Your septic system is an important part of the waste disposal system for your home. Having it installed by a licensed professional according to local ordinances is very important. Once it is installed it is also important to protect your septic tank and drain field in or to keep them functioning properly.
A septic system is made up of two parts: the septic tank where wastewater from the home is initially piped to from the home plumbing system and the drain field which is beyond the tank. Both the tank and the drain field have vulnerabilities that need to be protected to keep them operational.
You should have the septic system inspected by a sewer septic professional every two to three years. The septic tank needs to be pumped periodically and your inspector will let you know if your septic tank is due for septic tank pumping.
For the septic tank to work properly it requires a certain amount of bacteria. The bacteria is necessary to help breakdown the solid wastes. Too much bleach or anti-bacterial cleaners being used and flushed into the septic tank at once can destroy that bacteria and hinder the function of the septic tank.
Too much wastewater all at once can also be a problem. Spreading out your laundry loads, showers and dishwasher use can be very beneficial to your septic system. Fixing water leaks from toilets and other plumbing fixtures is also an important part of protecting your septic system from water overload.
Too much traffic or weight over the drain field could potentially damage the drain field. Pipes can be crushed. You also do not want to have trees planted or growing too close to the drain field, as tree roots can clog the drain field. Tree roots can also damage sewer pipe leading from the home to the septic tank.
Septic systems can last for decades without any problems, if they are properly protected and maintained.
