How Your Septic System Works:

 
 
Septic Tank:



  
  

Ways to protect your system:

• Avoid the flood - Reducing how much water that you allow to leak into your septic tank will allow enough time for the water to drain into the septic field. Check your home for leaking faucets and running toilets which will overload your system with too much water and will cause your system to back-up into your home.
• Give your tank a check-up -  Make sure you have your tank pumped regularly. If you have 1,000 gallon tank with 4 people and no garbage disposal, your tank should be pumped out every 2-3 years. With only 2 people living in the home a pump-out is recommended every 4-5 years. If you avoid having your system serviced the sludge and solids will eventually overfill your tank and will be pushed out to your drain field. This will eventually cause your system to fail.
• Protect you tank and field - Do not place or drive any heavy objects or equipment over your tank or drain fields like cars, trucks, RVs, sheds, cement pads, or above ground pools. Heavy weights can crush and damage your tank, pipes and drain field. This will may cause your system to leak and prevent them from working properly or reduce the effectiveness of your system.
• Know your roots - Watch out for your tree roots. Tree and brush roots can infiltrate your septic tank and drain fields. This will prevent your system from working properly. Roots can also destroy your tank, pipes and drain field. We recommend that you have any trees or brush removed from around your system to prevent costly repairs to your system.
• Trash goes in the can - Do not put things like dental floss, feminine hygiene products, diapers, cigarettes, cat litter, Kleenex, cotton swabs/Q-tips, coffee grounds, paper towels, paints, grease (bacon fat, cooking oil, lard), FLUSHABLE WIPES (a BIG NO. This is one of the top reasons for system clogs. They might flush, but they don't break down!!!), bleach, or over use of household cleaning products down you toilets, sinks and drains. These items will clog your pipes, clog baffles, destroy pumps and destroy drain fields. Over use of cleaning products can prevent bacteria from breaking down solid waste.
•  Go without a garbage disposal - Using garbage disposals can add more water waste to your tank and the bile residue from garbage disposals can clog pipes and drain fields. If you do have a garbage disposal and use it frequently, it is recommended that you have your tank pumped more often (preferably every year).
• Too Clean - The use of hand/body/hair soaps, dish detergent, laundry detergent, house-hold cleaners and bleach can kill essential bacteria that is necessary to break down waste in septic systems. Instead use environmentally friendly soaps and toilet paper that is septic safe.
• Help your bacteria - Flushing products like 'RID-X' every few months can give your bacteria a fighting chance to break down waste in your septic tank. If you prefer a cheaper natural product, baking yeast is great food for bacteria growth (one pack once a month, just flush the powder) and buttermilk is rich in bacteria (dump down the sink or flush every few months).