How Do I Keep My Septic System Healthy?
Residential septic systems are mainly used to treat the waste and wastewater from your bathrooms, kitchen, and laundry room. These systems are typically found in rural areas where access to municipal sewer systems isn’t possible. This secondary option for your home’s sewage ensures that all contaminants are removed from your home as a traditional sewer system would.
Just as with any essential component of your home, you need to make sure your septic system is installed correctly and maintained. If there is an issue with your septic system, it can be a significant problem for your home. Not only will this impact your daily life, but it can also create a health hazard for you, your family, and anyone living in your residence.
In short, you need to keep your septic system healthy. Let’s discuss some ways to do that.
How Can You Keep Your Septic System Healthy?
Here are some easy ways to maintain a healthy septic system.
1. Proper Installation
One of the most critical aspects of ensuring that your residential water supply is safe is to verify that your home’s septic system is installed correctly. You could call a trusted septic inspector to check this for you if you weren’t involved with hiring the initial installer. After a complete inspection, they will tell you about the safety of your system and how it is functioning.
Since your septic system is hooked to your primary plumbing system that runs out of your home, you need to make sure that you hire a reliable plumber to ensure the best results. Typically, septic tanks should be installed 10-25 feet away from your home.
2. Schedule Regular Inspections
The most important thing to keep your septic system healthy is to get familiar with how it works. Schedule regular inspections and hire a professional to check your system annually. You should also understand what to look for if there’s an issue. Keep an eye out for any obvious signs of a problem.
Educate your family on how to use your appliances properly. You should also talk to them about handling drains and water supply as some requirements don’t apply to traditional sewer systems. You should also have your water tested every year to ensure it is safe for consumption.
3. Schedule Routine Pumping
The anaerobic bacteria inside the septic tank breaks down the sludge and scum when the sewage is sent into your septic tank. However, some of the solid leftovers remain inside the tank. Your septic system needs to be pumped before the solids build-up to the extent that they start to flow out of the tank. Pumping the tank would remove all the solids inside. A septic tank usually requires pumping every three to five years, and this is an essential step to keep your system healthy.
4. Don’t Flush Everything in Your Toilet
As mentioned earlier, septic tanks have additional requirements that don’t apply to traditional systems. One of the most important ways to keep your septic system healthy is to ensure that you don’t flush any unnecessary waste in your toilet. This includes tissue papers, wrappers, wipes, plastics, etc. Only organic waste is to be flushed down your toilet if you have a septic system. Anything else can damage your home’s septic system.
Hire a Professional and Licensed Plumbing Company for Your Residential Needs
It’s crucial to hire a professional if you need work done on your residential plumbing system. Contact your local Riverside plumber to schedule an appointment for fast and affordable service.