Steps For Septic System Maintenance

Maintaining your septic tank so it has a long life and avoids problems is a joint effort between you and a septic pumping service. If you take good care of your system, you can prevent problems that lead to the need for expensive repairs. Plus, you'll avoid the inconvenience of a backed up toilet. Here are some important maintenance steps for a septic system.

Protect The Drainfield

The drainfield is responsible for distributing wastewater to the soil so it can be filtered as it sinks through the ground. The pipes in the drainfield can get clogged up and cause sewage to rise to the top of your yard. One way to prevent this is to have your tank pumped out on schedule and never let the tank get too full. When the septic tank gets too full, solids and oils can pass through to the drainfield and cause clogging.

Other ways to maintain the drainfield include not planting anything but grass above it so roots don't become a problem and not driving over the area because that might compact the soil or crush a drain. Also, avoid draining a swimming pool or hot tub near the drainfield, as that overwhelms it with too much water at once.

Manage Your Waste Responsibly

A septic tank holds a limited amount of waste, and it usually holds it for a few years before it needs to be pumped out. When you're careful about what you place in the drains, your tank will go longer without needing to be pumped. The advantage of this is that it is easier to predict when to schedule a service call. If your family loads up the tank with things that don't decompose, such as cigarettes, diapers, and bones, then the tank fills up faster. When you don't expect that, the tank can get too full and cause a sewage backup.

Limit how much you use the garbage disposal if possible because the disposal adds a lot of waste to the tank. If you do use a disposal, avoid putting bones and other things through it that are slow to break down. Don't use your toilet for disposing of paper towels or wet wipes. These can clog the sewer lines and fill up the tank quicker since they don't break down as fast as toilet paper. Also, try to conserve water if you can by using high-efficiency appliances and fixing water drips promptly.

Have The Tank Cleaned Out Regularly

Call a septic pumping company to empty your tank before it gets too full. The company can help you plan the right date ahead of time based on the size of your family and the size of the tank. Cleaning out the tank before the solids or grease layers get too thick will prevent major problems from developing. The service will empty the sludge from the tank and check for problems that might need repairs. By having this maintenance done on schedule for the life of your septic system, you should get many years of service from your system while avoiding serious problems that could develop because of neglect.

For more information, contact a local septic service company like Linn Septic Service

About Me

Keeping Your Septic System Clean and Tidy

Last Thanksgiving, the worst thing in the world happened. Our sinks and toilets started spewing raw sewage into our house because of an overloaded septic tank. It was devastating, and I didn't know what to do. Fortunately, we were able to find a professional plumber who was willing to come out right away to help us to fix the problem. After having that experience, I decided to make septic care a priority. I started having the tank pumped when I should, and I always pay attention to bad smells coming from my drains. This blog is here to help you to avoid septic problems too.