How to take care of your septic
system inside your house?
How to take care of your septic
system outside your house?
How often should I pump my
septic tank?
Homeowner's Septic Tank Guide & Maintenance Record File (PDF)
On-Site Sewage Management System - Owners's Reference Guide (PDF)
- INSIDE
- Conserve water. Fix leaks and drips. If you replace
old fixtures,
install new "low flow" types.
- Do not overload the system -- this is the primary
cause of system
failures.
- Early morning and bedtime are peak water use times in
the
bathroom.
- Run dishwashers
and washing machines at other times of the day.
- Don't do all the family
laundry
in one day.
- Do not use a garbage disposal or dump coffee grounds
in the sink.
- Increasing the load of solids into the tank decreases
the capacity and
shortens the interval
between pumpings.
- Do not pour fats and oils down the drain. They can
build up and
clog the septic tank pipes.
- Put paper towels, tissue, cigarette butts, disposable
diapers,
sanitary napkins, tampons and other material in a trash can, not the
toilet.
- Use normal amounts of detergents, bleaches, drain
cleaners,
household cleaners and other products.
- Avoid dumping solvents like dry
cleaning fluid, pesticides, photographic chemicals, paint thinner, or
auto products down the
drain.
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- OUTSIDE
- Direct down spouts and runoff away from the septic
field to avoid
saturating the area with excess water.
- Dense grass cover and other shallow rooted plants
are
beneficial
over a septic field. However, do not plant trees because large plant
roots can clog or break the pipes.
- Avoid compacting the soil over the infiltration
area.
-
Do not drive
or park vehicles over the area and don't build a shed or driveway in
this area. These activities can also crack pipes or cause the
distribution box to
settle
unevenly, meaning that effluent will only flow into part of the drain
field.
-
- Tanks need to be pumped every two to five years,
depending on use.
If the tank gets too full, particles of scum or sludge will flush out
of the tank. This material will clog the drain tiles and cause the
septic system to fail.
-
- Hire a licensed professional (listed in the phone
book
under
"septic tank cleaners") to pump the waste out of your tank. The tank
should be pumped
out through the manhole, not the smaller inspection ports. The tank
should
be cleaned completely, leaving nothing in the tank. Make sure the
baffles
are inspected and that the tank is checked for leaks.
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