The top 4 tips
“How do I avoid septic emergencies?”
It’s common for homeowners to forget about their septic systems, especially around the holidays. Rarely do people think about what goes down the house drain, however if your home is on a septic system the lack of maintenance can be costly. Regular maintenance of your septic tank and septic system should be a high priority for protecting your investment in your home, your family’s comfort and safety of your community.
The top 4 things to-do to avoid septic emergencies
There are several things that can be done that will help insure you do not have to call on emergency services for your septic system. Here is the list of the top 4 things to-do to avoid septic emergencies:
- Schedule regular septic maintenance. If you are not maintaining your septic system it will catch up to a homeowner at the worst time. Think of it this way, do you change the oil in your car regularly? Rotate the tires and perform other maintenance? Your home’s septic system also needs this same attention.
- Do not flush wipes (baby, cosmetic, cleaning, et all.), dental floss, cigarette butts, toys, wrappers, grease, diapers, or feminine products. The toilet is not a garbage can and all these can cause problems in the septic system.
- Parties and house guests cause increased usage and can overload a weak septic system. Everyone loves to celebrate holidays and special occasions with family and friends. If you are hosting a large group, have your septic tank pumped before guests arrive. If you do a lot of entertaining you will need to have your septic tank pumped more frequently.
- Parking vehicles on the septic system, especially during wet seasons, can cause thousands of dollars of damage. It’s important to know the location of the septic tank and field lines (or drain field). Consider roping this area off to prevent parking on the septic system.
How often should I pump out my septic tank?
As mentioned earlier, most households should have the septic tank pumped every 3 to 5 years. If you have a pump tank, and a septic tank, the pump tank should be serviced every 2 years. If you do a lot of entertaining with many guests, your tank should be serviced more often to avoid issues.
Learn more about septic systems, tips and maintenance in the blog section, here’s a few popular articles: how a septic tank works, a list of items that should never go down your toilet and the Top 10 tips for Healthy Septic System.