How to Maintain a Healthy Septic Tank System
If you have a septic tank system in your home, it is almost constantly being used. If they are maintained well despite this, they generally last around 25 to 30 years. Here are a few ways your can minimize the wear and tear on your septic tank:
Use less water
Using less water means less waste will enter the septic tank to begin with. On average an individual uses around 70 gallons of water a day, but there are ways to reduce that number.
Use less sink water. This means don't let the water run the whole time you are washing dishes, brushing your teeth or washing your hands.
Take shorter showers. Showers are the most wasteful way to bathe as they require constant running water. If you take a 45 minute shower you actually have used enough water to fill a dozen baths. Get in, clean, and get out.
Attach nozzles to faucets. You can install an aerator or flow reducer to faucets or shower nozzles to adjust water pressure.
Check for faucet leaks. Leaks can lead to a ton of water wasted. You should call a plumber to fix it!
Fill your dishwasher. Before you turn your dishwasher on, make sure it is full of dishes. A full dishwasher will cut down on the times it is used, reducing the amount of water it uses also.
Fill your washing machine. The same concept for dishwashers applies to washing machines. If the washing machine is full, you will have to use it less than if you do multiple, smaller loads.
Use a water efficient toilet. Flushing accounts for 25 to 30 percent of all water consumption in a household. Water efficient systems cut down water usage in toilets up to 50 percent.
Don't use your toilet as a garbage disposal
Don't try to flush anything down the toilet that is not toilet paper. Clogs can easily happen and damage your septic tank.
Don't pour grease down your drains
Grease can and will harden the cooler it gets, creating blocks in your drains that may require expensive repairs.
Keep rainwater away from your drain field
Too much water saturation in the drain field can prevent your septic system from working properly. Arrange your landscaping in a way that diverts water from the drain field to avoid this problem.
Don't use a garbage disposal
Food will not break down like human waste. composting instead of throwing food into the garbage disposal.
Use septic safe cleaning products
Avoid chemical drain cleaners. These can cause pipes to disintegrate and cause damage within the septic system by affecting the microorganisms that breakdown material in the septic tank.
Use septic safe products. Try to use products that have natural ingredients in them, as these will negatively affect the septic system less than chemical products.
Don't pour hazardous chemicals down the drains. Chemicals like gasoline paint thinners and motor oil wreak havoc in septic tanks, even more so than drain cleans. Do not put these down your drains.
Schedule maintenance.
Lastly, schedule regular maintenance to clean your septic tank and check for any damage. Most systems only need to be serviced about every three to five years. Call The Pink Plumber to schedule an appointment!
