What can make my system fail?

What can make my system fail?

A Homeowner’s Guide to Septic Systems Failure symptoms
The most obvious septic system failures are easy to spot. Check for pooling
water or muddy soil around your septic system or in your basement. Notice
whether your toilet or sink backs up when you flush or do laundry. You
might also notice strips of bright green grass over the drainfield. Septic
systems also fail when partially treated wastewater comes into contact with
groundwater. This type of failure is not
easy to detect, but it can result in the pollution
of wells, nearby streams, or other
bodies of water. Check with a septic
system professional and the local health
department if you suspect such a failure.



Failure causes

Non Organic fibers Plug the soil of many leach fields
Non-biodegradable material fibers (polyester, nylon, and other synthetics) are a leading cause of plugged septic system drain fields, sewer pipes, and drains. Typical lint screens used with consumer washing machines and discharge hoses trap less than 5% of these particals. Did you know that even a new septic system can fail in as little as three years? This is primarily due to non-biodegradable material fibers plugging the soil in septic system drain fields


Household toxics

Does someone in your house use the utility sink to clean out paint rollers
or flush toxic cleaners? Oil-based paints, solvents, and large volumes of
toxic cleaners should not enter your septic system. Even latex paint cleanup
waste should be minimized. Squeeze all excess paint and stain from
brushes and rollers on several layers of newspaper before rinsing. Leftover
paints and wood stains should be taken to your local household hazardous
waste collection center. Remember that your septic system contains a living
collection of organisms that digest and treat waste.

Household cleaners

For the most part, your septic system’s bacteria should recover quickly
after small amounts of household cleaning products have entered
the system. Of course, some cleaning products are less toxic to
your system than others. Labels can help key you into the potential
toxicity of various products. The word “Danger” or “Poison” on a
label indicates that the product is highly hazardous. “Warning” tells
you the product is moderately hazardous. “Caution” means the
product is slightly hazardous. (“Nontoxic” and “Septic Safe”