5 common ways to clean a sump from sludge

The silting up of the cesspool is a common problem that sooner or later all owners of private houses face. The reason for this is solid sewage and fecal masses that fall into the pit during operation. When a large amount of sludge accumulates in the sewer, the system ceases to function effectively and simply cannot cope with the waste poured into it. As a result, liquid waste accumulates at the bottom, and the pit itself fills with water. And if the walls are covered with a layer of fatty deposits, then the problem is even more complicated. Indeed, in this case, liquid waste does not have the ability to go into the ground due to the lack of a passage.

It is necessary to pay attention in a timely manner to malfunctions in the operation of the sewer system. Otherwise, it will be necessary not only to clean the pit of silt, but also to eliminate the consequences in the form of contamination of the personal plot. After all, if you start a problem, waste will begin to pour out, spreading an unpleasant odor. In addition, the sewage contains dangerous bacteria that are carriers of infection.

Restoring the correct operation of sewer work is a completely doable task. There are several effective ways to clean the sump from siltation.

Chemicals

Special chemicals are often used to clean sewer pits. These products are quite effective in dissolving impurities and helping to get rid of unpleasant odors. They are not afraid of low temperatures, which means that cleaning the pit with chemical means can be done even in the cold season. The disadvantage of this method is that some drugs are not safe for the environment. For example, formaldehydes are very toxic, and the effect of chemicals containing ammonium compounds is not well understood. The best option is to clean the sump with nitrate oxidants. Their composition is close to fertilizers, and therefore the use of these products is safe for people and plants.

Biological agents

The pit can be cleaned with biological agents containing live bacteria and enzymes. The principle of microorganisms is that they absorb waste, producing harmless organic matter. The cleaned mass can even be used as fertilizer. Biologicals are easy to use and completely harmless, but they also have their drawbacks. Microorganisms do not work at low temperatures, which means that in the winter season this method of cleaning will have to be abandoned. Also for bacteria, the effect of an aggressive chemical environment is detrimental, therefore, during the period of their use, waste containing household products should not be poured into the pit.

Manual cleaning

It is possible to remove sludge from the sewer pit in the simplest way - to clean it by hand. This will require a bucket, shovel and rope. Cleaning is done as follows:

1. A bucket is used to scoop out liquid waste;
2. With the help of a shovel, all the sludge is collected from the bottom;
3. After the hole dries out, the bottom is covered with gravel to make the next treatment easier.

This method does not require financial costs, but it is rather unpleasant and time consuming. In addition, you can only manually clean a not very deep hole. In some situations, it will be easier to bury a silted well and equip a new waste site.

Cleaning by pump

Another common method for solving the problem of siltation of a drain pit is cleaning with a fecal or water pump. Devices are divided into two types:

• Automatic. After installation in a pit, such a pump functions independently, pumping out waste as it appears.
• Semi-automatic. The operation of devices of this type must be monitored.

Before starting to pump out, the sludge should be diluted to a liquid consistency. After all the waste has been pumped out, it is advisable to pour water into the pit. This is done in order to additionally flush the structure. It is important not to forget about the pipelines, they also need high-quality cleaning. If a water pump is used for work, then it is worth purchasing a special filter for it, which will protect the mechanisms from clogging. A filter is not required for a fecal pump, it is able to pump out waste immediately after connection.

It should be noted that cleaning the pit with a pump, although effective, is quite an unpleasant and difficult process.

Calling a sewage truck

This method is good because it does not require any effort from the owner of the pit. It is only necessary to call a sewer truck and the sewer pit will be cleared of silt in a short period of time. In addition, the cost of such a service includes not only pumping out the accumulated waste, but also their subsequent disposal.

Before calling the sewers, you need to make sure that there is free access on the site for the car to drive to the pit. You should also take into account the length of the hose with which the waste will be pumped out. The quality of the work performed will depend on this factor. The pit should not be deeper than three meters, otherwise the sewers will not be able to remove the silt at the bottom.

Specialists can use in their work not only an ordinary hose for pumping out sewage, but also a special device called a sludge pump. It is a device equipped with a long hose. The sludge pump is effectively used to break up dense layers of sludge. As a result, the correct operation of the sewerage system is restored, liquid sewage ceases to accumulate, and the unpleasant odor disappears. Calling a sewer truck is the easiest way to clear a sump of sludge. The disadvantages include the relatively high cost of this service.

When choosing a suitable cleaning method, pay attention to its availability, cost and environmental friendliness. For example, you can try to clean a pit of shallow depth yourself, or use a fecal pump. If you decide to use biological agents for cleaning, make sure that the liquid waste does not contain household chemicals. And in the case of using chemicals, carefully read their composition. It must be safe for the environment.

If the pit is deep enough, and the silt layer has hardened strongly, it would be more correct to use the services of a sewer. Experienced specialists will do all the dirty work themselves, and the functionality of the sewerage system will be restored.