The Guidebook to Septic System Do’s & Don’ts
Most homeowners are preoccupied with fantasies about remodeling their kitchens or updating their bathrooms. While beautifying your space is ideal, ensuring your household is in prime working condition certainly takes precedent. There are many moving parts to your home that require maintenance in order to perform at an optimal level. Routine septic pumping is equally important in preserving the balance and functionality of your home’s ecosystem.
A backyard decorated in sewage will not only drain your piggy bank, but it can also be detrimental to the health of our environment. To avoid a repair bill that has multiple zeros attached to the cost, treat your septic system as if it was an additional family member. Liberty, TX residents and neighboring counties can avoid messy complications by staying informed on the following do’s and don’ts of septic etiquette.
Do: Conduct routine septic pumping. Septic pumping is essential in removing sludge buildup to prevent clogging, certifying your wastewater is being adequately treated and prolonging the lifespan of tank components as well as the overall operating system. Pumping frequency will vary from home to home and is contingent upon family size and how often your toilet, washing machine, and other related appliances are put to use. Did you know that food is 10x harder to process than human waste? Consistent use of your garbage disposal can increase the need for septic pumping by 60 percent!
Do: Be mindful of excess water consummation. Mend any leaking toilets or sinks, only run your dishwasher or washing machine when they are fully loaded, and turn off the faucet when shaving or brushing your teeth. Draining large quantities of water, like your swimming pool, into the septic system is off-limits. This may inundate your drain field with water, causing it to overflow and malfunction.
Don’t: Flush objects that are not meant to be flushed. This includes tampons, hair, cigarette butts, condoms, coffee grounds, and handy wipes or paper products (despite what the manufacturer advises on the label). Besides toilet paper, if the item didn’t start in your mouth as food, it shouldn’t be flushed down the toilet.
Don’t: Empty harmful chemicals into drains or use household cleaning products excessively. Things like antifreeze, paint, pesticides and other non-biodegradable products are big no-nos. Similarly, persistent use of brands like Scrubbing Bubbles, Kaboom, or toilet cleaners that nix the need for any manual labor, will wipe out bacteria in your septic system that is vital to the breakdown of solids.
