5 Tips On Avoiding Problems With Your Septic Tank
Posted on: 23 January 2015
Septic tanks are how most homes that are not connected to a sewer system process their waste water. They are very effective at removing the hazardous materials from waste water as long as they, and the surrounding drainage field, are properly maintained and septic pumping is done on a regular basis.
Thankfully, it is not difficult to maintain a septic tank system. Just a few simple steps should prevent septic tank problems and allow your system to keep you and your family living comfortably and safely.
- Have your septic tank inspected by a certified sanitation technician regularly - In most cases, unless the volume of waste water to be processed is very large, septic tanks should be inspected by a licensed professional every 5 to 7 years.
- Minimize water usage - Conserving water is something we all should be doing anyway, but for those of us with septic tanks, it is even more important. Allowing spigots to drip or toilets to run may overload your septic system.
- Keep trees, shrubs and weeds out of your drain field - Grass is a necessary part of your drain field. It prevents erosion and helps to absorb the water that leaves your septic tank. Larger plants and trees should not be allowed to grow in the drain field. The grasses that are commonly found in lawns have short root beds that will not go deep enough into the ground to pose a hazard to your septic tank. Trees, shrubs and large weeds have longer roots which may cause damage to, or create blockages in, your tank. To avoid this problem, keep the drain field well mowed and, if necessary, sow high quality grass seed.
- Contact a sanitation company, such as Lemeta Pumping & Thawing, that specializes in septic tank maintenance at the first sign of trouble - The signs of septic tank problems include a marshy drain field, the smell of raw sewage either around your septic tank or in your home, slow moving drains and sewage backing up into drains. If you experience any of these problems, do not wait to see if the problem will resolve itself. Chances are good that it will not leading to large problems, and repair bills, down the line.
- Keep up with septic pumping - If the amount of solids in your septic tank reaches or goes above 40% of the total volume it is time to have it pumped out.
When taken care of properly, with regular maintenance, inspections and pumping, you should expect your septic tank to stay in prime working order for as long as you own your home.
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