About one quarter of all homes in the U.S. have septic systems. If you are one of them, proper maintenance is vital! If not, you may be flushing money down the drain, putting the health of your family at risk, and hurting the environment.
Maintaining Your Septic System
Septic maintenance doesn’t have to be complicated or even expensive. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there are four main elements.
Pumping and inspection
Use water efficiently
Proper waste disposal
Take care of your drain field
Pumping And Inspection
The average septic system should be professionally inspected and pumped at least every three years. If you have an alternative system with electrical float switch, mechanical components, or pumps, generally need to be inspected once a year.
Factors that determine how often you should have your septic tank pumped
Size of household
Total wastewater generated
Volume of solids in waste water
Size of the septic tank
Use Water Efficiently
The average person in a single family home uses about 70 gallons of water a day. A single leaky toilet can waste over 200 gallons of water a day. All the household water goes down the pipes into the septic tank.
The more water a family uses, the more water that enters the septic system. So, using less water can reduce the risk of failure of your septic system and improve the operation.
Easy Way To Save Water
Use high efficiency toilets
Use high efficiency shower heads and faucet aerators
Use the washing machine and dishwasher only when you have a full load.
Dispose of waste properly
Don’t Use Toilets As Trash Cans
Since what you flush down the toilet or goes down the drain ends up in the septic tank. So, don’t treat the septic system like a trash can. A good rule of thumb, only flush human waste and toilet paper..
While it is easy to forget, our plumbing pipes and septic system are an investment that needs to be taken care of. Routine maintenance will save you money in the long run.
If your drains are slow or clogged, contact Orlando Septic Service for our high pressure jetting. Much safer than chemical drain cleaners and safe for older pipes. Check back with us next week for more information on what should not go down the drain.
