Septic System Maintenance
Proper maintenance of a septic system can prevent costly repairs or drain field replacement. Observing the following guidelines will help you keep your septic system running efficiently. Practice water conservation. The more waste water you produce, the more your system must treat and dispose. By reducing and balancing your water use, you can extend the life of your septic system.
Here are some tips to help keep your septic system properly maintained:
Pump Your septic system regularly! Every 3 to 5 years is good depending on usage.
Avoid excessive paper usage, do not flush heavy wipes or paper products.
Limit garbage disposal usage.
Keep meat, chicken, coffee grounds and especially grease out of the septic system.
Do not use the toilet as a trash can or an ash tray.
Put food coloring in toilet reservoir and see if it shows up in the lower bowl, if so replace the flapper valve.
Repair Toilets that run, and any leaky faucets, or plumbing fixtures, immediately.
Wash only full loads of dishes and laundry.
Balance your water use. Avoid washing several loads of laundry in one day.
Be pre-emptive with your septic system..
- Know where your septic tank is, keep a diagram or mark its location with a paving stone and keep a record of system maintenance.
- Inspect your system annually. Check the sludge and scum levels inside the tank and periodically check the drain field for odors, wet spots, or surfacing sewage.
- Pumping your septic tank is probably the single most important thing you can do to protect your septic system. Pumping should be done on the average of every two to three or five years at the most.
- Water from roofs and driveways should be diverted away from the septic area. Soil over your system should be mounded slightly to encourage runoff.
- Keep vehicles and livestock off your drain field. The pressure can compact the soil or damage the pipes. Before you dig for any reason, check the location of your system and drain field area.
- Plant grass over the drain field area.
- Do not plant trees or shrubs where roots can intrude into your system.
Use chemicals and bleach in moderation and only according to manufacturer’s directions.
What not to do with your septic system..
- Excessively irrigate over your drain field area.
- Avoid using caustic drain cleaners for clogged drains.
- Use boiling water or a drain snake to clean out clogs.
- Never ever enter a septic tank. Poisonous gases or a lack of oxygen can be fatal.
- Flushing harmful materials into your tank can ruin your system.
- Grease, cooking oil, coffee grounds, sanitary napkins, and cigarettes do not easily decompose in septic tanks. Chemicals, such as solvents, oils, paints, and pesticides, are harmful to your systems operation and may pollute groundwater.
- Use a garbage disposal sparingly. Using a garbage disposal will increase the amount of solids entering the septic tank and may result in the need for more frequent pumping.
Warning Signs of System Failure
While proper use, inspections, and maintenance should prevent most septic tank problems, it is still important to be aware of changes in your septic system and to act immediately if you suspect a system failure. There are many signs of septic system failure:
- Surfacing sewage or wet spots in the drain field area
- Sunken area’s around or on septic system
- Plumbing or septic tank backups
- Slow draining fixtures; (gurgling sounds in the plumbing system)
- Sewage odors in the house or yard (House plumbing vents on the roof will emit odors and this is normal)
- Test the presence of bacteria in well water.
- If you notice any of these signs, or if you suspect your septic tank system is going into failure call us immediately.
