These tips provide a guide to help maintain all types of septic systems
Do Not:
Do Not flush anything down your toilet except toilet paper and human waste.
Do not plant large trees or shrubs close to your drain field pipe system.
Do not cover the drain field or septic tank with concrete, asphalt or any other impermeable materials.
Do not walk around your septic tank system if your septic system is failing – contaminants can be breathed in and cause disease.
Do not drink from your well water if your septic system is showing any signs of failure.
Do not allow heavy equipment, vehicles or heavy foot traffic over your drain field. Only grass should be planted over your drain field.
Do not pour chemicals into your drains because they will harm the good sewage-digesting bacteria in your septic tank. Dispose of these at a household hazardous waste facility.
Do not make repairs to your septic tank, unless you are a trained professional.
Do not overload your septic system with an excess amount of water. Do not use your dishwasher, shower, washing machine and toilets all at the same time. All the extra water can put a strain on your septic system.
Do not allow waste materials that do not break down into your drains or toilets: hair, cat litter, lint, condoms, tampons, dental floss, tea leaves, q-tips, coffee grinds, or anything else that would interrupt with the bacterial digestion in your septic tank.
Do not pour food, fats, oils or grease down your drains or toilets.
Do not introduce harsh chemicals into your plumbing that may harm the sewage-digesting, good bacteria in your septic tank: paint, acids, lye, chlorine, medicines, mouth wash, paint thinners, bleaches, toilet bowel cleaners, dyes, furniture polishes, drain openers, etc. Living bacteria make your system work and you will kill these essential microorganisms. Call and dispose of these chemicals at a household hazardous waste facility.
Do not use thicker or fancy toilet paper because it does not break down as well as the single-ply ones. Tampons, wipes and sanitary napkins need to be disposed of in the trash – never flushed.
Do not Use a garbage disposal, and if you do, minimize its use.
Do not flush paper towels or wipes of any sort. Flushable wipes are NOT flushable!
Do not ignore warning signs of a failing septic system. Take immediate action. Sewage odors, water backing up into drains, showers or crawl space, soggy water over your drain field, gurgling sounds in the pipes, clogged plumbing, water seeping from the drain field are all signs of a failing septic system.
Do not use root killers because they harm your septic system and are not effective for drain field root invasions. Trees must be removed along with their stomps and roots.
Do not allow the use of insecticides, herbacides, and pesticides that have harsh chemicals. Go natural if you can with products such as diatomaceous earth.
Do
Consult with a septic service professional regarding the proper distance of planting trees and shrubs from your septic tank system.
Minimize rainwater runoff by diverting your downspouts away from your septic tank and drain field.
For future maintenance and repairs, keep accurate records of the location of your septic system, its inspections and pumping dates.
Use water saving shower heads and low-flush toilets.
Limit overall chemicals into your drains – cleaning, laundry and personal care products.
Treat/clean your drains and septic system with Drainteks – apply regularly through your drains and toilets, to keep it trouble-free.
Compost food waste, fats, oils and grease (FOG). If not, put the FOG in a container and discard through your trash. Limit the amount of FOG and food that enters your drains. Fats, oils and grease increase scum in your drainage system.
Conserve your water use – allows time for the Drainteks sewage-digesting bacteria to digest your system’s scum and sludge so they do not clog your drain field.
Contact your local waste department for the disposal of paints and harsh chemicals.
Use energy efficient toilet bowls and shower heads.
Have a licensed septic service company inspect your system yearly, to clean your effluent filter, and to make sure that your baffles are intact. A properly maintained septic system will have little or no sludge, or lint to pump. You want your pumper to inform you that there is little or no sludge to pump; it indicates that you have been properly maintaining your system.
Use biodegradable, earth-friendly cleaning, laundry and personal-care products. These are safer for you and the environment – it will help the Drainteks products work better.
Put lint filters on every drain. If your washer does not have a lint filter, have a plumber install a canister lint filter if your washer’s pipes are behind your wall. You may use a disposable mesh filter if your washer’s discharge pipe drains into your sink.
Have an effluent filter attached to the outlet baffle of your septic tank by a septic system professional – to stop solids from entering your drain field.
Keep trees, vehicles, automatic sprinklers, and heavy foot traffic away from your drain field.
Fix leaks in the plumbing immediately so that excess water in your septic tank does not push scum or sludge into your drain field.
Limit laundry to twice a day, and space loads several hours apart.
Test your well annually to make sure that there are no mechanical problems.
Test your well water every year for contaminants: disease-causing fecal bacteria, total numbers of disease-causing bacteria, nitrates, and PH levels
Have a vent for your leach field to vent noxious gases.
