How to Maintain Your Septic Tank
If you live apart from a municipal sewer system, 'out of sight, out of mind' probably applies to your septic tank. But it's important to keep up with routine maintenance.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate
Instructions
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Hire a licensed and bonded septic-pumping contractor to test the tank annually, and have the sludge pumped out as often as necessary. If you neglect to do this, the sludge will build up, reducing the capacity of the tank and eventually causing sludge to leak into the drain field, which is a serious problem.
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Have the septic-pumping contractor also perform a visual inspection for damage or potential problems. Workers pumping the tank should check the alarm, baffles, compressor, motor, timer and pump.
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Avoid driving over your tank or drain field.
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If you're putting in a swimming pool, keep it at least 15 feet away from the drain field.
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Don't put chemicals such as paint thinner, insecticides or gasoline down the drains. These will kill the bacteria that break down waste products in the tank.
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Refrain from sending nondegradable items, such as sanitary pads, plastic or rubber, down the drain.
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Plant only grass and flowers above the tank and drain field - not trees, whose roots could interfere with the system.
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Tips & Warnings
Contact a plumbing company to help you identify where the septic tank and drain field are if you don't know.
Call a plumber immediately if more than one toilet in your home backs up simultaneously. This could be an indication of a serious problem with your septic tank.
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Comments
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Use the All-Natural MillerPlante.net “Septic-Helper 2000” and the Phosphate and Nitrate Free “Enza Washer Ball”. The Septic System Treatment has the 8 natural bacteria and enzymes that liquefy the waste in the tank AND out in the drain field. Both for less than $4 per month. No matter where you live, the New 2011 EPA mandates say that even a slow drain in your leach field or elevated Nitrate levels could require replacement of your entire system for $10,000 to $50,000 or connect to city sewer and fluoridated city water. Septic System News - Twitter MillerPlanteInc. UN Agenda 21 (Sustainable Development) - US Clean Water Act - EPA TMDL (Nitrate Limits).
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larch
Nov 14, 2009
People ! Why do not you ever think about just one simple thing ? The bacteria from septic are brought with water to drainfield and keep working there ? Ah ? Don't you think that these anaerobic facultative bacteria working in the drainfield's soil environment would a) restore and increase the content of oxygen in soil and thus intensify the oxidation of organic particles if any get there b) nitrify the ammonia to gaseous N2 c) consume phophorous d) antagonize pathogenic microflora e) enrich the otherwise O2 highly defficient effluent with O2 before it penetrates into groundwater. It is strange that you all just talk in terms of "useless, may be harmful" but overlook these quite obvious benefits ? -
Will Atkinson
Dec 02, 2008
Glad I found this article, we are building soon and will be on a septic system for the first time.
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FurryLoo
Nov 23, 2008
wow! Amazing, I just bought a home with a septic system and didn't know any of this! Thank you.
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JohnHeim
Nov 17, 2007
I personally adive against chemical additives. I have seen first hand what chemicals can do to a system when they free up the sludge, forcing it deep into the drainfield. On the other hand BACTERIAL additives are highly succesfull and do work provided there is no internal mechanical damage to the system. Bacteria, unlike chemicals, eats the sludge and grime buildup and will keep eating as long as there is organic matter to chew on. Before you replace you entire system, try a strong septic tank treatment that is bacterial based and ask about a gaurantee or return policy in advance. Make sure you can get your money back if it doesnt work and your risk will be eliminated.
