how do i keep my septic system healthy?

Your septic system needs to be pumped out at intervals which depend on the size of your household and your tank, as well as factors such as how often you do laundry. At Sitework Developing, we believe the old adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. What you put in your septic system dramatically affects its ability to do its job. National Small Flows Clearinghouse’s Septic System Care hotline toll-free at 800-624-8301. Septic systems need a little TLC to ensure that they remain healthy and able to get the job done. Whether you are at the kitchen sink, bathtub, or utility sink: If you spend any time in an RV or boat, you probably know about the problem of odors from sewage holding tanks. Instead, use boiling water or a drain snake. Any other items are not; they’ll clog and damage your septic system. The less water you utilize, the longer your septic system’s drain field will remain porous and absorbent. The service provider should note repairs completed and the tank condition in your system’s service report. The standard rule is to pump your septic tank every one to three years to ensure that solids are properly broken down and will not clog the drain field. Proper maintenance is essential to the longevity of septic system. Your septic system contains a collection of living organisms that digest and treat household waste. If the soil surrounding your home is suitable, a septic system can usually be installed and will provide many years of hands off sewage disposal. Here are a few things you should do to maintain it: Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem. Learn how to care for your septic system, get it inspected, and more. The average cost of pumping a residential septic tank is between $300 and $600, depending on the size of the tank. How to Keep Your Septic System Healthy. Household septic tanks are typically pumped every three to five years. Do keep up your drain field. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), 10 Organization Tips That Help Prevent Food Waste, The Most Essential Products for New Homeowners, Best Off-Grid Water System Options for Your Cabin, Do Not Sell My Personal Information – CA Residents. Don't … United States Environmental Protection Agency, Safe Wastewater Disposal for RV, Boat and Mobile Home Owners and Operators, How Your Septic System Can Impact Nearby Water Sources, More Resources for Homeowners with Septic Systems, Non-flushable wipes, such as baby wipes or other wet wipes, Household chemicals like gasoline, oil, pesticides, antifreeze, and paint or paint thinners. The 7 Most Important Ways to Keep Your Septic System Healthy Get Familiar With Your Septic System. How to Keep Your Septic Tank System Working Properly. Efficient water use improves the operation of a septic system and reduces the risk of failure. Regular inspections and maintenance will help improve the health of your septic system. According to ridx.com, this product "contains billions of 100-percent natural active bacteria and enzymes to break down household waste." Keep in mind, everything that goes down your drains ends up in your septic system, whether you flush it down the toilet, grind it in the garbage disposal, or pour it down the sink, shower, or bath. Pump your septic system every 3 years. Eliminate or limit the use of a garbage disposal. Because state laws require a permit for septic system installation, your county or town should have a record of the permit and a map of the tank’s layout and location. Septic Myth #5: Clogged Septic Systems Must Be Replaced That means no tissues, diapers, feminine products, hair, dental floss…nothing. Have Your Septic System Inspected. The average household septic system should be pumped (have solids removed) every three to five years. If your sludge or scum levels get too high, you may need to have your tank pumped sooner. We recommend our users to update the browser. Use an Efficient Toilet. From there, the wastewater moves into the drain or leach field, which consists of perforated pipes. Look for toilet paper that is safe for your septic. Planning and planting the right kind of vegetation can help keep the system in tip-top condition. Make sure gutters and sump pumps empty water far away from the drainfield. Without it, organic material and paper cannot be broken down, which can result in a blockage of flow to your drain field or, worse, a backup of sewage into your home. Septic systems offer a reasonable alternative to public sewage systems and are a great option for those who are unable to connect to a public sewer system, or for those who are too far removed from public utilities. Taking care of your septic system is not complicated and doesn’t have to cost you a lot of money. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. The key is to ensure that the leaking field is not too wet or too soggy. To up your system’s chances of a long working life, have the tank pumped every two or three years, avoid putting poisons down the drain and keep your leaching bed mowed and free of anything other than grass. Experts ought to have the capacity to disclose to you how frequently your septic pipes need to be pumped out. We dump many things down the kitchen sink that can wreak havoc on a septic system. EPA’s WaterSense program has many simple ways to save water and water-efficient products. Try to spread washing machine use throughout the week. Instead, opt to do a full load (to ensure you’re not wasting water) a couple of days a week. Remember to save ALL maintenance records on work performed on your septic system. If your home is not part of a city water and sewer system, your septic system is crucial because it treats all the wastewater that comes from your house, including the water from the bathrooms, kitchen and laundry room. Play it safe - contact Council's Environment Health Officer before installing an irrigation system or doing landscaping around your trench area. An official website of the United States government. Washing small loads of laundry on your washing machine’s large-load cycle wastes water and energy. Your septic tank includes a T-shaped outlet which prevents sludge and scum from leaving the tank and traveling to the drainfield area. No one wants to deal with a failing septic system. How to Care for Your Septic System Inspect and Pump Frequently. Sign up for our newsletter! Concrete, asphalt and plastic prevent oxygen from getting into the soil. Proper maintenance of your drainfield starts with closely monitoring water usage and what goes into your septic system, as noted above. Choose a septic-tank treatment that adds good bacteria to a tank, such as Rid-X. First, use water wisely to avoid taxing the well. Even dairy products like milk, cream and butter are bad to send down the drain. To keep track of when to pump out your tank, write down the sludge and scum levels found by the septic professional. How do I maintain my septic system? Septic system maintenance is not complicated, and it does not need to be expensive. A frequent factor in a failed septic system is too much water usage. Alternative systems with electrical float switches, pumps, or mechanical components should be inspected more often, generally once a year. Hundreds of thousands of home and property owners utilize a septic system for day-to … If you are unable to select a load size, run only full loads of laundry. As indicated by the EPA, family unit septic frameworks are siphoned each three to five years. Regular inspections and maintenance will help improve the health of your septic... Use Water Efficiently. When you go to replace the leach field, or leach pits, you may discover that the septic system regulations have changed in your area, and that you are required to put in a more expensive system to comply with current codes. Three Things to Keep Your Septic System Healthy The first is regular pumping. Don't use a garbage disposal Keep your septic system balanced. You might be able to find visual clues like sewer covers, or by checking the direction the sewer pipe, located in the basement, leads out of the house. Getting small issues repaired quickly will help keep them from becoming bigger problems in … Four major factors influence the frequency of septic pumping: When you call a septic service provider, he or she will inspect for leaks and examine the scum and sludge layers in your septic tank. Doing all household laundry in one day might seem like a time-saver; but it can harm your septic system, not allow your septic tank enough time to treat waste, and could flood your drainfield. When you use a garbage disposal with a septic tank, the ground-up food particles add to the layer of solids deposited on the bottom of your tank. Your septic system is not a trash can. down the sink drain. Does Shower Water Go Into the Septic Tank? Many homes in Massachusetts have septic systems. 2 Environmental Health Regulations require a minimum of three (3) feet of separation from the bottom of the drain field to the seasonal high water table. How Do I Keep My Septic System Healthy? Your drainfield—a component of your septic system that removes contaminants from the liquid that emerges from your septic tank—is an important part of your septic system. If the bottom of the scum layer is within six inches of the bottom of the outlet, or if the top of the sludge layer is within 12 inches of the outlet, your tank needs to be pumped. This helps keep the friendly bacteria population at a suitable level. Consider the purpose of … Fortunately there are lots of natural or plant-based cleaning product alternatives to these harsh chemicals. Complete DIY projects like a pro! If other repairs are recommended, hire a repair person soon. Never pour cooking oil or grease down the drain. If you prefer a more natural alternative, adding yeast to your tank can provide a similar function. The ONLY thing that should be flushed down the toilet that doesn’t come out of your body is toilet paper. You can obtain these products from a septic tank technician or buy them at a hardware store. That’s why homeowners need to be extra vigilant that the only material they put down a garbage disposal is biodegradable food. The average indoor water use in a typical single-family home is nearly 70 gallons per individual, per day. When you call a septic service provider, they will also inspect for leaks and examine the sludge layers in your septic tank. Various cleaning products homeowners use can harm the good bacteria in a septic system. Avoid using chemicals like bleach when washing clothes. Microorganisms break down the organic matters in the wastewater. The septic system of the average household should be pumped every few years to keep the system functioning properly. Other Energy Star appliances provide significant energy and water savings. Your septic system contains living organisms that work to break down and treat waste. This means having your septic tank pumped out, which removes the various solids and oils that have accumulated within the … If this leaching field becomes too soggy, you must get the water pumped out and undergo a week of intense water conservation to let the field dry out and become porous. Gasoline, paint and paint thinners, antifreeze, solvents, oils, pesticides, and other toxic chemicals also kill good bacteria, so don’t let these get into your septic system. Good maintenance starts with understanding how your septic tank works, what type... Have It Pumped Routinely. Taking care of your septic systems needs can ensure that you never have to deal with a failing system. Never drive or park vehicles over your drainfield. A healthy septic system is a happy septic system, and the best way to keep your system happy is through regularly scheduled maintenance. Step 2. In both situations, you might add packets of powdered friendly bacteria or liquid bacteria to the system by flushing the substances down a toilet according to instructions. To keep your septic system running efficiently, we recommend having a service professional inspect your septic system every year. Clothes washers that bear the ENERGY STAR label use 35 percent less energy and 50 percent less water than standard models. Inspections can help find minor issues such as water leaks which may cause the septic tank to fill more quickly. If your septic system does not have a filter, inform your technician. Avoid antibacterial soaps and disinfectants that contain quaternary ammonia as well. How to Keep Septic Systems Healthy. Don’t flush toxic chemicals (or pour them down the drain). The National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association (NOWRA) has a septic locator that makes it easy to find service professionals in your area. Never flush: Flushing Toilet Paper!Exit The wastewater will either evaporate or drain into the soil. If a plunger doesn’t clear a clog, try a toilet drain snake, which also works on clogged kitchen and bathroom sinks. Call the Public Health Hazardous Waste Line at 206-296-4692 to ask about chemical disposal. Advanced Septic Services provides professional and affordable septic pump-out services in the Clermont, Groveland, and Lake County area. Keeping your septic system flowing smoothly starts with a healthy tank. This rule applies to both your bathrooms and your kitchen. One way to speed up the degeneration of solids and increase the bacteria count in your tank is by flushing 1/2 cup of dry baking yeast down the toilet. Don't Overload the Septic Tank and Drain field. Keep rainwater away from your drain field Too much water saturation in the drain field can prevent your septic system from working properly. You may think having a designated “laundry day,” when you wash all your clothes and perhaps even run your dishwasher, will be a time saver. The average household septic system should be inspected at least every three years by a... Use Water Efficiently. Title 5 rules specify how to install, use, and maintain these systems. Watch this video demonstrating why the only thing you should flush down your toilet is toilet paper. All of the water a household sends down its pipes winds up in its septic system. It’s hard for dairy to break down in a septic tank because of the lack of oxygen. Pouring toxins down your drain can kill these organisms and harm your septic system. Avoid planting trees and shrubs close to the drainfield, as roots could interfere with pipes. If you have a well and septic system or septic tank, you’re likely aware of the importance of maintaining a healthy ecosystem of beneficial bacteria in your septic tank. Some of the lush, expensive brands with lotions and extra plys could clog or add unwanted chemicals into your system. Toilet use accounts for 25 to 30 percent of household water use. Long-term use of medications, such as antibiotics, may also destroy important bacteria in your septic … This will significantly reduce the amount of fats, grease, and solids that enter your septic tank and ultimately clog its drainfield. You need to give your septic system time to treat the wastewater or you could overload the system and flood your drainfield. Grass is the best cover for your septic system. The CWSRF funds water quality protection projects for wastewater treatment, control of nonpoint sources of pollution, decentralized wastewater treatment, and watershed and estuary management through low interest loans to a variety of borrowers.Under section 319 of the Clean Water Act, EPA provides grants to states to control nonpoint sources of pollution from a variety of sources such as agricultural runoff, mining activities, and malfunctioning onsite septic systems. To keep the colonies of bacteria healthy it is suggested to have your tank inspected every 3-5 years and pumped when the solid waste level is over 25% of your tank. Routine pumping can help prevent system failure and increase the longevity of … All can clog pipes or block screens. Fix any faucet leaks to minimize waste and use aerators to control how … Yeast is Healthy for a Septic System In order for your septic system to last, the waste that is flushed into it needs to be broken down. NOT taking care of your septic, however, could cost you big bucks in the end, as digging up and replacing a septic system can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Septic System Dos Do perform regular maintenance. Pump Your Tank Pumping your septic tank is the single most important part of septic system maintenance. A service contract is important since alternative systems have mechanized parts. Just a single leaky or running toilet can waste as much as 200 gallons of water per day. Avoid chemical drain openers for a clogged drain. Keep Your Septic Tank Healthy with Regular Maintenance! Toilet bowl cleaners are also bad for your septic as they typically contain bleach. Replacing existing toilets with high-efficiency models is an easy way to reduce the amount of household water entering your septic system. Do not use drain cleaners, which, aside from killing the good bacteria, can damage the tank itself. To ensure the health of your septic system, always review the active ingredients in a septic tank treatment before buying. The more water a household conserves, the less water enters the septic system. What goes down the drain affects how well your septic system works. There are several things you can do as a homeowner to keep everything running smoothly. Septic System Care and Maintenance Tips: Yeast helps actively breaks down waste solids when added to your septic system. As a general rule, you should not dispose of anything in your septic system that can just as easily be put in the trash. Choose a treatment that is compatible with the type of septic system you have. Faucet aerators, high-efficiency showerheads, and shower flow restrictors help reduce water use and the volume of water entering your septic system. But it puts a lot of stress on your septic system. This is yet another reason to keep your current system in good health. An easy rule of thumb: Do not flush anything besides human waste and toilet paper. By selecting the proper load size, you will reduce water waste. Good maintenance starts with understanding how your septic tank works, what type of system it is and where it’s located. What goes down the drains affects how well your septic system works. If you absolutely have to, use a small amount. Arrange your landscaping in a way that diverts water from the drain field to avoid this problem. Never wash things like coffee grounds, eggshells, medication, produce stickers, flour, etc. Pump out your septic tank regularly. Toilet paper is designed to break down in the septic tank. healthy septic system, healthy septic tank, septic tank care The most common sewage disposal system widely used today is the septic tank along with a drain field or leach field. In the average household, each household member uses 70 gallons of water per day. Septic systems typically feature a tank, where wastewater flows for treatment and the solids are separated from liquid waste. That’s why we encourage those with septic systems to follow three basic rules: Keep Chemicals and Garbage Out. Even latex paint waste should be minimized. Never pour oil-based paints, solvents, or large volumes of toxic cleaners down the drain. For new construction sites, current District Health Department No. When your septic tank is full, it can overflow, leaking sewage into your yard. Whether you flush it down the toilet, grind it in the garbage disposal, or pour it down the sink, shower, or bath, everything that goes down your drains ends up in your septic system. To keep your septic system healthy and balanced, you can use a commercial tank treatment such as Rid-X to add more bacteria to your tank, so the solid waste is disposed of more quickly. How the area around a septic system is managed is just as important as how the system itself is maintained. Many older homes have toilets with 3.5- to 5-gallon reservoirs, while newer, high-efficiency toilets use 1.6 gallons of water or less per flush. The 7 Most Important Ways to Keep Your Septic System Healthy, Spread Your Washing Machine/Dishwasher Usage Throughout the Week, Think About What You Dump Down the Kitchen Sink Drain. Upkeep comes down to four key elements: The average household septic system should be inspected at least every three years by a septic service professional. An easy rule of thumb: Do not flush anything besides 4Ps. Keep maintenance records on work performed on your septic system. Chemicals destroy bacteria in your system that are necessary to break down solids. Posted on June 3, 2016 by - septic. Every editorial product is independently selected, though we may be compensated or receive an affiliate commission if you buy something through our links. If your tank is nearing full, it’s a good idea to pump it before the Christmas holiday. Do not plant a garden; construct a building or a pool near the septic system without checking with the health department first. They will come in handy should problems arise, or when you sell your house. Also, do not discard any type of oil like cooking oil or paint, grease and fat because it will clog your septic system. Siphoning a septic framework when required will keep it from separating. Do not place impermeable materials over your drain field.

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