Maintaining Your Septic System - What You Should Know

Living in a house with a septic tank system is a great departure from living in a home with a municipal plumbing system. While your plumbing system may seem the same on the surface, the way that it functions is different.

If you want to keep your septic system up and running, you should get to know more about your system and what goes into maintaining it. Then, you can be sure you are doing everything you can for your septic system going forward.

Your Septic System Is a Closed System

One of the biggest concepts about septic systems that is difficult for people to grasp is the fact that these systems are closed or finite in nature. When you have a municipal plumbing system, all of the wastewater from your system is taken away to a water treatment plant.

However, with your septic tank system, your wastewater stays in your backyard. All of the plumbing in your home drains into your septic tank, located right on your property, where it stays while it is processed.

The water itself will drain into the drain field after it is cleaned and processed in the tank. Any solid waste will stay in the tank indefinitely.

Your Water Use Matters

Because your septic system is a closed system, you will need to be more aware of your water use than you would in a home that uses a municipal sewer system. Using too much water in your home could overload your septic tank and cause flooding in your drain field.

Paying attention to your water use in your home has numerous facets. You will want to limit the use of appliances that use water, for example. Wait until your dishwasher is completely full to run it. Only do laundry when you have a full load to run. Also, be sure that you use the right settings on those appliances for the size of the loads.

You will also want to limit the amount of time you spend in the shower, try not to leave the water running when you brush your teeth, and the like. Every use of water counts when you are working with a septic tank system.

Your water monitoring should also extend to unintended water use. If you have any dripping faucets in your home or toilets that tend to run on their own periodically, that extra water going into your septic tank over several months can be enough to cause your tank to overflow and flood.

Address any leaks, drips, or unwanted running water as soon as possible to prevent these major issues from developing.

Your Septic Tank Needs Regular Inspections and Maintenance

When you have a septic tank system, you cannot assume that the septic tank is working properly and processing wastewater without issue. You need to have your system inspected on a regular basis. These inspections will involve several steps.

The septic system professionals will assess your drain field and check the soil composition to ensure that the system is working properly. They will also check the tank itself for various issues including the amount of water currently in the system, the amount of solid waste, the pH levels of the water, and the chemical composition of the tank contents.

These inspection steps will then determine what septic system maintenance may be necessary. If your soil levels are off but everything else seems fine, for example, you may need to have the septic tank checked for cracks or other leaks. If the chemical balance in your tank is not ideal for water processing, special additives can be put in the system to improve the system's processing capabilities.

Make the best decisions for your home by maintaining your septic system. Contact Walters Environmental Services if you need help with your plumbing.