Application area | Advantages | Flaws |
Mechanical | Pits, septic tanks, yard toilets | The simplest and effective method, the possibility of pumping out heavily contaminated and viscous mass, manual work is not used | The high cost of special pumping equipment, the spread of the smell of feces in the air, the need for arranging access roads |
Chemical | +, +, + | The preparations are used at any temperature, they react normally to an aggressive environment, and cope with any blockages. | Substances adversely affect the metal and concrete parts of the sewage pit, environment and some are hazardous to human health |
Bacterial | +, +, + | Safety for human health and nature, high-quality wastewater treatment, ease of use | Lose their effectiveness in aggressive environments, some drugs require oxygen to work properly |
Which means are more effective
The most accessible and simplest substance is the chemical preparation formaldehyde. However, its toxicity and negative impact on human health has been proven. For these reasons, this substance is practically not used. They were replaced by safer ones: oxidizing nitrates, bleach, ammonium and its compounds. They easily break down any waste, are insensitive to detergents.
Nitrate oxidizers are made on the basis of nitrogen fertilizer, they have a high cost. But the costs are fully justified, since the product is effective in an aggressive environment caused by cleaning and detergents.
Ammonium compounds are an excellent preparation. This tool breaks down fecal matter and removes unpleasant odors from the yard toilet.
The effect of this substance has not yet been studied, so it must be used with caution. It is better to drain the cleaned mass from the pit into sewers or remove it with a sewer machine so as not to harm the environment.
The most commonly used drugs:
- "Biobak";
- Devon-n.
You should also pay attention to biological preparations. Over time, they will be able to completely replace.
The principle of action of biological products is as follows: getting into the sewage pit, they are activated and, in interaction with enzymes, break down organic waste and feces.
To clean the pits, tools such as ROEBIC, Micropan, Saneks are used. Sewer pipes well cleans the biological product Fatcracker. He handles a lot of concentration detergents coming from the dishwasher and washing machine.
If on suburban area pets are kept, Sannisity biopowder is used to neutralize the unpleasant odor from the sewer. In addition to eliminating the fetid odor, the substance destroys annoying insects.
Useful video
From experience:
Summer residents and owners country houses in the absence of a central sewage system, with a certain frequency, one very important task has to be solved - to clean the septic tank. Unfortunately, such a wonderful facility, which ensures the purity of wastewater, itself needs regular cleaning.
To answer this question, you need to have at least a general idea about the design of septic tanks. Septic tanks may vary design features, the materials from which they are made, but operate on the same principle - they are, to one degree or another, primarily settlers.
A container placed in the ground is designed for filtering and treating wastewater by the flow method. This happens in the following sequence:
- Drains are brought to the tank, where they merge.
- Wastewater settle in the chamber for about a day, dividing into fractions.
- Heavy fractions settle. If the septic tank is provided biological treatment, then it is populated by anaerobic microorganisms, which, at a depth in an oxygen-free environment, process the settling particles, forming silt.
- Clarified water without suspended particles flows to the filter well, where they are completely cleaned and seep through the drainage into the ground.
Gradually, sludge accumulates, occupying a certain volume. This reduces the performance of the device. To clean the septic tank, you need to pump out most the formed sludge. It is undesirable to remove all the silt, since anaerobes live in it, and they will have to be repopulated in a completely cleaned septic tank. It is recommended to pump out somewhere 80% of deposits. Usually, septic tank cleaning performed as needed, but at least once a year.
Methods for cleaning a septic tank
Cleaning methods depend on the design of the septic tank:
- Some devices are equipped with special sludge pipes, through which sludge flows by gravity or under pressure.
- There are septic tanks that do not require pumping. In them, sludge enters with the help of special pumps through filters into replaceable tanks. The degree of filling of the tanks is determined visually, the filled tank is independently replaced by an empty one. Such a system is simple and convenient, but it also costs a lot.
In all other cases, you will have to choose between two options:
Professional Services
The arrival of the vacuum cleaners will help solve your problem quickly and easily. When applying for cesspool services, as a rule, you need to indicate the depth and volume of the septic tank, as well as provide transport access. Using a hose and a vacuum pump, specialists will pump out the contents of the septic tank or cesspool into a container installed on the machine, if necessary, wash the chambers and pipes. If the volume of the tank at the sewers allows, then the septic tank is pumped out at a time.
The task is simplified if the company providing sewage services has suction machine. This is more powerful and modern equipment. Such a machine does not need to drive close to the septic tank, the length of the hoses is about 40 m. Powerful pumps are able to cope even with solid deposits and, if necessary, flush from such an impressive distance.
If you need a professional septic tank cleaning, price for such a service in the Moscow region starts from 3,000 rubles (for a septic tank up to 3 cubic meters). Although, the farther from the capital, the lower the prices. For example, in Ryazan, located 200 km from Moscow, a similar service is offered for 2,500 rubles. Flushing of chambers and pipes is not included in this price.
If the chambers were washed, then it is necessary to repopulate the microorganisms in the septic tank.
Self cleaning septic tank
Pumping out septic tanks- a procedure that you can do yourself. For this you will need fecal pump, a water pump, a long hose and a tightly closed container of sufficient volume. If the sludge has acquired a solid consistency, then it will be useful fecal submersible pump with grinder.
It will be necessary to pump out deposits from the chambers into a container, if necessary, flush the pipes and chambers with a water pump, followed by the addition of a biological product containing anaerobes.
Recently, another method has been added to the listed methods for cleaning a septic tank, which is gaining more and more popularity among owners of suburban real estate.
Bacterial cleaning
The application serves as an excellent auxiliary tool for cleaning septic tanks and cesspools, which allows you to significantly save on calling a sewage truck - the need for it occurs much less frequently. And in cases of a short stay outside the city (for example, in the summer in the country), bacterial cleaning can be an alternative to professional pumping out of a septic tank or cesspool.
Biological products containing certain bacteria are added with water to the septic tank. Microorganisms get to work, purifying the water to a safe state, and the sludge becomes looser and loses its unpleasant odor. Especially such microorganisms are useful if the silt deposits thicken and harden.
The use of specialized biological products allows you to make the cleaning procedure more rare and save money, because professional pumping out septic tanks- The service is not cheap.
This method is especially in demand among summer residents who manage cesspool under the toilet. Independent cesspool cleaning- an unpleasant job. Services of the sewer machine for summer residents who do not live outside the city permanently, they are unnecessarily expensive. And the use of a biological product for cesspools allows the water pumped out of the pit to be used for irrigation, and the sediment for fertilizer.
If you are interested in professional pumping out cesspools, price services will amount, as with pumping out a septic tank, about 3,000 rubles in the Moscow region and other large cities. Prices are lower in regions. For example, in Saratov, they ask for 2 times less money for such a procedure.
A high-quality certified biological product will cost a little more than 1,000 rubles. When using biologics, there are a few things to keep in mind. important points:
- Getting into the septic tank, where the biological product is added, chlorine-containing and other aggressive chemicals kills microorganisms.
- Bacteria work, as a rule, in the temperature range from +4° to +30°C. This means that the use of biopreparations is useless in winter period.
- Microorganisms begin to work no earlier than after a couple of hours, so you should not expect an instant effect.
- It is necessary to use such biological preparations only according to the attached instructions.
Having considered all the main and auxiliary methods for cleaning septic tanks and cesspools, we can conclude that this is not a very complicated, but mandatory procedure. And the choice of method is always yours. If desired, every country resident can find best option, which suits him from a material and technical point of view.
When arranging local sewage in a country private house, many homeowners instead of traditional cesspoolspits mount systems with the installation of a septic tank. These installations are much more practical and convenient, but they also need periodic cleaning from sediment accumulated at the bottom. Althoughcleaning a septic tank is required much less often than cleaning cesspools.
It is customary to call septic tanks simple flow structures that are used for mechanical cleaning household drains. Unlike cesspools, septic tanks do not just accumulate discharged effluents; simple cleaning processes take place in these installations - mechanical settling and biological decomposition of organic matter.
During the processing of organic waste by bacteria, sludge is formed, which settles to the bottom of the chamber. In addition, part of the waste cannot be recycled, and a layer of sediment gradually accumulates at the bottom of the installation. This sediment is periodically recommended to be removed. Consider how to clean the septic tank and how often it should be done.
The need for cleaning
In order for an autonomous sewage system to work smoothly, it must be periodically maintained and cleaned. When using cesspools, the need for pumping is obvious; cleaning should be carried out as it is filled.
Unlike cesspools, a septic tank does not accumulate wastewater, purified water is discharged outside, and sediment in the form of silt remains inside the tank. Excessive silting of the installation leads to a decrease in the efficiency of the installation, reducing its environmental safety.
After all, silt deposits, accumulating at the bottom, gradually reduce the volume of the settling chambers, and the water simply does not have time to settle well before being brought out. If the septic tank has not been cleaned for a long time, then the sediment level will reach the overflow pipe, the water will simply stop leaving and a serious emergency will arise.
As a rule, it is recommended to clean and remove the septic tank at least once a year. The fact is that the deposits of silt accumulating at the bottom thicken over time and after a few years turn into a solid, heavy substance resembling clay.
The thicker the layer of dense sediment, the smaller the useful volume of the chambers, that is, as sediment accumulates, the installation loses its productivity and quality of wastewater treatment. In addition, cleaning the septic tanks at this stage may not work, as the pump simply cannot cope with heavy deposits. Therefore, you should not wait for an emergency to occur; pumping out once a year will avoid problems.
Advice! The use of special biological products will help to slightly increase the periods between cleanings. These preparations contain bacteria that efficiently process organic matter. Their use helps to reduce the amount of insoluble sludge, but does not eliminate it completely.
How can a septic tank be cleaned of sediment?
When solving the problem of how to clean a septic tank, there are only two acceptable solutions:
- Use the services of a company that provides sewage services, that is, with the help of special equipment that cleans cesspools and septic tanks;
- Pump out the septic tank yourself using a powerful fecal pump.
Advice! The first option, when sludge removal is carried out by professionals, is preferable. Of course, you will have to pay for the services, but then the owners will not have to do unpleasant work. In addition, they will be exempted from solving the problem of disposal of the pumped out sludge.
Professional pumping equipment
For pumping out sludge from sewer installations apply:
- Cesspool trucks with vacuum pumps. The contents of the chambers are pumped out into a container installed on a truck. If the volume of the container allows, then it is possible to completely pump out the septic tank or cesspools at a time;
- Ilosos. These are more modern installations for servicing local sewage systems. They are more powerful and capable of destroying even solid deposits; such special equipment can be used to pump out sediment if water does not leave the septic tank due to accumulated deposits. In addition, the advantage of this option is the fact that for pumping out the car does not need to drive directly to the septic tank. The capabilities of the equipment allow you to perform the necessary operations when the machine stops at a distance of up to 40 meters from the installation hatch. Moreover, sludge pumps are capable of not only pumping out sediment, but also immediately flushing the sewer system with a pressurized jet.
Advice! Performing two types of work at once (pumping and flushing) saves time and money.
What is required from the owner of the house?
Let's figure out what the owners need to do if they decide to clean the septic tank or pump out the cesspools using the services of professionals. The procedure should be like this:
- Choose a company providing sewage services;
- Place an order for septic service. At this stage, it is necessary to correctly formulate the tasks. For example, if the installation is heavily silted up and the water does not go away, then in addition to cleaning it is also worth ordering a flushing of the system. In addition, it is necessary to inform the dispatcher of the installation depth and its volume. This information is necessary to make the right choice. technical means. For example, an ordinary sewer machine can clean a septic tank, the depth of which does not exceed three meters;
- Sign a service agreement;
Advice! If desired, the owner, you can conclude a contract for subscription services. As a rule, this is more profitable than one-time orders. In addition, the owners do not have to think about when and how to clean the septic tank.
- Provide free access to the cleaning site.
It must be remembered that the process of pumping out a septic tank will be accompanied by the release unpleasant odors. Therefore, this event should not be scheduled for the weekend, when the whole family gathers for a picnic in a country house.
Self cleaning
If it is not possible to use the services of professionals, you will have to do the cleaning yourself, do-it-yourself cleaning of the septic tank is carried out as follows:
- Prepare equipment: a fecal and water pump, a long hose, a container for collecting the pumped out substance. The container must have sufficient volume and a tight-fitting lid;
- Pump out the contents of the cameras;
- Flush the chambers, water is pumped with a pump. If possible, flush the pipes;
- After flushing, it is poured into the septic tank pure water(this must be done if the septic tank is plastic, it is not necessary to pour water into the concrete one, since such an installation is not at risk of surfacing) and, if desired, a special biological product can be used.
If the cleaning of the septic tanks did not bring results and the water still does not go away, then most likely the reason is the silting of the filtration fields. In this case, it will be necessary to consider the construction of new soil purification devices, since washing the filter layer is a very laborious task.
So, regular cleaning of the septic tank is a necessary measure that allows you to maintain the performance of the installation and ensures a normal level of sewage treatment.
The cesspool machine is used to clean sewers, drain systems and other structures by pumping out liquid sewage with the presence of organic / inorganic impurities - feces, silt masses, sand. When renting a vacuum truck, consider several parameters that directly depend on the nature and amount of work that needs to be done.
- The type of work (whether sewer flushing equipment is required) will depend on the cost of the sewer service.
- Estimated amount of sediment or waste pumped out to pump out the waste pit at one time.
- Diameter of flushed pipes for domestic wastewater treatment.
- Minimum distance, on which a car can drive up to the object, because pumping out sewage and pumping out cesspools is a rather laborious process.
- Depth of pumping waste.
Capacity
If you need to clean small tanks (wells, septic tanks), choose a cesspool truck with a small or medium-sized barrel. If it is necessary to perform a significant amount of work, it is advisable to rent a device with the most capacious tank for storing and transporting liquids.
Power
The degree of productivity depends on the specified criterion. The higher the power of the vacuum pump, the faster and more efficient the cleaning is. Here also consider the tasks that you set for the equipment. If a decent amount of work needs to be done in a short time, rent a sewer truck equipped with a powerful vacuum pump. If the speed of work is not a determining condition, and its volume is small, there is no need to overpay.
Waste Discharge Method
The process of unloading sewage can be carried out by two methods - gravity and forced. In the first case, it is enough to uncork a special hole and the waste will flow out on its own under the pressure of its own weight. This technique will save a little, but the process itself will not be quick.
In the second case, the ejection of liquid is carried out forcibly. This is achieved due to the excess pressure created inside the tank. This method allows you to quickly and efficiently release the barrel from the contents.
Pay attention to the presence of a special device (barrier), which is equipped with a canister of a sewer. This safety device prevents the tank from overflowing, which prevents the pump from being damaged.
The price for the services of a vacuum cleaner in Moscow depends on the rental period - for an hour, a shift, a day or a month. Therefore, always find out the final cost of renting a vacuum truck when talking with the owner and ask for a discount if the vacuum truck is based near the work site.