Owning rental property is a big investment; one that comes with a lot of responsibility. One of those responsibilities is the actual upkeep. If your property isn't in good condition, your investment will suffer. The septic system is one area that's of particular concern. If the septic system at your rental property has failed, it's important that you have a new one installed as soon as possible. Once it's installed, you need to ensure that it lasts as long as possible. The best way to do that is to form a partnership with your tenants. Working together, you and your tenants can do what's best to protect the septic system. Here are three steps you can take to ensure proper protection for your new septic system.
Provide Septic Instructions
When people aren't familiar with septic usage, they can make costly mistakes. If your tenants have never used a septic system before, they could make some serious mistakes. Unfortunately, as the homeowner, you'll be left to foot the bill for the repairs. That is, unless you educate your tenants about proper septic use. Before your tenants move in, give them detailed instructions about the proper use and care of the septic system. These instructions should include a list of items that can't be flushed down the toilet, as well as a list of foods that can't be passed through to the garbage disposal.
Install Grey Water Drainage
If your rental home is equipped with washer/dryer hookups, plan for water usage. Depending on the size of the family you've rented to, their laundry use could inundate the septic tank. If that happens, you could be paying for water damage and sewage cleanup. To avoid that, install a grey water drainage system before your new tenants move in. That way, washing machine water bypasses the septic tank altogether.
Ensure Clear Septic Language
Septic system capacity is based on the size of the house, and the number of occupants. Under normal circumstances, a septic tank should need to be pumped about once every three to five years. But, if the system is overused, septic service may need to be scheduled more often. But, when you own a rental home, you don't always know how the septic system is being used. That's why it's important to ensure clear septic language in the lease. Limiting guest gatherings to less than 50 can reduce the wear and tear on your septic system.
If you own a rental home, make sure you protect your new septic system installation. The tips provided here will help you to avoid tenant-related septic problems. For added protection, be sure to have your new septic system serviced on a regular basis.
