Caring for a Septic System at Home
Being mindful of what goes down the drains and conducting routine maintenance can go a long way in caring for a septic system. With a little bit of conscious effort, preventive measures aren’t complicated nor do they cost a lot of money. However, if the care of a septic system isn’t prioritized, it could end up costing thousands of dollars in repairs or replacement.
If a home is not hooked into city water and sewer systems, a septic system is crucial for treating wastewater from a home. Wastewater that enters a septic system for treatment is separated from solid waste and is broken down so it can evaporate or drain into the soil.
Caring for a septic system really begins with understanding how it works, what type of system it is, and where it is located on a property. Once done, here is a list of things to consider and practice to ensure optimal performance and longevity of a septic system.
Spread Out Water Usage
The more water running through the water pipes of a house in the course of a day, the more stress is put on the septic system. In a multi-person family, if everyone takes baths or showers every day in a short window of time, it may not give the septic system the time it needs to treat the mass amount of wastewater coming through. The same can be said for doing multiple loads of laundry in a day. While it may be convenient from a personal time management perspective, it’s not optimal when being mindful of caring for a septic system.
If a septic system isn’t able to keep up with treating the amount of wastewater coming in, it could flood the drainfield and result in wet, mushy ground, lingering sewage stench, and slow-running drains or backed-up plumbing, all of which can be costly issues to correct.
Dispose of Trash in a Trash Can
Sinks and toilets are not for trash. Coffee grounds, eggshells, medication, oil, paint, grease and clumps of hair, etc. won’t just eventually clog a sink drain, it will also wreak havoc on a septic system. If a garbage disposal is present in a kitchen sink, the items listed above should still stay out of the sink drain because even particles from those items will pile up on the bottom of a septic tank and cause problems.
Besides septic-safe toilet paper and anything that comes from the human body, nothing should be flushed down a toilet. Tissues, diapers, hair, and dental floss will not break down in a septic system like septic-safe toilet paper is designed to do and issues will ensue.
Get the System Pumped Routinely
An average household should have its septic system pumped every 2-3 years. This service is provided by a septic service provider, like John Parichuk Paving, for an average cost between $300-$600 depending on the size of the tank. When done by a thorough service company, pumping a septic system should also include the service of leak inspection and sludge layer examination to ensure there aren’t any issues with the septic system that need to be handled.
If you experience any issues that could possibly be related to your septic system, contact John Parichuk Paving. If septic issues are not taken care of in a timely manner, significant damage to the septic system can occur causing an even bigger issue.
Understanding the stress septic issues can cause a homeowner, John Parichuk Paving offers 24-hour septic services in York County as well as Adams County. John Parichuk Paving customers don’t need to worry while waiting days for a fix. Give us a call at 717-577-7329. We have septic system issues covered any time of day.