How to Maintain Your Septic System

Excerpt: Your septic system plays an important role in your everyday comfort. As a homeowner, you are tasked with caring for your septic system not only to prevent plumbing issues at home, but to protect your local environment as well.

A septic system manages wastewater from your home, removing solid wastes before returning treated water to your local ecosystem. Septic systems require regular care and maintenance to continue performing this duty without causing damage to your home or property. Keep reading to find out more about how to maintain your septic system for maximum performance and minimum environmental impact.

Protect the Drain Field

Once solid wastes have been separated inside your septic tank, the remaining water is distributed via pipes into your drain field. Protecting your drain field will prevent damage to these pipes that could cause your septic system to back up. Avoid driving cars or other heavy equipment over your drain field and never park vehicles in this area of your yard. The weight of vehicles can crack your drain pipes and cause flooding. Driving over your drain field can also compact the soil over time, preventing the flow of water and causing an unsavory sewage backup. Don’t plant bushes, trees, or shrubs anywhere on your drain field—keep these plants at least 30 feet away from your drain field to prevent their roots from damaging your pipes. If you’d like to plant more than just grass over your drain field for aesthetic purposes, there are many options to landscape your drain field safely.

Reduce Your Water Usage

Reducing the water usage in your home also reduces the strain on your septic system. Turn off the water when shaving or brushing your teeth and keep your showers short. Installing low-flow showerheads and sink faucet aerators will reduce the amount of water these fixtures use while maintaining comfortable water pressure for washing and bathing. If you’re considering a bathroom remodel, choose low-flow toilets to further reduce your daily water usage.  Other ways to conserve water at home include only doing the laundry when you can wash a full load and taking your car to a commercial car wash rather than cleaning it yourself with the garden hose.

Schedule Regular Inspections

Your septic tank should be inspected once a year by a professional plumber. Your plumber can spot signs of damage or wear and make the necessary repairs before your septic system experiences a large-scale problem. Annual inspections will also determine when your tank needs to be pumped. Most septic tanks must be pumped every one to three years to remove the solid wastes that build up during wastewater treatment. Allowing these wastes to accumulate inside your tank without regular pumping will cause the system to clog and back up, resulting in extensive water damage to your home.

If your property uses a septic system to treat wastewater, a professional plumber can help you evaluate the efficiency of your system and ensure it stays in excellent condition. Please visit our website to contact a plumber or to find out more about our plumbing, drain cleaning, and septic tank services in Houston. You can read through more tips and information on residential and commercial plumbing systems on our blog.