As a homeowner with a septic system, maintaining that system properly can seem a bit like wandering through a minefield. There is a lot of misinformation out there about septic system cleaning and maintenance, and some mistakes can prove very costly. It's in your best interest to make sure that you know how to properly care for your septic tank, including your routine septic tank cleaning needs. Here's a look at some of what you need to know.
Flooded Drain Fields Lead To Backed Up Septic
One common mistake that people make is running all of their drains—including gutter downspouts, sump pump lines, and more—into the septic drain field. After all, if it's the drain field for the septic tank, a little extra water won't hurt, right?
That couldn't be further from the truth. If you choose to do this and you have a heavy rain storm, the added runoff from your gutter system in addition to the rain and the soil runoff around the drain field could oversaturate and flood the drain field. Then, it won't be able to process wastewater, which leads to backups in the septic tank.
You could end up with sewage leaking all over your backyard if you're not careful. That's why it's important that you keep your water drainage directed well away from the drain field. You may even want to think about calling for a septic tank cleaning before storm season, just to be safe.
Drain Clearing Chemicals Can Be Hazardous To Your Tank
You might be tempted to reach for a drain-clearing product the next time your drains are running slow, but this is not a good idea if you have a septic tank. Remember that your septic system depends on a balance of bacteria and enzymes to break down waste and keep the tank from overfilling.
When you introduce chemicals such as drain cleaners, it doesn't help clean the tank. It actually disrupts the enzyme and bacteria balance, which can hinder the tank's natural operation. If you're struggling with slow drains, it could be that your septic tank is getting full and needs to be pumped and cleaned. Talk with a septic tank contractor to find out.
These are a couple of the most important things to know when it comes to septic tank cleaning and maintenance. Talk with a septic tank contractor in your area—such as Integrity Septic Solutions LLC—today for more information.
Share28 June 2022
As you read the articles on this website, you will notice two things. First, they are all about septic services in some ways. Second, some go deep — and others are full of more surface-level facts. This is kind of like your septic system itself! The tank is buried deep, but the drain field is more superficial. You don't have to be an expert on septic systems, but as someone who owns one, you should at least know how to tell when something is wrong with yours so you can call for service. You'll get that level of understanding from this blog — and probably more!
