Septic System Maintenance

Septic System Maintenance Questions and Answers

Having your septic system serviced can become costly if you are not aware of additional charges that may occur on a case-by-case basis. If you're the kind of person who doesn't mind a little dirt under your fingernail, you may find that a few hours with a shovel could save you hundreds of dollars. Here are a few things that you could do to save money;

1. How often should you service your Septic System?- There are a few variables you should know when considering how often your septic system is serviced or "pumped". Perhaps the most important consideration is the number of people who are using the same septic system. When your septic system was designed two factors were used to determine the size of your tank and the length of your leach field; the number of bedrooms in your home and the ability of your soil to "percolate" or "perk".

If you increase the number of people who use the system you conversely increase the amount of waste that enters your tank and leach field. Soil that does not perk well can be adversely affected by heavy rains that prevent absorption and evaporation.

If your home has an adequate leach field and the number of people using the system is equal to the number of bedrooms in the home, then you should consider servicing your septic system every 3 years on average (consideration should be given to other factors listed in questions below).

If you choose to delay servicing your septic system you may cause extensive damage to the leach field. Over time the system that is not serviced will begin to pass solid waste into the leach field in the form of sludge. This sludge can coat the field and prevent liquid waste from absorbing into the soil. Once this happens your leach field must be abandoned and a new field used for leach. This can cost several thousand dollars.

2. What can you do to maintain your septic system - Conserve water – Septic systems are designed with a specific amount of water flow on a daily basis. Excess water that runs into your septic system will prevent the beneficial bacteria from doing its job. Some common problems include water leaks in toilets and sinks.

Reduce the amount of water used daily - Overloading a septic system with water is one of the primary causes of septic system failure. You can reduce the amount of water you are using by limiting shower time, using the dishwasher only when full and washing full loads of laundry instead of multiple loads. In fact, laundry should be spread over a few days to prevent over saturation of the leach field.

Think twice about buying that Water Softener. Water softeners can backwash hundreds of gallons of water into your leach field and failure of the Water Softener can cause water to flow unchecked until the field is saturated to a point where it has to be abandoned.

Think about what’s going down the Garbage disposal - Using the Garbage disposal will increase the amount of solid waste in your septic tank which will require more frequent pumping of your septic system. If you want to extend the time between septic system services then turn your cut up waste into mulch and keep them out of your septic tank.

Coffee Grounds and other non-food products should likewise be kept out of the sink. Avoid disposing any fat, grease or oil in the disposal or drain. These can damage your system by clogging the septic tank pipes and drain field soil. In addition, many people see the toilet as a trash can for tampons, disposable diapers, paper towels, cigarette butts and other items that should be placed in the trash.

3. Should you add bacterial additives to your septic tank? - By its very nature septic tanks contain significant amounts of bacteria thanks to your digestive system. Most experts seem to agree that additives may damage your septic system by breaking up the sludge and scum layers. This will cause those layers to flush out of the septic tank and clog the infiltration bed and drain field. If you decide to use bacterial additives make sure you research the product well.

4. Should I avoid using drain cleaners and other additives? - From time-to-time drain cleaners can be used after exhausting other efforts. Before purchasing a drain cleaner read the label to see if it is recommended for septic systems. You should NEVER dump toxic chemicals into your drains. Your septic system relies on bacteria to break-down the solid waste that enters your tank. Solvents, pesticides, motor oil, paint thinner or auto products can kill the bacteria necessary for your septic system operates effectively. These hazardous materials will eventually reach your ground water and contaminate it, creating a serious health issue for you or your neighbor’s well water.

5. Is landscaping important to my septic system and What type of vegetation is best for my Leach Field? - It is recommended to use dense grass cover and other shallow rooted plants over your septic field. Shallow rooted plants and grasses will prevent soil erosion and control the saturation of the area above the leach field. Do not plant trees near the septic field as their large plant roots can clog or break the pipes, especially the plants or trees with aggressive root growth. When watering your landscape, avoid saturating the area around your septic system. Excess water can prevent evaporation of normal septic flow and wash away necessary bacteria before it has time to do its job.

Avoid compacted soil over your leach field area by not driving or parking vehicles over the area. Also avoid building any structure, walkways or driveways over the leach field. Besides compacting the soil and not allowing the liquid to be absorbed, these actions can also crack the pipes or septic tank. It can also push one area of your field deeper into the ground causing the liquid waste to flow into only part of the leach field.