How to keep a septic tank in good condition
Most people who use septic tanks do so because their properties are not located near a public sewage pipeline, and they must, therefore, use their own individual systems to treat and store their household's wastewater. Homeowners tend to be heavily reliant on these systems; without them, they would have no other way to safely remove waste materials from their houses. This is why it is so important for those who use these tanks to keep them in good condition. If you have a septic tank or are considering installing one, here are some of the things you can do to keep it in good working order.
Identify and avoid the causes of septic system failure
A septic system failure can be an enormous inconvenience to those residing on the property where the tank is located, making it impossible for them do any of their normal daily activities, such as washing dishes or clothes, bathing or using the toilet.
Luckily, there are steps you can take to prevent this type of problem from occurring. You can, for instance, try to reduce the amount of household cleaning chemicals that you pour down your drains; excessive amounts of abrasive drain cleaners, bleach, and laundry detergent can not only affect the biological balance inside a septic tank but can also potentially corrode the container itself, which could result in a leak. A leak is more than just inconvenient; when wastewater that has only been partially treated seeps out of a tank and comes into contact with groundwater, it can pollute nearby streams, rivers, and lakes.
Additionally, make sure not to throw non-decomposable items, such as 'extra strong' kitchen towels, coffee grounds, and baby wipes into your kitchen sink or bathroom toilets. Because these products don't break down easily, they are more likely to create a blockage at the system's inlet baffle (the component which pushes the sewer line's wastewater into the septic tank).
Have the system pumped regularly
Septic tank pumping plays a crucial role in keeping your system functional. When a tank is not pumped often enough, it can end up overflowing onto the grounds of the property. This overflow can also cause a backup of wastewater inside the house's sinks and toilets. If this issue isn't rectified immediately, the overflow could also block up the drainfield pipes, to the point where they burst and need to be replaced.
This is why it's absolutely vital to have your tank cleared out by a waste management specialist that offers septic pumping services at least once every three years. The exact frequency with which you'll need to have the tank pumped will depend on several factors, including the storage capacity of your particular tank, the annual amount of waste water your household generates and the number of people residing in your home.