More Septic Protection

We’ve spent a lot of time discussing the best ways to protect your home’s septic system. Continuing on in the septic care trend, we're going to discuss the best ways to protect your nostrils from your septic system!

After having educated yourself on the inner workings of your septic system, you probably now know that the tank itself is designed to hold solids while still allowing free-flowing fluid to be eliminated into a drain field. However, many people don't give a second thought to the fact that the combination of those fluids and solids will also create a combination of gasses. Unfortunately, these gasses, however malodorous, must have some place to go as well. Some septic systems emit gasses like this through a rooftop vent system. Others are emitted through a septic vent system that’s located somewhere in the lawn. These gasses can often create a rather stinky odor about your home unless the system has been cared for properly.

Over and over again we’ve discussed the ample need for a laundry lint filter. But there are several other filters that will help to care for your septic system, as well as your sense of smell, and are also considered a homeowner responsibility. Depending on the type of septic vent you have, you can purchase filters to filter unpleasant septic gases. Septic gasses are a combination of both hydrogen sulfide and methane. Aside from simply being offensive to the smell, these gases can also be harmful if ingested over a long period of time. For this reason, many homeowners find it both beneficial to health and a courtesy to those they love (as well as their neighbors) to purchase and utilize septic system gas filters.

While we still maintain that the use of the laundry lint filter for your septic tank is the number one way to protect your septic system, we also feel that protecting your family from harmful gases, that can be inhaled when your home is on a septic system, ranks way up there.

Remember, as a homeowner it's your responsibility to do everything in your power to care for your home and all the components thereof. While dealing with all the needs and issues pertaining to your septic system may seem like a nasty business -- it's a job that must be done...and as a homeowner – that duty falls to you.

Take Responsibility for Your Home

Owning your own home is a huge responsibility and as such, there are several things that you must address in order to maintain your home properly. As we all know, basic home maintenance consists of regular roof inspection, foundation inspection, inspection for damage or termites and other pests, as well as a host of other general homeowner concerns. However, one of the most prominent homeowner concerns comes in the form of plumbing. The plumbing of your home can very well be considered one of the homes life forces. Just like the blood flows through your veins the water and other waste material from your home flows through your pipes. If a blockage or back up in the plumbing system occurs, major repairs typically ensue. Taking note of the few steps you can take in order to ensure that your plumbing system remains healthy is a primary factor in homeowner responsibility. Read on to learn a little bit more about the things you can do to ensure that your plumbing and the pipes within your walls maintain clear and easy flow.

First of all, avoid washing things down the drain that are not meant to be flushed or drained. Some common examples of things that end up in the pipe system of a home that shouldn't be there include hygiene products, children's toys, paper, and non-biodegradable string, cloth, and other household items. One of the more common plumbing problems facing homeowners today is a septic system backup. The septic backup is not as simple as you may think. In fact, the majority of septic system backup is not caused by human waste, but by non-biodegradable laundry lint.

There is one specific and surefire way to avoid laundry lint build-up in your septic system... the utilization of a laundry lint filter. Laundry lint filters are relatively inexpensive and can be easily purchased through an online retailer who specializes in the design and use of filters to combat this specific problem.

Septic System Care is your responsibility as a homeowner. You should seriously consider the purchase and utilization of a laundry lint filter for your washing machine. You'll find that using a laundry lint filter will not only provide you with peace of mind, but it can also save you quite a lot of money in the long run through reduced septic system replacement expenses that are related to build-up of non-biodegradable laundry lint fibers.

Make Your Laundry List

So, you're finally buying your very own home. That's great news! If you're purchasing your home, outside the city limits, there's a good chance your new house will not be on a sewer system. The sewer alternative is known as the septic system. In short, the septic system is the system wherein water from your showers and toilets drain. Waste byproducts will travel down the pipes and into your septic tank. In addition to waste products from your bath water or your shower, your septic system will also gather waste from your washing machine. Believe it or not, your rinse water is filled with waste from your laundry. This waste is much more than just water and soap. The wash rinse will also contain the dirt that has been cleaned from your clothing, as well as a substantial amount of lint.

Of all the things that wash down your pipes and end up in your septic system, laundry lint is quite possibly the most dangerous. Because laundry lint is not biodegradable, the collection of this substance in your septic system drainfield can cause the levels of wastewater to rise dramatically. This will eventually create of problems for the homeowner.

A dramatic increase in water levels in the drainfield can cause backups into your home. The major problem with backups caused by a collection of laundry lint is that there is no way to naturally break the laundry lint down. Again, laundry lint is not biodegradable so when it is collected in your wash water and deposited in your septic tank it will never go away. So you see, unless you are taking the necessary precautions to prevent an overabundance of laundry lint from collecting in your septic system drainfield, you will eventually be forced to take dramatic action to correct the problem usually replacing the drainfield.

The most effective way to prevent an overabundance of laundry lint from collecting in your septic system is the utilization of a washing machine lint filter. This filter will capture laundry lint while allowing water to drain effectively so as to prevent unnecessary blockages and build up. Your only duty as a homeowner is the occasional filter cleaning to maintain the free flow of water. Now that you own your own home, it's your responsibility to care for that home completely. If you're on a septic system, do yourself a favor and purchase a laundry lint filter today. The small cost now can end up saving thousands of dollars in the long run.

Protecting Your Septic System

Do you know that as a homeowner it is your responsibility to protect your septic system? The septic systems in our houses are not all that complex, but they are in fact very expensive to repair due to improper maintenance and/or care.

There are four components that make up your septic system. The first one is the pipe that runs from your home to the septic tank itself. Next in line is the septic tank which allows partial decomposing of solid material -- the waste is held here until the solids separate and the oil or grease rises to the top. Next, you have the drain field where the partially treated waste water goes. Lastly you have the soil in the drain field that soaks up the partially treated waste water, basically a recycle process.

There are three very important steps you must take to ensure that your investment is taken care of. The first is INSPECT/PUMP. It is recommended to have your system inspected every year and have the tank pumped every one to three years to ensure that no problems are developing and that there are no leaks that could cause contamination of your property. Your Septic System Inspector can recommend the proper time interval for your system and household. The next step is to PROTECT. Never park or drive on the system or the drain field and plant only grass over the areas, and mark the area so others know not to drive on that area. Also avoid planting any shrubs or trees with roots as they can crack pipes and tanks very easily. Make sure gutters are facing away from drain fields and fix leaky toilets and dripping faucets right away. Lastly is PREVENT. Flush only human waste and no household products such as cleaners, medicines, auto fluids, paints, or lawn care products, as they can pollute the water. Garbage disposals will make you have more waste in your septic system so try to compost as much as possible.

The convenient part to all is that there are various services to help you protect your septic system. Many services offer free estimates and very reasonable prices for helping you protect your septic system in turn protecting your investment. You can find many articles about your septic system, such as: how it works, protecting it from freezing weather, proper drainfield placement, proper sizing of the drainfield, etc. A variety of tips and products for proper care of your septic system are available that will help in protecting your septic system.

Proper maintenance of your septic system will ensure the continued efficient service and prevent the unnecessary expense of replacing your septic system and the unsightly mess of having it replaced.

Septic System Tips

In the United States today, one out of every four homes is connected to a septic system, and unfortunately, these systems are not foolproof. In fact, all across the country, each and every day, people are having their lawns destroyed in order to have a septic system replaced. The good news is that you can avoid problems with your septic system by observing the following sure-fire tips. The following information can help you avoid some of the pitfalls that can come with owning a septic system.

Try your best to limit your family’s water use. This tip sounds relatively simple, but doing so will allow your septic system to rest after you’ve used it heavily. For example, if you have just completed washing a load of clothes, it’s a good idea to limit any extra use of water for at least a few hours. It’s also a good idea to repair your leaky faucets.

When possible, avoid using your garbage disposal. The utilization of a garbage disposal will dramatically increase the level of solid waste in your septic system. Overloading your system (too much water or too frequently) can cause septic backup into your house -- yuck!

Always make it a point to purchase septic-safe toilet paper. Not all toilet paper is created equal. Some brands of toilet paper are better for your septic tank than others. Be sure to purchase toilet paper that will easily biodegrade and is labeled as septic safe.

And last but certainly not least, one of the most prominent septic system maintenance tips is to purchase a laundry lint filter for your washing machine. Lint that is collected in used wash water is primarily synthetic and will not biodegrade. For this reason, laundry lint is one of the major causes of septic system blockages. You can avoid problems caused by laundry lint through the simple addition of a washing machine lint filter.

There is a wide range of products available for septic maintenance, and when combined with the above tips, these products and services can help to ensure that your septic system continues to function properly. It’s also wise to have your septic levels measured annually; this can be done in conjunction with a recommended annual septic system exam.

In short, common sense and forethought are the two best weapons against septic system problems. Avoid obvious septic threats (such as flushing paper towels and sanitary items) and follow sound maintenance advice, and you’ll enjoy your septic system for years to come.