Many private houses are not connected to the central sewage system, and this creates certain inconveniences for living. Owners of such houses are forced to use a cesspool. The cesspool is an autonomous installation for draining all the waste products of the residents of the house. Over time, the impurities accumulated in it form an unpleasant odor and pose a potential threat to human health. This problem can be eliminated if timely cleaning of the cesspool is completed.
When is the time to clean the pit
If midges fly over the pit, a pungent odor spreads, the mud accumulates and the water in the plumbing fixtures does not leave well, then it is time to clean it.
For such a plant to last a long time, it is best to carry out cleaning measures every year. Do not wait until the autonomous system is full.
Typically, cleaning is carried out when sewage is 60 percent of the size of the tank. If this is not done in time, the accumulated sludge at the bottom of the sewer system will lead to clogging.
Cesspool cleaning methods
You can clean an autonomous structure yourself. The following methods are available for cleaning the cesspool:
- chemical method;
- biological method;
- pumping method;
- folk methods.
Chemical method
The following preparations are used for chemical waste disposal:
- formaldehyde;
- nitrate oxidizing agents;
- ammonium salts.
A formaldehyde preparation is the cheapest, but because of its strong toxicity, its use can cause cancer. Therefore, it is practically not used for cleaning work.
Chemical preparations based on ammonium salts are able to clean the cesspool well. But their use requires caution and strict adherence to all instructions.
In terms of safety, nitrate oxidizing agents have much better characteristics. The high price of these drugs is fully justified by their effectiveness. Preparations of this type are suitable for cleaning the pit and the entire sewer system.
All these chemicals, when added to the sewer, effectively liquefy household waste and neutralize unpleasant odors. Such drugs can be used in the cold season, but they are very toxic and therefore harmful to the environment.
Biological method
Biological treatment of a cesspool is completely safe for both humans and the environment. It disinfects the cesspool and significantly reduces the amount of waste. The advantages of using these drugs are that:
- under their influence, waste and feces turn into odorless liquid;
- during cleaning, they do not harm the materials that were used in the construction process;
- disinfect a cesspool and break down feces, fats, toilet paper and peel vegetables;
- the activity of bacteria begins two hours after placing them in a pit, and after four hours the unpleasant odor is completely eliminated.
Biological products are produced in the form of granules, liquids, tablets, powders and gels. It is only necessary to choose a suitable product and use it in accordance with the attached instructions.
The only drawback of this method is that biological preparations cannot work at low temperatures. You can use biological treatment of a cesspool only at a temperature of 4 to 30 degrees.
It is important to know that biological products for cleaning cesspools do not tolerate household chemicals. Therefore, if the house uses chemical detergents and washing powders, then the biological treatment of drains will have to be abandoned.
Pumping
The most traditional method of cleaning a cesspool is pumping. This procedure can be performed using special services or independently. A specialist call will be needed if there is a large volume of a cesspool and if there is a driveway to it. Such a service is not cheap and if the cesspool is small, then the landlord can do the cleaning work himself.
In order to do this work with your own hands, you need to purchase special equipment: a fecal pump and a container for collecting pumped liquid. The cesspool is cleaned in rubberized clothing that protects against liquid and using a respirator or gas mask.
Since a hazardous gas is formed inside the cesspool - methane, it is undesirable to pump the waste by the pump alone. There should be a person nearby who can quickly come to the rescue in case of gas poisoning.
Folk methods
There are folk methods for cleaning the cesspool. The material for this cleaning method can be collected at its site.
It can be mint leaves and basil, nettle, tomato tops. All these herbal remedies eliminate the unpleasant odor, but they can’t clean the pit.
Peat and sawdust absorb the contents of the cesspool, with the result that the stench disappears. These products do not dissolve and therefore are removed manually.
A small cesspool can be cleaned with improvised means that are available in each house. To carry out this procedure, you need to change into durable and preferably waterproof clothing that will protect the skin from drains. Using a bucket and a rope, they scoop out the liquid from the pit into a container and then take it to a prepared place.
Conclusion
In some cases, to clean the cesspool is enough to use only one of the proposed methods. But there are situations in which you have to carry out comprehensive cleaning activities. For example, the use of biological products entails the pumping of sewage.
Cleaning measures should be carried out regularly and in a timely manner. Do not postpone cleaning the cesspool, as this leads to the formation of toxic gases and stench. All this negatively affects the environment and causes harm to human health.
