Five Steps for Proper Septic Tank Maintenance

Keeping up on your septic tank care is part of your duties as a homeowner. Sometimes it’s hard to add yet another task to the to-do list, but failing to keep up with septic maintenance can be a health and safety hazard. Luckily, most of these maintenance tasks are pretty hands-off—and in the case of maintenance and pumping, are scheduled years apart. Here’s everything you need to know to keep up with septic system maintenance in El Centro, CA.

Inspect your system regularly

The best way to spot issues before they become major, costly problems is to inspect your system regularly. The sooner you catch a problem, the less likely it will develop into an expensive, smelly mess. Since your household depends on having running water and flushing toilets, putting an inspection on your monthly to-do list will save a lot of hassle.

Simply walk around your home to check drains for odors and backup. Keep an eye on the leach field to make sure there’s no pooling water or suspiciously green grass. Check to see if tank covers are secured, and keep an eye out for any other problems. If you notice anything, call a septic contractor.

Get pumped

You need to pump your septic tank about once every three to five years. This prevents solid waste from building up and clogging your tank or the pipes. While wastewater eventually makes its way out to the drainfield, most of the solid waste remains in the tank. Schedule your septic pumping faithfully to avoid health hazards and other issues.

Save water

Every drop of water down the drain or toilet has to go through your septic system. If your household experiences high water volume, it could overwhelm the system and cause problems. Use your water judiciously to avoid backups.

Don’t flush the unflushable

One of the top problems plumbers and septic contractors encounter is when people flush anything besides human waste and toilet paper down the drain. Even if a product says it’s “flushable,” that just means it’s biodegradable. It doesn’t mean it won’t clog your pipes or septic tank. Keep the feminine hygiene products, baby wipes, kitty litter and more far away from your toilet.

Keep chemicals away

Your septic system relies on helpful bacteria to break down the organic matter in your wastewater. If you use harsh chemicals, you’ll kill the helpful bacteria. In turn, this causes your tank to fill up faster and back up. Always use septic-safe household cleaners and detergents, and be cautious about what you send down the drain.

Ironically, the more careful you are about your septic system, the less you’ll have to think about it. Give yourself some peace of mind when you regularly inspect your septic system. 

For assistance pumping and maintaining your septic system in El Centro, CA, the team at Sharps Sanitation is happy to help. Give us a call to learn more about what we can do for you.

Categorised in: septic tank