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How do I maintain my septic system?
What Does an Inspection Include?
• Locating the system.
• Uncovering access holes.
• Flushing the toilets.
• Checking for signs of
back up.
• Measuring scum and
sludge layers.
• Identifying any leaks.
• Inspecting mechanical
components.
• Pumping the tank if
necessary.
Four major factors influence the frequency of pumping:
the number of people in your household, the amount of wastewater generated (based on
the number of people in the household and the amount of water used), the
volume of solids in the wastewater (for example, using a garbage disposal
increases the amount of solids), and septic tank size.
Some makers of septic tank additives claim that their products break down
the sludge in septic tanks so the tanks never need to be pumped. Not
everyone agrees on the effectiveness of additives. In fact, septic tanks
already contain the microbes they need for effective treatment. Periodic
pumping is a much better way to ensure that septic systems work properly
and provide many years of service. Regardless, every septic tank requires
periodic pumping.
In the service report, the pumper should note any repairs completed and
whether the tank is in good condition. If the pumper recommends additional
repairs he or she can’t perform, hire someone to make the repairs as
soon as possible.
Use water efficiently
Average indoor water use in the typical single-family home is almost
70 gallons per person per day. Leaky toilets can waste as much as 200
gallons each day. The more water a household conserves, the less water
enters the septic system. Efficient water use can improve the operation of
the septic system and reduce the risk of failure.
High-efficiency toilets
Toilet use accounts for 25 to 30 percent of household water use. Do you
know how many gallons of water your toilet uses to empty the bowl? Most
older homes have toilets with 3.5- to 5-gallon reservoirs, while newer
high-efficiency toilets use 1.6 gallons of water or less per flush. If you have
problems with your septic system being flooded with household water,
consider reducing the volume of water in the toilet tank if you don’t have a
high-efficiency model or replacing your existing toilets with high-efficiency
models.
Faucet aerators and highefficiency
showerheads
Faucet aerators help reduce water use
and the volume of water entering your
septic system. High-efficiency showerheads
or shower flow restrictors also
reduce water use.
Water fixtures
Check to make sure your toilet’s
reservoir isn’t leaking into the bowl.
Add five drops of liquid food coloring
to the reservoir before bed. If the dye
is in the bowl the next morning, the
reservoir is leaking and repairs are
needed.
A small drip from a faucet adds many
gallons of unnecessary water to your
system every day. To see how much a
leak adds to your water usage, place
a cup under the drip for 10 minutes.
Multiply the amount of water in the
cup by 144 (the number of minutes in
24 hours, divided by 10). This is the
total amount of clean water traveling to
your septic system each day from that
little leak.
What goes down the drain can have a major impact on how well your
septic system works.
Waste disposal
What shouldn’t you flush down your toilet? Dental floss, feminine hygiene
products, condoms, diapers, cotton swabs, cigarette butts, coffee grounds,
cat litter, paper towels, and other kitchen and bathroom items that can clog
and potentially damage septic system components if they become trapped.
Flushing household chemicals, gasoline, oil, pesticides, antifreeze, and paint
can stress or destroy the biological treatment taking place in the system
or might contaminate surface waters and groundwater. If your septic tank
pumper is concerned about quickly accumulating scum layers, reduce the
flow of floatable materials like fats, oils, and grease into your tank or be
prepared to pay for more frequent inspections and pumping.
Washing machines
By selecting the proper load size, you’ll
reduce water waste. Washing small loads
of laundry on the large-load cycle wastes
precious water and energy. If you can’t
select load size, run only full loads of
laundry.
Doing all the household laundry in one day
might seem like a time-saver, but it could be harmful
to your septic system. Doing load after load does not allow your
septic tank time to adequately treat wastes. You could be flooding your
drainfield without allowing sufficient recovery time. Try to spread water
usage throughout the week. A new Energy Star clothes washer uses
35 percent less energy and 50 percent less water than a standard model.
Care for your drainfield
Your drainfield is an important part of your septic system. Here are a few
things you should do to maintain it:
• Plant only grass over and near your septic system. Roots from nearby
trees or shrubs might clog and damage the drainfield.
• Don’t drive or park vehicles on any part of your septic system. Doing
so can compact the soil in your drainfield or damage the pipes, tank, or
other septic system components.
• Keep roof drains, basement sump pump drains, and other rainwater or
surface water drainage systems away from the drainfield. Flooding the
drainfield with excessive water slows down or stops treatment processes
and can cause plumbing fixtures to back up.
If the amount of wastewater entering the system is more than the system can
handle, the wastewater backs up into the house or yard and creates a health
hazard.
You can suspect a system failure not only when a foul odor is emitted but
also when partially treated wastewater flows up to the ground surface. By
the time you can smell or see a problem, however, the damage might
already be done.
By limiting your water use, you can reduce the amount of wastewater your
system must treat. When you have your system inspected and pumped as
needed, you reduce the chance of system failure.
A system installed in unsuitable soils can also fail. Other failure risks
include tanks that are inaccessible for maintenance, drainfields that are
paved or parked on, and tree roots or defective components that interfere
with the treatment process.
