When you rely on a septic system for wastewater treatment, maintenance is a crucial part of keeping the tank and leach field in good condition. This will ensure these components last for 20 to 40 years and don’t become a health hazard. The guide below will help you stay on top of basic septic maintenance care.

Do:

Have septic pumping performed every two to four years.

When wastewater leaves your home, it first flows into a septic tank. Here, heavy solids float to the bottom of the tank, and the lighter ones float to the top. The remaining water will eventually flow into the leach field for further filtration, leaving the solids behind. For optimal performance, pumping should be performed once these layers take up at least 30% of the tank. The time for this can vary depending on tank size, number of people in the household, and average water usage.

Use water efficiently.

When water leaves your home, it ends up in your septic system, which has a finite capacity. To ensure it continues to work efficiently, plan out your water usage. Avoid allowing water to run longer than necessary when washing dishes, cleaning your car, watering the garden, or taking a shower. Only turn on the tap when you’re ready to use the water; otherwise, you could be looking at more frequent septic maintenance.

Don’t:

Flush harsh chemicals down your drains.

The balance inside your septic tank relies on the anaerobic bacteria. Many household cleaners are designed to kill bacteria and could disrupt this environment if they were allowed to enter it. Avoid this problem by never putting these chemicals in your drains and switching to biodegradable cleaning supplies.

Put unnecessary solids down your drains.

You can avoid unnecessary septic maintenance by limiting the solids entering your tank. Avoid flushing anything besides toilet paper. Also, never pour grease and fats down your kitchen sinks; they’ll only make the tank fill up quicker. Other items to avoid flushing include cotton balls, tampons, coffee grounds, and cat litter.

When you want to stay on top of septic maintenance, don’t forget to contact the team at Sloan’s Septic Tank Service. This fourth-generation, family-owned business has been providing quality septic and portable toilet services to the Oakley, MI, and surrounding areas since 1937. Call them today at (989) 845-6280 to schedule an inspection or septic tank cleaning. You can also learn more about their services by visiting their website.