Care And Maintenance Of Your Underground Residential Septic System

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If you are someone with a septic system, have you ever walked outside, stood in your yard, and thought about the tank and greater septic system that lies beneath your feet? There's more to this system than you might know. It's not just a septic tank. It's a system of pipes that carry waste water away from the tank, and it's also a drainfield, made from soil. The next time you call a septic service to care for your tank, watch them work and ask questions. Also, make sure you spend some time reading this blog to become more aware of the basics.

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Care And Maintenance Of Your Underground Residential Septic System

13 January 2023
 Categories: , Blog


When you have a residential septic system on your property, there are some things that you can do to keep it working effectively. Most of the care comes down to how you use the system, but there are some things that you may need septic services to handle, like tank pumping and cleaning. 

General Use

The septic system on your property is designed to handle waste and water from your drains and toilets, but putting food, grease, and paper goods into the system can harm the tank. The septic tank uses an anaerobic process and live bacteria to break things down inside, and materials like grease from cooking can kill the bacteria and shut that process down.

The result is a tank that is not effectively processing solids and will fill up quickly. The septic tank may back up and overflow, and septic services will be necessary to pump the tank out and clean it so it can work correctly again.

There are also some valves and pipes that are crucial to how waste moves in and water moves out of the tank, so it is crucial to use biodegradable bathroom tissue and limit the amount of paper used in the system. Things like feminine products, plastics, or condoms should never go into the septic system because they do not break down in the tank and can be a significant problem. 

Tank Pumping

There will come a time when septic pump services will be necessary, and that is a normal part of having a septic system. The solid waste in the system breaks down into sludge that can only be removed by pumping. However, a healthy septic system should not need pumping too often. 

Most septic systems are designed to hold enough material to allow pumping once every couple of years, but that will depend on the tank size, the number of people in the home, and if the system is working the way it should be. If you are concerned about the septic system, you may want to hire a septic system inspector to evaluate the system after having the septic services pump and clean the tank. 

The inspector will check the entire system, let you know if there are any problem areas that they have found, and suggest ways to remedy them. Normal use of the system does not require a ton of maintenance, and most residential systems operate trouble-free for years, but if you have questions, the septic services company that you use can answer questions and make recommendations to help you keep your system healthy and thriving.

For more information on septic services, contact a company near you.