Twelve Simple Ways To Keep A Septic System Healthy
- Have a septic tank pumped every 3-5 years.
- Make sure the septic tank is watertight and have an approved effluent filter installed.
- Keep all toxic and hazardous chemicals out of the system
- Minimize dumping of fats and cooking oils down the drain.
- Keep all foreign solids out of the system (cat box litter, sanitary napkins, cigarette filters, paper towels, etc.)
- Be conservative in water usage. Space out laundry washing. Consider low-flush toilets & low-flow faucets. Fix all leaks promptly.
- Maintain adequate vegetation as cover over the drainfield.
- Keep surface waters away from the tank & drainfield. Fill in low depressions over drainfield area.
- Keep heavy vehicles & equipment off the drainfield.
- Have the system inspected regularly by a professional septic system contractor, certified for this type of service.
- Keep map & drawings of the system.
- Keep maintenance records.
Sim/Tech STF-110 4" Septic Tank Bristle Filter
PLEASE DON’T USE SEPTIC TANK ADDITIVES.
Septic system additives are truly a waste of money and nearly all are harmful to the
environment. Septic system additives “supposedly” break down fats and solids in
the septic tank. In practice, this just allows smaller particulates to pass through the
septic filter (hopefully you have one) where they re-unite in leach field forming a
dense bio-mat. We would never suggest flushing septic system additives into your
septic tank.
The EPA does not approve of any of them – none of these septic cleaning
and/or maintenance products have been proven effective. At best, they will do no
harm to your septic system or the environment, just waste your money. For me,
the deciding factor is to ask yourself if you would like to see these additives find
their way into your well water. Anything that can supposedly digest raw sewage
should scare a person to have in their drinking water and thus their digestive
system.
A properly designed and maintained system septic tank is going to operate just fine
without additives. Avoid those “too good to be true” septic system additives on the
market and TV today.
Septic tanks are designed to retain solids that accumulate over time. Some of these
solids are byproducts of the waste treatment process, while others are materials
that may not be capable of being processed, such as human hair. It is important
that the solids are retained in the septic tank and not released to the drain field.
Excessive discharge of solids to the drain field can cause it to plug and lose
efficiency in treatment and dispersal of the normal liquid flow. If the problem
persists, the drain field may need to be replaced.
Septic tank effluent filters provide a relatively inexpensive means of preventing
solids discharge. They are installed at the outlet of the septic tank, collecting solids
that may be discharged from the tank. Solids accumulation in the filter will cause
poor performance of the septic tank, but creates a problem that is far easier and
less expensive to clean and maintain than solids accumulation in the drain field.
For Service Call: 503-666-2280
