It may be the most overlooked and undervalued utility in your home; but with proper care and maintenance, your septic system can continue to work for you for 25 to 30 years.
Let’s take a deeper look into things that you should and shouldn’t do when caring for your septic tank.
Things Not To Do
Don’t flush anything but toilet paper into your septic system
Many people monitor their kitchen sinks more closely than any other drain in their house. But you should pay attention to every drain in your home—and that means the bathroom. Make sure to only flush toilet paper and human waste down the toilet.
Don’t put household chemicals down the drain
This includes chemicals such as paint products, drain and floor cleaners, motor oil, antifreeze, and pesticides. These chemicals destroy the bacteria in your system that are necessary to break down solids.
Don’t park above your drain field or septic tank
Never keep heavy machinery above your drain field or septic tank. Also, make sure to plant trees an appropriate distance from your drain field to keep roots from growing into your septic system.
There’s a lot that can go wrong with your septic tank if it’s not used correctly. Don’t let these problems go unnoticed. Contact a plumbing professional for further assistance with…
- Odors, surfacing sewage, wet spots in the drain field area
- Plumbing or septic tank backups
- Gurgling sounds in your plumbing system
- Slow draining fixtures
Things To Do
Inspect and pump frequently
Septic tanks need to be pumped every three to five years, but it’s best to inspect them once a year to ensure everything is flowing well. General rule of thumb: the more people using your septic system = increased water flow = your septic tank will fill up faster = more frequent pumping.
Practice water conservation
Limit the amount of water you’re using in your home to extend your drain field’s lifespan. Using too much water is the most common reason for failed systems.
Here are some ways to conserve water:
- Run a few full loads of laundry instead of several smaller loads.
- Do not run the dishwasher and washer at the same time.
- Use “low flow” fixtures and high-efficiency toilets.
- Always get leaky faucets and toilets repaired quickly.
Keep septic tank lids easily accessible
Have “risers” installed to make septic tank pumping and monitoring visits easier and less time-consuming.
Contact a certified professional to repair your system
Always keep a certified technician’s number on hand so you can easily contact them with unexpected issues. You do not want to be scrambling to find help after things have already gone wrong! Issues with a septic tank are not a DIY matter.
Contact Donnelly’s Plumbing Heating and Cooling
If you’re looking for plumbing repairs, maintenance, or new installations, make sure to give Donnelly’s Plumbing Heating and Cooling a call.
We’d be happy to come out and help, day or night. Our trucks are fully-stocked trucks, and our emphasis on customer service will provide peace of mind knowing that we’re hard at work for your household.
To schedule service, give us a call at (215) 855-2014 or click the banner below.
