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If your home relies on a septic system, a little routine care goes a long way. Most septic failures aren’t sudden. More often, they’re the slow accumulation of an issue that adds up to a problem over years of use. The good news is that avoiding a costly backup or drain field replacement mostly comes down to following a short list of dos and don’ts. 

Here’s the short list of what we think every homeowner should know. 

The Dos

Pump the tank on a regular schedule

Most tanks need pumping every 2–5 years depending on household size, tank capacity, and how much water your home sends through the system. Waiting longer can let solids build up and flow into the drain field, where they can cause expensive and sometimes irreversible damage.

Keep a maintenance record

Keep track of your system’s age, tank size, pump-out dates, and the location of key components such as the tank lid, distribution box, and drain field. This will also be important if you ever sell the home, to prove how much life the new owner can expect from the septic system.

Conserve water to stay within your system’s limits

Implicit in this step is knowing what those limits are (that’s something we can tell you when we come to pump it out, if you don’t already know). If you need to, then spread laundry loads across the week instead of running several in one day, fix leaky fixtures promptly, and consider low-flow toilets and showerheads. Less water in means less strain on the tank and field.

Make sure you keep from parking, driving, building, or grading over the drainage field

Compacted soil and heavy loads can crush pipes and destroy the field’s ability to absorb wastewater. Also, you should also avoid building or developing on the reserve area set aside for an eventual replacement (that’s required in Calhoun County). If the field does need to be replaced, it would be unwelcome to find that in addition to the expense and inconvenience of installing a new drainage field, you will have to dismantle a shed, destroy a garden, or any other development. 

Route water away from the field

Downspouts, sump pumps, pool drainage, and water softener backwash should all be directed away from the drain field. Excess water saturates the soil and prevents the proper functioning of the drainage field.

Install a septic riser

This is one of the most overlooked “dos”. Risers extend the access point of your tank up to ground level, so a technician doesn’t need to dig to pump or inspect it. That means faster, cheaper service calls every time your tank needs attention. If your system still requires digging for every pump-out, ask Markos and Sons Sanitation about a riser installation. It typically pays for itself within a few service visits.

Call a professional at the first sign of trouble

Slow drains, gurgling pipes, soggy patches over the field, or sewage odor are all early warning signs. Catching these early can save a great deal of both time and money when compared to resolving a full drainage field failure.

The Don’ts

Don’t put anything down the drain which the system isn’t built for

Any wipes (they’re fibbing when they call them flushable wipes), grease, cooking oil, paper towels, dental floss, cigarette butts, cat litter, feminine hygiene products, and diapers. None of these will break down, and all will work together to clog and ruin your system.

Don’t pour chemicals down the drain

Household cleaners are fine in small amounts, but excess bleach, paint, solvents, and other harsh chemicals can kill the bacteria your tank needs to break down waste.

Don’t plant trees or shrubs near the tank or field

Roots seek out moisture and can infiltrate and crack pipes or the tank itself, leading to major repairs.

Don’t use a garbage disposal much, if at all

Disposals can easily send more solid waste into the tank than it’s designed to process, which shortens the time between pump-outs.

Don’t rely on septic additives

Despite marketing claims, most tank additives aren’t proven to help. Some can actually damage the system’s natural bacterial balance.

Don’t let contractors dig, build, or grade near the field without being sure their operations will not impinge on the drainage field

Before any excavation, landscaping, or construction project near your septic system, contact your county health department (and your septic service provider) to confirm the field’s exact location and boundaries.

When to Call the Pros

A septic system is easy to ignore until it fails. Most of the “don’ts” above are simple to avoid in your day-to-day once you know you should. But pumping, inspections, repairs, and riser installations require a trained technician who knows what to do and has the equipment to do it.

Markos and Sons Sanitation handles the full range of septic system needs:

If you’re experiencing any issues or it’s been a few years since your last pump-out, contact Markos and Sons Sanitation to schedule an inspection today.