Tips to Prolong the Life of Your Septic Tank System

Septic tank systems are designed to last for decades when they're properly cared for, and many homes still have their original system. If your home uses a septic, follow these tips to prolong the life span of the system.

Don't Install a Garbage Disposal

Installing a garbage disposal in your kitchen may make disposing of food waste after mealtime easier, but it will reduce your septic tank's ability to function properly.

Foods that aren't easily broken down, like coffee grounds, bones, grease, and oil, quickly settle to the bottom of the tank. They collect with other non-broken-down items and form a sludge. As this sludge accumulates, it reduces your tank's ability to process other waste properly — and you'll have to clean out the tank more frequently.

In addition to increasing the frequency of tank clean-outs, food waste can also cause problems with other parts of the septic system. For example, food can collect in pipes and cause clogs. Often, food waste that's sent through a septic system leads to costly repairs.

Do Cut Nearby Trees Down

While it might not help your landscaping, cut down trees that are near your septic system to help ensure your system lasts as long as possible. Tree roots can cause problems for septic systems in a couple of ways.

Should a crack form in your system's sewer line or any of its drainage pipes, roots from a tree might enter the pipe through the crack. Once inside any pipe, tree roots often grow rapidly as the pipe offers an unobstructed path to grow along and serve as a water source for the roots. As roots grow up and down a pipe, they cause clogs that require expensive repairs.

Sometimes, roots are even strong enough to bore into a sewer or drainage line without a preexisting crack in the pipe. If a root does crush or bore into a pipe, it will likely grow along the interior just as it would if it entered through a crack.

If cutting down trees will leave a big open space where you'd prefer to have some greenery, talk with a landscaper about what alternative plants can be safely put near a septic system. A professional landscaper will probably be able to suggest some shrubs or other options that have less extensive root systems and won't reach into a septic's lines.

Don't Flush Anything Except Toilet Paper

Toilet paper is biodegradable and safe to use with septic systems. No other products, however, should be flushed down a toilet that's hooked up to a septic tank. This includes feminine hygiene products, dental floss, baby wipes, and paper towels.

If you do flush these items, you can expect to have issues similar to those caused by food. The products will collect at the bottom of the tank, and they're more likely to get stuck and cause a clog somewhere in the sewer line. If they do, you'll have to get that part of the line repaired or replaced.

Do Have Your Septic System Serviced Regularly

Like many other systems, your septic system will last longer if you have it serviced. Regular maintenance removes sludge from the bottom of the tank and refreshes the wastewater in the tank with fresh water, which both help the system to work at maximum efficiency.

Services also provide an opportunity to inspect the tank and other components for signs of damage, and any issues that are identified can be addressed before they become larger, more expensive problems.

A professional can not only service your system, but advise you on regular septic maintenance. To have your septic system serviced , contact Southern Sanitary Systems Inc.