New To Owning A Home With A Septic System – Starting Out Right
Owning a home with a septic system is entirely different than one with a connection to city sewage systems. If you're considering buying, or have recently purchased a home with a septic system, there are a few things to learn and do to protect the system from failure.
How it Works
The septic system typically consists of two underground tanks, a pump, and either a sand mound or leech bed. The waste leaves your home through underground pipes into the first tank. The first tank fills until a float switch turns the pump on to pull the liquid waste from the first tank into the second tank. The wastewater then flows into the sand mound or leech bed to filter into the ground.
Call the Professionals
One of the best ways to protect your septic system is to have the tanks emptied, cleaned and the pump inspected. You don't know how well the prior owner maintained the system, so starting fresh is important. Had the prior owners flushed things into the tank that they shouldn't have, the system could fail and fill your home with septic waste as it backs up.
Once the tank is cleaned and inspected, you can set up a schedule to have the tank emptied. Typically, a single-family home should only need to have the tank emptied every three to five years.
Watch What You Flush
Many of the products marketed to be "septic friendly" aren't exactly as friendly as they advertise. Things like:
- Feminine hygiene products of any kind
- Flushable wipes – baby or adult
- Flushable kitty litter
- Toilet paper – some of the super-thick toilet paper products take a long time to break down and cause clogs
Other items that should never be flushed or poured down drains include:
- Grease – not only will it clog your drains, but it will also float at the top of the solid holding tank and can cause clogs in the pipe connecting the two tanks
- Excessive amounts of bleach – it can kill the good bacteria that the septic system needs to break down the waste
Start your life with your septic system right – have the system fully inspected before you find yourself ankle-deep in waste. Preventative care is far more affordable and tolerable than living with the mess that occurs when the system fails and backs up into your yard, and possibly, even into your home. With the right care, you'll never even know the system is there.
For more information, contact a septic tank service such as Garside Sewer & Septic Service LLC.