Care and feeding of your septic system
Troy's tips for a system that lasts.
Swaffield Septic Service
Troy's Tips
1. Buying a house? Make a final pump-out and inspection a condition of your offer, so you know the state of the system before you buy.
2. Pump on schedule. Have your tank pumped every three to four years, depending on the size of your household, how much water you use, and the size of your system.
3. Go easy on water. Spread your water use out over the day rather than using a lot at once. It gives the tank time to work and keeps the bed from getting saturated.
4. Redirect runoff. Point sump pumps, downspouts and runoff from patios and driveways away from the tank and the leaching bed.
5. Short showers, full loads. Keep showers short, and only run the dishwasher and washing machine when they're full, on the cycle with the fewest rinses.
6. Spread the laundry. Do a load or two a day instead of all of it at once, so solids have time to settle in the tank instead of being pushed out to the bed.
7. Fix leaks. A dripping tap or a running toilet sends thousands of litres a year through your system, and keeps your well pump running day and night.
8. Liquid detergent, and not much. Use the smallest amount of liquid laundry detergent that does the job. Powder can cake and clog the pipes.
9. Effluent filter. Make sure your tank has an effluent filter on the outlet. It keeps solids from flowing out and clogging your leaching bed.
10. Clean the filter yearly. Have the effluent filter cleaned about once a year, so it doesn't clog and back up into the house.
11. Stay on a schedule. Ask about a maintenance plan with reminders, so pump-outs and filter cleanings never slip.
12. Risers. Risers bring your tank lids up to ground level, so every pump-out doesn't mean digging up your lawn.
1. Not everything is flushable. Grease, wipes, sanitary products and cigarette butts don't break down like toilet paper and will plug your system. That includes wipes labelled "flushable".
2. Skip the additives. Bacteria additives aren't needed if you're careful about what goes in. Paints, solvents, thinners and nail polish remover, even in small amounts, can kill the bacteria that do the work.
3. Go easy on harsh cleaners. Bleach, toilet bowl cleaners and drain openers slow the treatment down, and the chemicals can end up in the ground and in wells.
4. Garburators and softeners. Don't connect a garburator or water softener to your septic tank. Softener backwash, water treatment discharge and furnace condensate are a strain your system doesn't need, so route them separately.
5. Keep off the field. Don't drive vehicles or machinery over the tank or bed, since it can crush the pipes and pack down the soil. Keep snowmobiles off in winter too: packed snow insulates less, and pipes can freeze.
6. Mind the trees. Keep trees and shrubs, especially willows and poplars, well away from the bed, since their roots travel far for water and can plug or damage the pipes. Avoid watering the grass over the bed too.
A routine pump-out costs a tiny fraction of replacing a failed system.
Pay a little now, or a lot later.
Remember... a well maintained septic system can run for decades. An abused or neglected one can fail tomorrow.
Book a pump-out: 705-435-4130