If your home has a septic system, you’ll need to allocate part of your household budget for maintenance, just like you do to pay for your electric bill or filling up your oil tank during heating season. These 6 tips will help keep your septic service budget at a minimum, so you can use that money elsewhere.
Get on a schedule
According to the EPA, your septic system will need regular tank service every three to five years. This scheduled service gives us a chance to pump out your tank, ensure your tank is working properly and fix small problems before they build into something bigger over time, which is common with septic systems. A poorly maintained septic system can be very costly to repair and can also cause health and environmental issues due to leaking sewage.
Keep a record
Three to five years is a long time to keep track of without writing it down. Maintaining a record of your septic system’s health will help you stay on top of the maintenance and repairs that have been completed and what is upcoming. If you're one of our customers, we'll also send you a reminder card when it's time to schedule your next service.
Be careful about what you flush
Backups and clogs can lead to expensive service calls that go above and beyond your regularly scheduled maintenance. While regular service can help prevent backups, paying attention to what you put down your drains is also an important part of preventing septic issues. In your bathroom, major no-no’s include baby wipes, tissues, and feminine products; in your kitchen, paper towels, cooking grease and other household chemicals are all on the “do not dump” list. See our list of 10 Things You Should Never Flush if You Have a Septic System to read more about what should and should not go down your drains.
Make sure your tank cover is exposed
A buried cover or cleanout takes time to locate and dig out, and as it is in any business, time is money. An exposed cover is easier to access, so your septic service will cost less. If you currently have a buried tank cover, ask us about septic tank risers.
Be careful about what you plant
Septic systems have 4 main components; the pipe connected to your home, the tank itself, the drainfield, and the soil surrounding it. Damage to any of these components mean big trouble for your system and plant roots are a very common cause of issues. Roots can puncture, clog, and dislocate pipes, even dig into the tank itself. A broken pipe caused by tree roots can cost thousands to repair, not to mention the damage to your yard. There are a wide variety of ground covers and plants with shallow roots that will give you flexibility in your landscaping, without damaging your pipes. Trees and shrubs should be planted far away from your septic tank, drainfield and sewer lines. A good guideline for minimum planting distance for trees is to use the height of your tree once it matures, then double it. Interested in landscaping? Read more about your best landscaping options.
Don’t flood your system
Your septic system is designed to handle a specific flow rate of water based on the size of your home, and your tank should discharge wastewater at the same rate or faster than it takes on water. Too much water entering your septic system all at once doesn’t allow enough time for the separation of liquids and solids in the tank, and when your tank can't keep up, you have a big problem. As it fills up, the excess water has to go somewhere else, which usually means it starts to back up in your home or your yard. The more you can conserve water, the less often you’ll need to service your septic system.
We’ve got your back
Ready to schedule your next septic service? We’d love to be the ones you call! We offer state-of-the-art technology, professional and knowledgeable technicians, fair rates and detailed service reports. We’re also open for emergencies 24/7, even weekends and holidays.
Experience the ADB Septic Advantage today. Call us at (860) 432-5996 or visit us online at adbseptic.com.