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.