7 Things to Remember When You Have a Septic Tank

If your home relies on a septic tank to complete your plumbing system, then you need to do your part to prevent backups and other cumbersome malfunctions to keep your septic tank operating effectively.

Septic tank repairs and malfunctions tend to be expensive and inconvenient, so doing what you can to prevent them is the best policy. As a septic tank owner, you need to remember to do the following seven things to keep your septic tank functioning properly and effectively for as long as possible.

A septic tank is an important piece of plumbing equipment that needs to be inspected periodically to ensure that no problems are developing that could lead to severe malfunctions and damage.

It's typically recommended that septic tanks be inspected at least once every three years. However, some systems that include features like mechanical components and float switches may need to be inspected once every year.

These inspections can determine when a septic tank will need to be pumped out and what services need to be performed on a septic tank to keep it operating normally.

The more water you use in your home, the faster your septic tank is going to fill up and the more likely your septic tank will be to malfunction.

A septic system can become overloaded by heavy water consumption. Homeowners should minimize water consumption by fixing leaky plumbing fixtures right away and opting for efficient low-flow plumbing fixtures.

Diverting water from your septic tank's drain field is important. A septic drain field that becomes flooded can make it more difficult for soil to drain out wastewater. Any fixtures you have, like sump pumps and roof drains, should not be designed to drain into your septic tank's drain field

Homeowners can easily forget or overlook septic tank maintenance performed in the past if maintenance is not carefully recorded.

Homeowners should always keep records of septic tank maintenance procedures like having a tank repaired, inspected, or pumped out. This way, they'll be able to work out an accurate maintenance schedule that doesn't over-schedule work or overlook tasks.

A drain field should be covered with a thick layer of vegetation. Grass is ideal because shrubs or trees have deeper roots that can damage septic tank components as they extend down into the ground. Grass is necessary above the drain field because it ensures proper absorption of waste water.

Unfortunately, a lot of homeowners are not even aware of where their septic tank is located. Knowing where your tank is located is important because you need to take care of the drain field and avoid putting any yard or landscaping features down into the ground above the septic tank, like fence posts.

If you are not sure where your septic tank is, find it and make sure you can identity the boundaries of the drain field so that you can keep it adequately protected from damage.

Your dryer is not your only piece of laundry equipment with a lint filter. Washing machines are equipped with lint filters too, and these lint filters are especially important when it comes to protecting your septic tank and drain field from damage and premature wear and tear.

A washing machine's lint filter keeps lint from draining out of the machine along with the laundry water and getting into the septic tank. Keeping lint out of septic water with an effective washing machine lint filter is important. Laundry lint in a septic system can interfere with drain lines and prevent liquid wastewater from being absorbed by the drain field.

If you'd like to learn more about how you can improve the condition of your septic tank, contact us at Al's Septic Tank Service with your inquiries and questions.