Dealing with septic system issues can be a major hassle and a major expense. One concern is that certain issues will prevent you from being able to use your plumbing as usual. Another concern is that you can end up with extensive water damage in parts of your home if your septic system backs up. Luckily, preventing major septic system issues is usually quite easy as long as the system is properly maintained and you are careful about how you use your plumbing.
Schedule Annual Septic Inspections
Professional septic system inspections are critical to ensure everything remains in good shape and the system works properly. Issues like a clogged baffle or sludge buildup in the drain field can prevent a septic system from working and cause it to back up frequently. If your septic system does start backing up, you’ll have to deal with the mess of sewage coming from some of the drains in your home.
Inspections are also important for identifying issues like septic tank leaks that can seriously pollute your property. Failing to promptly take care of a leaky septic tank could lead to a harsh fine. That’s one of the many reasons why you need to do whatever you can to make sure your septic system is in optimal condition and have any issues fixed as soon as you can. Keeping records of your septic maintenance is also important. Not only do the records make it easy to know when you next need to contact a septic service, but they can also help the septic company to more easily diagnose potential problems.
While annual inspections are important, issues can still arise at any time and require the help of a professional septic service. One sure sign you need a septic inspection is if you start smelling sewage near your septic tank or drain field. Standing water, soft, soggy soil or overly lush vegetation near the tank or drain field can also be signs of a serious septic system issue.
Have Your Septic Tank Pumped Regularly
Another reason you should have your septic system inspected annually is that it helps to determine whether you need to have your septic tank pumped. The only way to know how full a septic tank is and if it needs to be pumped is to take off the lid and measure the level of sludge and solid waste. The general recommendation is that you should pump out a septic tank if the sludge and solids fill around 1/3 of the tank.
Most septic tanks need to be pumped out only every three to five years or so, as long as the septic system functions properly and is used correctly. However, if the septic system gets a lot of daily use, the tank will fill faster and may need to be pumped after just a year or two. If the septic system is in a second home where it is used for only part of the year, you may be able to go for seven years or more between pumpings. That said, you never want to risk going too long without pumping your septic tank due to the risk of solids and sludge flowing out into the drain field. If this happens, it might ruin the drain field and force you to have the whole thing dug up and redone.
Take Steps to Protect the Drain Field
One of the biggest mistakes some people make is thinking it’s OK to drive over a septic drain field. The concern about doing this, especially if the ground is wet, is that it can cause the soil above the drainpipes to get overly compacted. Compact soil can keep the effluent from draining completely and properly, resulting in a septic system that doesn’t work as it should and frequently backs up. Also, never build anything like a shed on top of the drain field, as this can also compact the soil over time.
Another key for protecting a septic drain field is to avoid planting trees, bushes or shrubs above or near it. Grasses, flowers and other types of vegetation usually won’t cause an issue, as their roots are quite shallow. Anything that has a deeper or more extensive root system can be a major issue, since the roots will often start growing into the drainpipes and clogging the whole field. If this happens, your only option will be to have the field dug up and all the pipes replaced.
Use Water Efficiently
Another essential part of keeping a septic system properly maintained is not overworking it. Any time you shower or flush a toilet, the water that enters the septic tank causes an equal volume of water to flow out of the tank and into the drain field. The water then flows out of the perforations in the drain field pipes and seeps into the soil, where bacteria finish treating it.
If you overwork a septic system by using too much water in a short time, the soil can get so wet that it can’t absorb any more water. If that happens, the septic system will begin to back up and potentially cause sewage to flow out inside your house. If the soil in the drain field is too waterlogged, you can also end up with wastewater starting to pool above the field. Not only can this attract unwanted pests, but it can also cause the soil to get more and more compacted over time if it happens frequently.
Dispose of Waste Properly
One of the biggest keys to protecting a septic system and making it last as long as possible is to always dispose of waste properly and put only certain things down your drains and toilets. Fat, oil and grease should never go down the drain, as they can easily clog your pipes and then flow into the drain field and clog it, too. It’s also not a good idea to use a garbage disposal with a septic system, as all the food scraps will cause the tank to fill far faster and need pumping more often.
Using septic-safe soaps, detergents and toilet paper is essential as well, as these products are free of chemicals that could kill off the bacteria in the septic tank and prevent the system from working properly. The same thing can happen if you regularly pour bleach or chemical cleaning products down the drain.
The only solids you can safely flush down a toilet are toilet paper and human waste. The bacteria in the tank quickly break these down. Items like wet wipes, condoms, feminine hygiene products, and cotton pads take an extremely long time to break down or don’t break down at all, so they’ll cause your septic tank to fill up more quickly. Any of these items can easily clog the inlet baffle or the sewer line leading to the tank, making sewage back up in your house.
If you’re searching for a reliable septic company and plumber in the San Jose, CA area, Ribbs Plumbing Services is the one to call. We offer septic tank pumping and inspections and can help if you’re dealing with sewage backups or other septic system issues.
To schedule a service call for any of your septic system needs, contact our team at Ribbs Plumbing Services today.
