Septic systems can be a delicate thing to deal with in some cases. They often seem less forgiving than a city sewer line connection, and many problems that homeowners experience are a direct result of poor care and maintenance. When your septic system is properly maintained and cared for, you'll find that it's reliable, consistent, and a valuable resource. However, what are you supposed to do if you don't know how to maintain it? There is so much conflicting information out there that it can be hard to know what's right. The good news is that there are a few key fundamentals that every septic system owner should know. Here are some of the key tips to keep in mind when it comes to maintaining your home's septic system.
Moderate Your Household Water Usage
One thing that you probably didn't think about when you were on a city sewer system was how much water you were using at any given point or during any given day. Remember that all of the water you run in your home, including in sinks, washing machines, dishwashers, and toilets, all flows to the same point — your septic system.
Your septic system then allows the water to filter through to your drain field while the solid waste breaks down in the tank. However, if you use a significant volume of water, your septic tank won't be able to filter that water to the drain field as fast as it's coming into the tank. That can lead to backups and a strained septic system.
Moderate your water usage by spreading laundry out over the week instead of all in one day, shorten showers and spread them out through the day when possible as well. Moderation will allow your septic tank time to deal with incoming water properly.
Protect Your Tank From Hazards
Far too many people assume that a city sewer connection means that they can flush anything they want down the drains. Unfortunately, this isn't any more true for a sewer system than it is for a septic system, but your septic system will show signs of trouble much sooner if you do so.
When it comes to maintaining a septic system, perhaps the single best thing that you can do is to be selective about what goes down your drains. Don't use a garbage disposal because food scraps can lead to backups and an imbalance in the tank. Avoid flushing anything that's not human waste or septic-safe toilet paper. That means keeping wipes, feminine products, and even medications out of your toilet.
The main reason that this is such a concern is that these types of things break down much more slowly, if at all. That leads to problems with an overfull septic system because the waste doesn't break down into the sludge that it should.
Call Your Septic System Contractor Every Couple Of Years
You may have heard that you only need to pump your septic tank if it's full and showing signs of struggle. This isn't actually the case. If you want to maintain your septic system properly and get the longest possible lifespan from the tank and drain field, you need to reach out to a septic system contractor at least once every couple of years to pump your tank and do a thorough inspection. Annual inspections are even better, but pumping can typically wait for every few years depending on the water usage in your home.
Taking proper care of your home's septic system is a vital part of keeping the balance between your pipes, your septic tank, and the drain field. With these tips and the help of a local septic system contractor, you can be sure that all drains will flow when you need them to. Reach out to a septic service for more information.
