Plumbing Tip of the Day: How to Take Care of Your Septic System

If a septic system isn’t properly maintained, you will usually know the symptoms – unpleasant as they may be. Beyond the obvious, which sets off a “smell alarm,” there are the more important reasons for proper maintenance, namely your health.

The first question you should ask is: Where is my septic tank? Fair enough, some homeowners who have never had their tank serviced or replaced because they had recently purchased the home or have not felt the need for service. In any case, there are some things you should know about your system and some very good reasons to have trained professionals inspect and service your septic tank.

Your septic tank is located on your property and is usually designated on a drawing of your home and surrounding real estate. This is often called an “as-built” line drawing of your property and is available at your local city or county land office. The septic tank is located in a drainfield and is usually visible by locating the tank’s manhole cover. In some cases, older tanks have no visible parts because of overgrowth or vegetation. If that is the case, you may need septic service professional to locate it for you.

Chances are, you have already learned about your septic tank and drainfield from the previous homeowner or from an inspection of your property. It is always useful to understand the function of the septic tank and why septic system maintenance is so important. And beyond the health aspect, proper system maintenance will save you a lot of money is repairs and service.

Here are some key things to do for septic system maintenance:

• Have your system inspected at a minimum of every three years and have it pumped out every three-five years as recommended by the professionals who do the inspection.
• Pumping on a regular basis assures that the septic systems works efficiently so you may want to simply maintain a regular schedule.
• Always trust the service to a licensed professional and not “someone’s cousin.” That way, you are assured that the job is done right.
• Maintain the components that directly feed into the septic system, namely the toilets, sinks, appliances, and plumbing fixtures. Check for leaks and consider using less water to flush toilets (a toilet tank with a 1.6 gallon reservoir versus a 3.5 gallon reservoir).
• Spread water usage throughout the week when using a washing machine – and make sure loads are sized correctly.
• Watch what you flush or rinse down a drain, including caustic chemicals and things like dental floss or sanitary napkins.
• Maintain the drainfield by not planting anything with roots over it (grass is recommended). Don’t drive over or park on top of a drainfield. Keep water runoff and drainage away from the drainfield to prevent flooding.

Proper septic system maintenance begins above the ground and continues through professional service and replacement. It sure beats a “stinky” situation.