While touring homes for sale, you may be surprised to see that the house you love runs on a septic system instead of a municipal sewer one. If you buy the house, learning how this system works and how to properly maintain it can be challenging at first, but this guide will cover the basics and introduce you to this new part of your home. 

How Does a Septic System Work?

This is an underground system that treats wastewater coming from your home before distributing it back into the soil. It has two main components: the septic tank and the drainfield. 

All water that goes down a drain from your house will lead to the septic tank. When the liquid reaches the septic tank, it will be held until the solids settle at the bottom and the oil and grease floats to the top.

After the separation process, the remaining water will be sent into the drainfield. This is an underground area with layers of pipes and gravel that will treat the wastewater and naturally remove bacteria, viruses, or any other harmful material. The filtered water is then sent back into the soil. 

What Should New Homeowners Know to Maintain it?

Properly maintaining your septic system will avoid potential damage and costly repairs. Only flush or put appropriate items down the drain, avoiding anything that can cause a clog, like diapers, cigarettes, or bandages.

Tank and pipe cleaning solutions that promise to dissolve backups usually don’t work and can cause corrosive damage to your tank. They can also pollute the water in your system, causing health issues for you and anyone else that comes in contact with the water. 

Your drain field also needs to be properly maintained. Divert water away from this area as it can overflow easily and cause backups in your tank. Do not park any heavy machinery on the field and avoid walking or driving on it when possible, as high pressure can inhibit its ability to filter water successfully.

Planting a native variety of grass over your drain field can help absorb excess water, but you should not plant anything with deep roots that can damage the pipes and filtration system. You should also not plant any vegetables over your drain field as they can absorb bacteria from the water and be harmful to eat. 

You should have your septic tanks pumped every two to three years to ensure it never gets backed up. You may want to have it cleaned more frequently if you use large amounts of water or many people use the system. 

If you need your septic tank pumped, contact Ken-Way Services of Rice Lake in Barron County, WI. With over 69 years of experience, this family-owned and operated company provides a variety of services for your septic system, including pumping and cleaning. Visit their website to learn more about what they do or call (715) 234-7767 to schedule an appointment.