7 Tips to Take Care of Your Septic System
by Admin
Posted on 09-08-2023 11:18 AM
As the environmental protection agency’s 2020 septicsmart week comes to an end we wanted to share some of our tips for maintaining a healthy
septic
system.
A septic system is an onsite wastewater treatment system that processes and purifies household waste (effluent). The effluent consists of blackwater (toilet wastes) and graywater (kitchen sink, bathtub and laundry wastes). A septic system has two components: a septic tank and a leachfield or drainfield (soil absorption field). Primary treatment occurs in the septic tank, where bacteria digest organic materials in the wastewater. The effluent then flows into the leachfield for secondary treatment.
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases. Taking care of your septic system is not complicated and doesn’t have to cost you a lot of money. Not taking care of your septic, however, could cost you big bucks in the end, as digging up and replacing a septic system can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Ⓘ on this page.
Your septic system is an unsung hero of your home or commercial property, and it’s one of those systems you don’t notice until something goes wrong. When something does go wrong, though, you really notice it. To keep everything up and running and smelling like roses, follow these top tips for septic tank maintenance.
What Is a Septic System?
One of the most important tasks that you will need to arrange about once every two to five years is having the septic tank pumped. Whether you will need to have it pumped every two years or every five years really depends on the size of the tank, the number of people living in the home, and the type of waste that is put into the septic system.
For instance, a home equipped with garbage disposal is great when you are connected to a municipal wastewater system, but these appliances can significantly increase the amount of solid waste that flows into a septic system, resulting in more frequent pumping.
About one in five americans is on a septic system and private well instead of city water supply, according to the us environmental protection agency (epa). If you live in a rural area or private community, you might be one of them. That means it’s up to you—or your homeowners association—to maintain it. For the most part, it quietly does its thing out in the yard, but don’t fall victim to “out of sight, out of mind. ”a septic tank is an underground container where household sewage is treated. From there, pre-treated water flows through the drainfield on its way back to the ground.
Care and periodic maintenance of the septic system are crucial, because component repairs can sometimes be costly. If problems get to the point where an entire septic system must be replaced, the costs can range from $3,000 to $10,000 , whereas the cost for routine septic pumps generally falls within the $100 to $300 range. However, with proper maintenance, a septic system can last for anywhere from 25 to 30 years on most residential properties. If you move into a home with a relatively new septic system, that system will likely last for your entire residential occupancy if you treat it properly.
Septic tanks are used for sewage disposal and treatment in unsewered developments. Arising issues from poor septic tank system maintenance can prove not only an unwelcome financial strain but a sizeable health risk to you and your family. Households with septic systems on their premises are often unfamiliar with how to properly take care of them. Read on to find out some helpful septic system tips that can save you from a potential predicament.