Septic tanks are common systems for wastewater disposal used in many rural areas. They are designed to provide treatment of wastewater without the use of a public sewer system, thus relieving local septic drain fields from excess water flow. A septic tank should be pumped out every three to five years depending on its size and the usage it gets.
According to plumber Newcastle owner Cherie Outjers, the lifespan of a septic tank is dependent on the number of occupants in the house. The more people who use the tank, the faster it will fill up and need to be emptied. Many different factors can have an impact on how long your tank lasts, including what you put down your drains. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to extend the lifespan of your septic tank, potentially saving yourself a lump sum of money and hassle.
Here are some useful tips that will help lower maintenance costs on your septic system and prolong its overall lifespan.
- Regular septic tank inspections are necessary to maintain a properly functioning system. These inspections will help prolong the life of your waste treatment system by identifying problems before they become big issues that need costly repairs or replacement work done.
- Because moisture easily seeps into the waste matter in your septic tank, you must not let standing water accumulate at any time anywhere near the tank system. This means that if you see puddles forming around the access cover on top of your tank, you should mow and trim around and over the entire area and ensure it is dry and free of debris before allowing anyone to go on top of it or use an auger tool down through the access opening.
- Be careful not to dispose of any trash or other materials that will clog up your system and require more frequent pumping and cleaning of the waste tank. These include materials and substances such as oil and grease, flushable wipes (These variables do not break down like toilet paper, so if you flush them down the toilet, they can cause major problems for you and your property), and Petroleum-based products such as fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and gasoline.
- Keep sewer lines free from tree roots, which can grow through cracks in older systems.Â
- If you have a septic tank system on your property, be sure to keep children and pets away from the area surrounding it.Â
- Use as few harsh chemicals as possible when doing laundry or dishwashing. Common ingredients such as bleach, borax, vinegar and citric acid break down more easily in nature so they will not cause stress for those living near septic tanks.
- Be cautious about using too much water at one time. This is because using excessive amounts of water at once can overload your system with waste. This, in turn, will overwhelm any bacteria that might be present in the treatment chamber along with causing damage to the entire system due to excess weight on top of the tank lid or cover which is not designed to hold excessive amounts of water in the first place.
- To avoid problems with sediment build-up in your tank, clean out the pump filter as often as required by the instructions of the manufacturer.Â
- Keep rainwater from accumulating around or near the septic tank system and keep gutters clear so that the contractors can do their jobs properly. Remember that drainage systems should be installed away from the septic tank areas.
Aside from all of these helpful tips, make sure to hire a professional septic tank service to clean out your septic tank every three years or so. If you fail to do this, it can lead to the dangerous build-up of sludge and scum in your septic system which can cause serious problems with your sewage disposal. Always read the instructions that come with whatever cleaning product you decide to use for best results.