Your septic system is one of the most essential components of your home. Without it, there isn’t a way to treat your wastewater if you aren’t part of your city’s sewer system.
Many homeowners find their septic tanks intimidating because they appear gross and confusing. However, slacking on your system’s care will only produce expensive problems that you won’t be able to ignore for long.
Don’t wait until it’s too late to start taking care of your important home elements. Here are some helpful tips for maintaining your septic system.
Pump Your Tank Regularly
Septic tanks treat wastewater so that it may drain and evaporate safely. However, any solid waste lingering in your system will remain there until someone removes it.
Stagnant solids can smell bad and produce harmful bacteria that can disrupt your tank’s environment. This is why it’s so important to pump your tank regularly to eliminate any solid waste.
You should pump your septic tank every three to five years to get rid of any excess. Make sure to document every time it happens so that you’re always on time.
Reduce Your Water Use
You might think that it’s a good idea to do all of your major household cleanings at once. However, simultaneously running too many appliances puts a lot of unnecessary pressure on your septic system.
Don’t run your dishwasher, washing machine, and faucets all at the same time. Instead, break up your cleaning routine to ensure that your septic tank has adequate time to drain in between tasks.
Don’t Treat It Like a Dumpster
Your septic system connects all of your drains, including sinks, bathtubs, toilets, and garbage disposals. None of these things are trash cans, and treating them as such can have expensive consequences.
Don’t flush materials like paper towels, napkins, and cotton pads down your toilet. You should also be wary of sending too much whole food down your garbage disposal, which can back up your system.
This helpful septic system maintenance tip is crucial if you want to extend the longevity of your tank. Addressing plumbing issues is a maintenance task you can’t forget, and being mindful about what you’re dumping down your drains will help reduce reoccurring problems.
Be Careful With Chemicals
Septic systems work by cultivating microorganisms that naturally break down waste. When you introduce harsh chemicals into the mix, you risk throwing off that particular balance.
Avoid dumping things like bleach or paint down your drains. When it comes to chemical conditioners, there is some debate around if water softeners affect septic systems, but experts have recently discovered that these treatments only have positive impacts.
Keeping up with your septic tank may seem intimidating, but it’s simple with the right advice. Knowing how to maintain your septic system will improve the condition of your home and ensure that everything runs as smoothly as possible.