July 2, 2016
Residential homes in Orlando, Seminole, Lake, Volusia, Osceola, with septic tanks are regulated by the Department of Environmental Protection and the Florida Department of Health.
The septic system takes all the waste water from your home, toilets, laundry, bath, showers, kitchen, and takes it to a water tight tank. Waste water leaves the home through pipes leading to the septic tank. The solid waste stays in the septic tank, eventually this needs to be pumped out, while the water leaves the tank through a main drain pipe which branches off into several perforated pipes. Seeping into the ground where waste water is cleaned by soil microbes. The drain field is the most expensive part of the structure and when it is compromised with waste has to be dug up and replaced.
If you feel your septic tank is being flooded or it’s making funny noises, running slow or backing up, it’s important to call Orlando Septic Services before any more damage is done.
Septic tank tips from Orange County Environmental Health
Know the location and capacity of your septic tank system. If you have a copy of your original permit, keep it available for future reference.
Have a licensed contractor inspect the tank at least every 3 years.
Have tank pumped when the combined depth of the sludge and scum equals 1/3 of the tank liquid volume.
Install the system so that rainfall and surface water will flow away from the drain field. Grow grass above the system.
Install water conservation fixtures or devices to reduce the total volume of water entering the system.
Keep plumbing fixtures such as toilets and faucets in good repair to prevent leakage and wasting of water
Keep copies of maintenance receipts. Keep a sketch of the location of your tank and drain field.
Don’t flush paper towels, newspapers, wrapping paper, rags or sticks into the system.
Don’t over-use ordinary household cleaning chemicals that will be flushed into the system.
Don’t pour out or empty hobby or home industry chemicals into the system.
Don’t flush grease down the drain.
Don’t flush toxic materials such as pesticides into the system.
Don’t plant trees or shrubbery in the drain field.
Don’t allow vehicles (cars, trucks, etc.) to drive across or park on the drain field. (Protect it from being crushed.)
Don’t use chemical solvents to clean plumbing lines or a septic tank system.
