When thinking about septic tank maintenance, be mindful of what you and your family put into your septic system. It doesn’t take much to upset the delicate biological balance within the tank. You can extend the life of a septic system by following these maintenance recommendations from https://www.reelsofjoy.org/en:
Pump the Septic Tank Regularly
One of the most important tasks that you will need to arrange about once every two to five years is having the septic tank pumped. Whether you will need to have it pumped every two years or every five years really depends on the size of the tank, the number of people living in the home, and the type of waste that is put into the septic system.
For instance, a home equipped with garbage disposal is great when you are connected to a municipal wastewater system, but these appliances can significantly increase the amount of solid waste that flows into a septic system, resulting in more frequent pumping. It typically costs about $200 to $600 to have the septic tank pumped, though this depends on the size and location of the tank.
Inspect the System for Leaks
Regularly walk around the septic system and keep an eye out for any areas around the tank where the grass is significantly more lush or dense than other areas of the yard. A leaking tank provides ample nutrition for plant life and can also give off strong sewage smells. However, in most cases, it will be difficult to find any leaks in the tank while it is still being used because the tank is buried underground.
The best time to check for leaks in the septic tank is when it is being pumped, so if your technician doesn’t already include a leak inspection in their process, ask if they would be able to perform this task while they are pumping the tank. At this point, it’s also a good idea to inspect the baffles to make sure that they are not missing, broken, or deteriorated.
Clearly Mark off and Maintain the Leach Field
The leach field is a sensitive part of your septic system that needs to be protected at all times. It’s made up of several perforated pipes that extend the entire length of the leach field, and while this area can be walked on without an issue, the weight from cars, trailers, and semi-permanent structures can damage the buried pipes. To help avoid any damage to the septic system, it’s important to clearly mark off the leach field and inform any guests that this area of the yard cannot support heavy loads.
The plant life and drainage around a leach field also need to be kept in check. Water from the home should flow away from the leach field to avoid flooding the area and any trees, bushes, or shrubs need to be removed so that the roots don’t grow into the pipes. However, you can and should grow grass on the leach field because grass absorbs water to reduce flooding, the roots don’t grow too deep, and the grass helps to prevent erosion.
Limit Water Usage and Household Waste
A simple process in septic system maintenance is just paying attention to the amount and contents of what you put down the drain. The septic system can be overfilled by an excess of liquid waste, so it’s a good idea to divert roof water from the leach field, install water-saving appliances, space out laundry and dishwasher loads, and fix any leaks as soon as possible.
A high amount of solid waste is also a bad thing, causing the sludge in the septic tank to pile up quickly and increasing the pumping frequency of the system. Dump fats and uneaten food into the food waste recycling or a compost pile in the yard instead of down the sink. This will give you more time to play your favourites from online casinos for real money.
Use a Bacteria Additive
The waste that comes from the home doesn’t simply sit in the septic tank and collect until it’s time for the tank to be pumped. It is filtered by weight, allowing the solids to sink to the bottom of the tank and releasing the liquid waste to the leach field where it can be filtered by the soil. The waste that remains in the tank is gradually broken down by bacteria that help to keep the septic system healthy and functional.
However, the bacteria in the system are vulnerable to powerful cleaning solutions, antibacterial soaps, and drain cleaners, so in order to protect the naturally occurring bacteria in the septic system, you can add new bacteria that break down unnatural substances, like detergents and soaps, through certain organic additives—just be sure to do your research to make sure these additives are truly beneficial.
About Author
