Septic drain field protection should be a top priority as repair and/or replacement costs can add up to thousands of dollars. Many homeowners fail to realize the importance of regular septic tank maintenance until it is too late and the damage is done. A neglected septic tank can expose your drain or leach field to solid waste particles that will reduce its ability to absorb the effluent or grey wastewater produced by your home. This post will outline important septic system information every septic tank owner should know.
Pump Your Septic Tank Regularly
The industry debate rages on as to how often you should pump your septic tank. While most experts agree that you should pump your septic tank at least once every three years, the answer depends mostly on the size of your home, the number of bedrooms and the number of occupants as well as the condition of your septic tank and adjoining drain or leach field. Failure to pump your septic tank regularly can lead to disastrous consequences such as expensive damage to your drain or leach field and septic system failure. In addition, when your septic system fails, you expose your home to toilet, tub and sink backups or overflows that could cause significant and costly water damage to your home.
Don’t Flush Harmful Chemicals or Materials
Common household cleaners can upset the balance of the microorganisms within your septic system. The organisms are necessary to break down and consume the solid organic waste produced by your household. Heavy use of these cleaners—ammonia, bleach, laundry detergent and petroleum based products among others—can kill off the organisms. Should this happen, your septic tank system will eventually fail and require costly repairs.
Avoid Parking Cars or Heavy Machinery on your Drain field
Effluent or grey water from your home’s septic system travels to your drain or leach field where it is dispersed through a series of drainpipes into the ground. A lot of planning, preparation and labor goes into the construction of a septic drain or leaching field so the ground underneath can absorb the effluent efficiently. Cars or heavy machinery should never come near your drain field as their weight could compact your drain field and limit its ability to absorb the effluent efficiently. If this happens, you face costly drain field repairs and/or replacement as well as the possibility of sewage backing up into your home.
Additional Septic Tank Information
- Never treat your toilet as a garbage can. Many things such as dental floss, feminine hygiene products, cigarette butts etc. are not biodegradable and should never enter your septic system.
- Do not landscape your septic drain field. Other than grass, you should never plant anything above your leach field.
- Ask your plumbing contractor to install an effluent filter. The device is designed to prevent solid waste from entering your leach field.
For answers to your questions, contact The Pink Plumber today.
