Installing a septic tank system isn’t exactly cheap, and it requires routine cleaning and emptying to ensure that the system has a long life span. It also saves you from spending large amounts of money on costly repairs or replacements, while also keeping your environment safe and healthy. Thankfully, septic tank maintenance is not rocket science and here are a few things to know about the same.
Routine inspection and cleaning of the tank
Regular inspection and cleaning of the septic tank are necessary to ensure its proper functioning. Such activities also help detect problems as they occur and prevent them from flaring into bigger concerns that require hefty repairs or replacements. Regular cleaning by pumping out the solid wastes from the tank helps prevent clogs, sewage backups, leakages and overflows, which can result in odor, plumbing failure, and even illnesses. The servicing frequency varies from one household to another and is dependent on the number of users. But it is typically advisable to clear the tank out every three years. For effective use, check with your septic tank technician or cleaning service company on what the right schedule for your tank would be.
Maintenance of the drain field
Maintaining the drain field is as important as maintaining the septic tank. Any activity performed on this area can have a direct or indirect impact on the septic tank and its functioning. For instance, planting deep-rooted trees can cause the root network to work their way into the tank and damage it. Therefore, you need to be wary of the plants you grow on the physical site. However, it is also important to prevent soil erosions, and hence, it is a good idea to plant grass like fescue which can hold the soil together.
Waste disposal into the tank
Anything that gets flushed down the kitchen sink the bathroom drains, your toilets or even bathtubs eventually ends up in the septic tank. Exactly why you need to be careful about what you throw down the drain. Watse like cat litter, sanitary napkins, baby diapers, tampons, paper towels, coffee grounds, and cigarette butts can clog the septic system and cause overflows, leakages, or backups. It’s an equally bad idea to throw grease or oily stuff down the drain because they can clog the drainfield, making it hard for the soil to absorb liquids. Chemicals and heavy duty cleaners that make their way into the tank can also disturb its balance and cause the system to malfunction. It’s best to restrict waste going into the septic tank to toilet paper and human waste. It’s also a good idea to invest in inexpensive live organic bacteria additives to help maintain the balance and to help break down solids more easily. Another option is to install an effluent filters to prevent these unwanted solids from entering the drainfield.
Water use within the household
Septic tanks typically function better when there is less water within them. Large amounts of water entering the septic tank can also be a potential reason for drain field flooding. To prevent such disasters, eliminate water wastage by fixing issues like constantly running toilets, leaky pipes, and so on. Setting your washing machine to a cycle suited for the type of clothes and the load capacity can also help save water. Using high-efficiency appliances, especially those with Energy Star rating, as well as specifically designed water conserving taps or fittings can also make a positive difference.
Employing a professional service provider
When considering septic tank maintenance, it is important that you hire the services of a professional company and not an unqualified person or service provider. The person can carry out inspections and perform maintenance tasks while also helping you schedule periodic clean up and minor repairs. While hiring them, you could also maintain a calendar and maintain inspection and repair records, so that you know exactly when the next one is due. This way, you can save yourself an emergency repair or costly replacement. Now that you know the important things surrounding a septic tank maintenance, you are less likely to face a septic disaster. Any mishap is bad, so it is best that you stick religiously to maintaining your septic tank and drainage fields well and take the help of well-qualified professionals when necessary.