Extend the Life of Your Septic System

If you are one of the millions of homeowners who rely on a septic system rather than the municipal sewer to dispose of household waster watery,  in order to keep your septinc system operation to the best of its capabilities it is important to keep it well maintained. Neglecting to do so can lead to problems and damage, which in some cases can be difficult and expensive to repair. Through practicing a few good habits you can ensure that your septic system is kept in good condition and avoid any unexpected repair costs.

First of all it’s important that the right size tank is installed and this depends on the size of the household. There is a limit to how much wastewater and sewage a system can handle, so minimizing the amount of wastewater sent through the system is beneficial. This can be achieved through the use of low flow showerheads and toilets. A clothes washer with a high efficiency function can also make a difference as well as a number of other things such as turning the tap off whilst brushing your teeth or washing the dishes.

Another way in which you can extend the life of your septic system is though careful consideration of the cleaning products that you purchase and use. Septic tanks work via the naturally occurring bacteria breaking down waste that is put into the system. Certain chemical products are harmful and can kill the important bacteria, which will have a direct effect on the functioning of the system. A professional will be able to offer advice on the best kinds of cleaning product to use to maximise the life of your septic system.

Finally regular septic tank pumping and septic system inspections are critical for the long term health of your septic system.  Have the system inspected every other year and have the septic tank pumped as needed.  Your septic system inspector will let you know when it it time for septic tank pumping, but plan on having the septic tank pumped every three to five years.

Hooking Up To An Existing Septic System

If you own a piece of property that has a septic system on it and you are planning to build a home and hook up to the existing septic system, you should do some homework before you begin construction.  In fact, it would be wise to do some checking before you even design the new home or decide where to put it.  Don’t just assume that you will be able to hook up to the existing system.

This comes up frequently when people own lakefront property, vacation property or hunting land that has had a small cabin, trailer, or other dwelling on the property for years.  When the property owner decides to replace the old dwelling with a new, larger home they assume that they can to tear down the existing structure, build the new home in the same location, and hook up to the existing septic system.

Unfortunately, that may not be the case and it’s best to find out before you build the new home rather than after.  If the septic system has been on the property for years, it is possible and even likely that it no longer meets code and you will need to bring the system up to code.  For all practical purposes, this probably means installing a modern new system in a different location on the property.

If you get lucky and the septic system meets code, have the septic tank pumped and the entire septic system thoroughly inspected by a sewer septic professional to make sure the system is in good working order and is capable of handling the anticipated load of your new home.

Septic System Flooding

Flooding of your septic system occurs when the drain field or the septic tank is flooded by rising water from very heavy rain, overflowing creeks or streams, storm surge, or any other source of flooding. Flooding of the septic system will cause the system to stop functioning and may even cause untreated waste water containing raw sewage to back up into your home through the lowest drains in the house.

If your septic system has become flooded, stop using it immediately.  Even after the floodwater begins to recede, don’t start using the system again until the drain field has dried out and you have had the septic system inspected and serviced by a sewer septic professional.  Also, if you are on a well, have the well tested before using the well water to make sure it has not been contaminated by your septic system.

The septic field will not begin to function properly until the water table has dropped below the level of the septic field.  Using the septic system before this happens will result in untreated wastewater and sewage accumulating in the septic field and possibly making its way to the surface.  In some cases the leech lines in the septic field will have become filled with silt and soil and a new drain field will need to be installed.

If your septic tank was flooded, solid material from the bottom of the tank may have been disturbed and the scum layer may have been washed into the outlet pipe or drain field. The tank may have also filled up with dirt and silt.  Have the septic tank pumped and inspected by a sewer septic professional to make sure it is in good operating condition before using it again.

Sell Your Home Faster With a Septic System Inspection

If you are trying to sell a home in today’s highly competitive housing market, you need every advantage you can get.  With so many houses on the market, buyers can afford to be choosy.  If they find any reason not to like your home, they can find another one just like it right down the street.

A septic system inspection by a reputable sewer septic contractor can give you an edge over the competition when it comes to getting your home sold. Most home buyers will want to know the condition of the septic system before they finalize the purchase.  Generally speaking, the offer to purchase the home will be contingent on the home passing a septic system inspection or will allow the buyer time to have a septic system inspection performed.  In some states, septic system inspections are required by law before ownership of the property can be transferred.

If you are the seller, offers to purchase homes are few and far between and the last thing you want is for a serious potential buyer to discover a problem with the septic system.   Septic field or septic tank repairs can take weeks and in the meantime, the buyer may have found a different home to buy.

You can avoid these problems by having a thorough septic system inspection done before you list the property for sale.  This will give you plenty of time to have the system repaired before the house goes on the market and you will have a clean inspection report to hand to potential buyers.  You can avoid any unpleasant surprises and move quickly from offer to closing.

Snowmelt Over Your Septic System

If you have noticed melted snow over your septic tank or septic field, you may be wondering if this is an indication of a problem or if this condition is normal.  Snowmelt over your septic tank or drain field is not necessarily a sign of problems with your septic system, but it should be checked out to be sure it is normal.

Your septic tank is buried in your yard and accumulates waste water from your home.  Solid materials settle to the bottom of the septic tank where it decomposes.  This decomposition process generates some heat and if your septic tank is close to the surface of the ground, the heat may be enough to cause snow over the septic tank to melt.

Hot water from you home can have the same effect.  If you are using hot water for laundry, dishwashing, or showers, the waste water may be warm enough to melt the snow over your septic tank.  The same is true for your septic field, especially if the ground is not frozen or if there is a light snowfall.

Check the area in and around the leech field and septic tank for any soft, mushy ground or foul odors.  If there are no odors or mushy areas in the yard and your drains and toilets are working properly, the snowmelt is probably normal.

If you find any wet, mushy areas or puddles in the yard around the septic tank or leech field, notice any odors, have slow or backed up drains and toilets, or just want to be certain, you should have your septic system inspected by a sewer-septic professional with experience in septic tank inspections.