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Sunday, March 30, 2014

How to Maintain Your Septic Tank

Does your Anderson home use a septic system to treat wastewater? Caring for your septic tank is a simple yet essential component of maintaining your home’s plumbing. While septic tank maintenance is not difficult, failure to care for your system properly can cause damage that affects your health and requires the costly installation of a new system. Understanding how a few simple steps can improve the function of your septic system will save you time, money, and stress.

Don’t Use Additives
There are a variety of septic system additives available on the market today. These products claim to improve septic system performance, degrease your plumbing pipes, and even prevent the need for septic system pumping. However, multiple studies have shown that septic system additives often do more harm than good. Additive products contain bacteria, enzymes, or chemicals that can upset the balance of a healthy septic system. Too much bacteria can speed up the decomposition process, releasing gases that push solids into your drain field and affect the absorption rate of the soil. Chemical degreasers often contain known carcinogens, which can be distributed to local water sources—including drinking water—because they are not broken down inside your septic tank. Never use any additive in your septic system; if you experience a change in performance, talk to your plumber about a better long-term solution.

Have Your Tank Pumped
Regardless of how well you care for your septic system, it must be pumped regularly to remove solid wastes that build up over time. These solid wastes are an unavoidable byproduct of the way the system works. Neglecting to pump the tank can clog it, leading to plumbing backups and other problems in your home. You should have a professional plumber inspect your tank every year to determine when pumping is necessary. Although most septic tanks require pumping at least every one to three years, factors such as the occupancy of your home and your average water usage can affect the amount of time your tank will function between pumping services. Only a professional can tell you when your tank requires pumping, and it’s always best to pump your tank before you notice any problems. Once you start noticing plumbing issues, you’ve already done some damage to the system that could reduce its working lifetime.


Don’t wait until you’ve had septic system problems to call for help—contact your plumber today to ask about maintaining your septic system for trouble-free function and a healthier home environment. You can learn more about our septic system and plumbing services in Anderson by clicking through the information on our website. We also invite you to check out our blog for additional tips and information that can help you reduce water waste, prevent plumbing problems, and save money.

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