Septic System Maintenance & Repairs Chattanooga, TN

Choo Choo Rooter, a local Chattanooga plumber, safely performs septic system maintenance, which helps to ensure the proper functioning of a system for many years to come.


Call us at 423-355-0001 to request a septic tank inspection. 


Even a septic system that is well designed and properly installed can, without proper care, fail, and having a septic system replaced is usually expensive and time-consuming. Septic tank problems also pose a serious health hazard, which can contaminate your property. 


That being said, how does a septic tank and system work? Understanding this is crucial to a system that is well-functioning.

How a Septic Tank Works

When wastewater enters a septic tank, the waste is actively broken down by bacteria, leaving behind water that can percolate down into the ground. The entire septic system counts on the bacteria to properly do their job. This bacteria lives in your septic tank and down in the drain field.


Effluent is what all waste that flows into a septic tank is called. A sludge layer is formed at the tank's bottom when the bacteria break down the organic materials. This sludge consists of the bacteria's byproducts and the inorganic solids. As the sludge falls to the bottom, to the top floats a layer of scum. Scum is made up of grease, fats, and oils, so basically, a septic tank works as a settling pond.


All septic tanks contain a filter that prevents most of the solids from reaching the outlet pipe, which leads to the drain field. A drain field is a large surface area. It is where the bacteria feed off the effluent and where the treated water seeps into the ground. Holes in the pipes carry the treated water so the water can drain, while the gravel surrounding the pipes allows oxygen to reach the bacteria inside. The waste is decomposed with the bacteria's assistance, and the cleaned water goes back into the groundwater.

Signs of Septic Tank Problems & Failures

Sewage backup, any bad-smelling black liquid in the drains or toilets

Slow draining or flushing toilets, multiple slow drains

Wastewater pooling on the ground surrounding the septic system

Green grass covers the septic system throughout warm weather

Unpleasant odors around the home

If any of the signs mentioned above are noticed around your home, it is crucial to quickly schedule an appointment without our Choo Choo Rooter technician in Chattanooga.

Septic Tank Maintenance in Chattanooga, TN

As you've probably realized, bacteria are essential to the system. Using harsh household chemicals in large quantities will kill off the crucial bacteria in the septic tank and drain. The waste, without these organisms, is not able to be broken down. Flushing waste takes a very long time to decompose and can also harm the system. For example, coffee grounds, diapers, and cigarette butts can cause damage to the septic system.


Other issues can also arise from overused garbage disposals, as well as synthetic lint fibers from washing machines. Large quantities of wastewater sent over a short period of time can cause the tank to flush out too quickly. Having excess sludge in your tank can also interfere with the ability of the bacteria to break down the incoming waste, and it can seep into the drain field, where the holes in the pipes become clogged.


Roots from your landscape's trees and bushes can also cause root intrusion in the drain field, which, if left unchecked, causes damage. This is the main cause of sewer clogs. Choo Choo Rooter provides septic tank pumping for both commercial and residential locations. Having the tank pumped removes the accumulation of scum and sludge. As a rule of thumb, you should have your tank pumped once a year, although there are some who can go about three years between pumping. This will depend on the amount of waste that runs through your system as well as the size of your tank.


We offer regular inspections and, when necessary, pumping to ensure that the bacteria can perform its job efficiently. Our specialists can also install an effluent filter into the tank to protect your drain pipes from becoming clogged. If you find that the filter you currently have is constantly clogging, it may be necessary for you to be a bit more cautious about the types of products you are sending down the drain. Food scraps, fat, and grease from the garbage disposal alone are able to increase the amount of solids in a tank by 50%.

Certified Chattanooga Plumbers Know Septic Systems 

Unlike plumbers who merely know how to pump a septic pump, our technicians deeply understand the system as a whole. Our inspections are thorough and will help you better understand the state of your septic system, the amount of water you should pass through it daily, introduce more bacteria if needed, and determine if the septic tank is the proper size for your home.


If you are dealing with clogged drain pipes, inquire with us about our pipe cleaning services. By hydrojetting your pipes, we can free them from any obstructions as well as save you the costs of having to install a new drain field. We are also able to install a filter on the drain to your washing machine to trap any lint particles, preventing them from conflicting with the bacteria in your tank. Our specialists are also able to assist you with limiting your water use with the installation of low-flow shower heads, as well as by replacing old toilets that have wastewater.


Our specialty is tree root intrusion removal, along with pumping and repair of septic tanks. The prices we offer are always competitive, and priority scheduling is always offered as well. If you have a system that is clogged, we can help determine the source and offer a solution that will limit the damage to your property and completely address the issue at hand.


If you have noticed any issues with your septic tank, call us today and avoid a sewer disaster, which can be hazardous. We are available 24/7, 365 days a year, with no overtime charges. Make sure your septic system keeps going strong thanks to our routine inspections and pumping services, which will guarantee that your septic system continues to work efficiently for years to come.

Why wait any longer? Call us at 423-355-0001 for expert septic system inspections.

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