Septic system maintenance can seem like an arduous task if you’re a first-time homeowner. Malfunctioning components can contaminate your house’s water resources, leaving you with costly repairs or hazardous waste overflow. Here’s how you can prevent and monitor the septic system to ensure it’s working at full capacity.

Why a Septic System Fails

A functioning system discharges wastewater at the same rate it takes on water. Excess wastewater in the tank will spill over, often flowing back through your pipes or leaking into the yard. This happens when you misuse your bathroom and kitchen drains like a garbage disposal, as it clogs your septic system. Avoid flushing feminine hygiene products, diapers, cotton swabs, and paper towels to keep your system flowing.

How to Protect It

Schedule professional septic system maintenance every three to five years. During these appointments, technicians will remove any solids that are overloading your tank and clogging the drains. They’ll also perform an inspection to determine if there are cracks in the tank, then make any necessary repairs.

What to Do If Your System Fails

If your tank overflows, call your local environmental health department to help clean up the sewage. You should also contact a septic professional to get the system inspected and determine the cause of the issue. Once you know the reason for the overflow, ask them for tips on preventing the problem from happening again.

Septic failure can contaminate your home’s water sources, making them unsafe for drinking and bathing. Prevent your family from using and consuming the water until repairs and remediation is complete. You can also close off the sewage leak area to prevent people and pets from going near it.

If you want to have a professional look at your septic system, contact the team at ABC Cesspool & Septic Pumping in Kamuela, HI. These technicians have provided Big Island residents with emergency septic system maintenance and cleaning, as well as wastewater removal services, since 2005. To get more information about their services, visit the website or call (808) 887-0766.