If you live in a rural area or one in which sewage treatment plants are not accessible, your home almost certainly relies upon a septic tank for the management and treatment of waste from your bathroom, kitchen and laundry room. When your septic system is working properly, it’s easy to take an “out of sight, out of mind” approach to maintenance; after all, there are so many pressing things to worry about over the course of a day! Unfortunately, neglecting your septic system and the routine maintenance it requires can be a messy and expensive mistake.
Your septic tank should be inspected by a license professional on an annual basis, and pumped when the tank exceeds one-third of the tank’s volume as a general rule. Commercial products marketed as an alternative to regular septic tank inspections, maintenance and pumping may seem like a bargain, but they can actually upset the microbial balance of your system, liquefy sludge and send it pouring into the drainfield. Drain cleaners and heavy bleach usage can also kill the beneficial bacteria that break down solids in your septic tank.
Don’t use fertilizer on the grass surrounding your drainfield, as it will cause nutrients to saturate the soil to the point that it stops removing those nutrients from wastewater. Rainwater and surface runoff should be directed away from your drainfield, and you should never park or drive over the area.
A licensed and experienced septic system professional in your area can help you determine the most effective maintenance plan, and give you valuable advice for increasing the life of your septic system.
