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.
Your septic tank may not need to be pumped very often, but it can still involve a lot of work. You can help make the process go more smoothly by locating and marking your tank's lid, having lid risers installed, and making sure you keep thorough records of your entire septic system.
Find and Mark Your Lid
If your lid is completely buried, it can be easy to lose track of where it can be accessed from. If you know roughly where your tank is installed, a professional can use tools to locate the lid under the soil, but this can take time, and the lid will still need to be dug up after it has been located.
If you need to find it yourself, there are a few ways you can do this. Use your sewer line to guide you in the right direction. The sewer line runs straight from your house to your tank, so if you can find the sewer line—or the sewer line cleanout—you're one step closer already. You can also use a thin metal rod, such as a tile probe, and stick it in the ground in different locations in your yard until it hits your tank.
This is one of the easiest parts of the pumping process to cut time off, and the most effective way to do this is to put a marker in the soil where you know your lid is buried. You can use a small flag or something that blends in with your yard but is still easily identifiable. Not only will this help you find your lid easily every time, but it can also help in case of an emergency.
Install Lid Risers
Another way to speed up the pumping process is by installing risers on your tank's lid or lids. Risers are essentially an extension of your lid, the tops of which are always above ground. This makes it so that when a professional comes to pump your tank, they need only remove the top of the riser, which will give them instant access to the tank lid itself.
Risers do come with an up-front cost, both for the material and installation, but the convenience is worth the cost. What's more, after your risers are installed, you'll no longer need to pay to have your lid dug up and buried each time you need the tank pumped. If you're comfortable taking on a new project, you can also install the risers yourself.
Keep Your Paperwork Handy
Even though your tank doesn't need servicing very often, it's a good idea to keep records about your tank, such as its capacity, when it was installed, what it is made of, the last time it was pumped, and any repairs made to it or the septic system as a whole. This can tell your septic professional a lot about what type of system you use and what maintenance may be necessary as a result. What's more, this will let them see in advance if there are any components to your system that may need replacing soon.
In addition, this can help you keep track of what your own maintenance needs are. For example, based on the capacity of your tank and the number of people in your household, you can estimate how often you'll need pumping to prevent the tank from overfilling. They can also tell you where your drain field is installed and how to take care of it and avoid damage.
Learn more by contacting septic pumping services.
Share16 July 2020
