What a Septic Repair Professional May Need to Do When the Inlet Baffle On Your Septic Tank Is Bad

Your septic tank has a couple of baffles on it. One baffle is on the outlet pipe of the tank and the other is on the inlet pipe. The purpose of a septic tank baffle is to direct solids to the bottom of the tank so solids don't empty on top of the scum layer that floats on top of the tank. Baffles are made of concrete or plastic, and both types can clog or break. Here are some signs of a clogged or damaged inlet baffle and how a septic repair professional can fix the problem.

Signs of Problems With the Inlet Baffle

You might not notice any signs right away. The septic pumping professional checks the baffles when they pump out the tank, and they may notice the baffle has damage and let you know it needs to be repaired.

If a baffle is clogged, your sewer main line may back up or sewage may spill in your yard. If the baffle or inlet pipe it connects to is broken off, sewage from your house will leak out in the soil rather than go in your tank.

The inlet baffle is connected to the septic tank and the other side connects to an inlet pipe. The inlet pipe connects to the main sewer line that comes from your home, so if the inlet baffle or pipe is broken or clogged, you may have sewage in your yard or even backed up in your house.

A Clogged Baffle Can Be Scraped Clean

The septic repair professional can open up a clogged baffle by removing the lid on the septic tank and poking a long rod in the baffle to break loose the clog. By moving the rod around, the clog can rise to the top or fall to the bottom and open up the baffle. A clog might be caused by fat getting in the baffle or from toilet paper or other trash flushed down the toilet.

A Damaged Baffle Can Be Replaced

A plastic baffle might crack or break off. A concrete baffle can corrode away or crack and no longer function properly. If your tank has a plastic baffle, the repair person can take out the old baffle and inlet pipe and put in new parts.

If you have a concrete baffle, the repair person may recommend putting a plastic baffle in its place since plastic parts are easier to work with. A plastic pipe or baffle can be cut out if necessary to replace it, and the ends join together easily and seal to make the pipe watertight.

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