Part of being a homeowner is performing the necessary septic system maintenance. Scheduling plumbing services like drain cleaning and tank pumping is necessary to keeping the system healthy and operating efficiently, but when summer rolls around, there are other important steps that need to be taken to keep it protected. Follow these summer maintenance tips to keep the septic system from becoming damaged.

Summer Septic System Maintenance Tips

1. Direct Parking

A staple of summer is gathering friends for barbecues and pool parties, but when guests arrive for the festivities, make sure they are careful about where they park. Putting too much weight on top of a septic system adds undue pressure which can shift the soil or crack the tank, so make sure to keep everyone clear of the tank and leach field to avoid problems.

2. Monitor What Enters the System

Remind guests of what can and can’t go down the drains. Napkins, cotton products, food scraps, and grease cause clogs within the system’s pipes. When this happens, the water starts to drain more slowly or could cause waste to back up into the system. Making sure people dispose of their waste correctly is a crucial septic system maintenance task that helps avoid these problems.

3. Control Water Flow

Summer is prone to surprise rain showers, which can cause flash flooding. If the leach field becomes overly saturated with excessive water, the septic system won’t be able to drain properly, which can lead to backed-up waste and slow draining. You can avoid these problems by making sure the gutters are draining water away from the leach field, and whenever heavy rains do roll in, avoid using water within the house when possible, so the system doesn’t get overloaded.

 

For more summer septic system maintenance tips, contact the experts at Wild West Plumbing Heating & Drain Service in Kalispell, MT. As the premier plumbing contractors serving Kalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls, Bigfork, and Lakeside, their licensed team has the experience needed to keep your system protected, and if disaster should strike, they offer emergency plumber services to get your system operating efficiently again. Schedule an appointment by calling (406) 752-1244 or learn more online.