After struggling for quite some time with our septic system, I realized there might be a problem with the way we were approaching various aspects of plumbing. For starters, we didn't think too much of putting things down the garbage disposal, which created some serious issues later on down the road. We were left struggling with drains that just didn't work properly, and so we started carefully considering ways to change things. We talked with a plumber about septic system maintenance, and they had some tips that improved our experience. Check out this website for awesome tips on managing septic tanks.
Do you know how to take care of the septic tank that your home uses? Did you move in without knowing what you may need to do to maintain it? Although it sounds like it might be difficult at first, taking care of a septic tank isn't as hard as it might seem. There are only a few simple things that you need to remember in order to keep your septic tank running as smoothly and as efficiently as possible. Here are the most important things you need to know.
Regular pumping: Septic tanks come in a variety of sizes, from a few hundred gallons to a few thousand gallons. Sewage that gets flushed into the septic tank will separate out into solids and liquids. The liquids are allowed to drain off harmlessly into the surrounding soil while the solids are allowed to remain in the tank. Eventually, the tank becomes full and various issues can start to occur, such as backed up toilets and bad smells. Pumping your tank out on a regular basis is an essential part of septic tank maintenance. For a typical household, this is usually every 3 to 5 years, but it can vary depending on the size of your household and the size of your tank.
No foreign objects: While a toddler might try to flush his or her toys down the toilet, most adults know that this is a bad idea. However, you might still consider flushing things like baby wipes or paper towels down the toilet. Although these things can cause minor issues for city sewer systems, they pose a more serious danger to a septic tank system. Unlike toilet paper that's been designed to break down in the septic tank environment, other materials will stay intact and will clog up the system. If you don't want to have to call out a septic tank maintenance company early to pump out the tank, avoid flushing things like kitty litter or other solids that don't specifically state that they're safe for septic tanks.
Spaced laundry: A septic tank relies on various species of bacteria to help break down the sewage so that the tank can function properly. The smaller the tank, the less room there is inside for the bacteria to grow. If you happen to have a very small tank that's only a few hundred gallons, just one or two loads of laundry can flush a substantial number of these beneficial bacteria out with the relatively cleaner wash water. Fewer bacteria might mean that your tank won't be as efficient, and you may need a septic tank maintenance company to clean it out more often. Instead of doing all your laundry on a single day, space it out through the week. This will help give the bacteria populations time to recover, and it will help your tank to function as it should.
Share25 May 2019
