DOs and DON’Ts for taking care of your Septic System

A little attention to the care of your system can help avoid the nightmare of a failing system. Assuming that your septic system was properly located, designed, and installed according to stage codes, you are in the driver’s seat for the care of your system. By following the recommendations below, you can help your system work properly for years to come.

 

DOs Conserve water to reduce the amount of wastewater that must be treated & disposed of by your system. Doing laundry over several days will put less stress on your system. Repair any leaking faucets or toilets. To detect toilet leaks, add several drops of food dye to the toilet tank and see if dye ends up in the bowl. Divert down spouts and other surface water away from your tank and drain field. Excessive water keeps the soil from adequately cleansing the wastewater. Keep your septic tank cover accessible for inspections and pumping’s. Install risers with lids, if necessary. Have your septic tank inspected and pumped regularly by a licensed septic tank contractor. Suggested frequency is 3-5 years. Pumping your septic tank is probably the single most important thing you can do to protect your system. If the buildup of solids in the tank becomes too high and solids move to the drain field, this could clog and strain the system to the point where a new drain field will be needed. Call your county health department or a registered septic tank contractor whenever you experience problems with your system, or there are any signs of system failure Keep a detailed record of repairs, pumping’s, inspections, and other maintenance activities. Pass these on to the next homeowner.

DON’Ts Don’t drive over your tank & drain field or compact the soil in any way. Don’t dig around the tank or drain field, or build anything over it, and don’t cover it with a hard surface such as concrete or asphalt. Don’t plant anything over or near the drain field except grass. Roots from nearby trees & shrubs may clog and damage the drain lines. Don’t use a garbage disposal, or at least limit it’s usage. Disposals increase solids loading to your tank by 50%, so you have to pump your tank more often than normally suggested. Don’t use your toilet as a trash can or poison your system and the groundwater by pouring harmful chemicals and cleansers down the drain. Harsh chemicals can kill the bacteria that help purify our wastewater. Examples: coffee grounds, disposable diapers, sanitary napkins, cigarette butts, fats, grease or oil, paints, thinners, photographic solutions, antibiotics, dental floss, kitty litter, paper towels, varnishes, waste oils and pesticides. Don’t allow backwash from home water softeners to enter the septic system. Never enter a septic tank — toxic gases from the tank can kill. If your system develops problems, get advice from your country health department or a licenses septic tank contractor.