If your home is hooked up to a private septic system, then it’s up to you to make sure it is well maintained and in good condition. After all, it will be you who has to endure nasty smells and spills from a damaged septic tank—and your nearby neighbors are not going to be too thrilled, either! The good news is that most septic system issues are easily avoidable if you make a schedule to perform essential septic system tasks, and stick to it.
So, what are the top maintenance tasks you should never skip? Here are five rules to follow when performing regular septic maintenance in Prior Lake, MN:
- Regularly inspect and pump the tank: There are many septic maintenance tasks you can take care of yourself, but some bigger tasks require the assistance of a septic professional. As the homeowner, you can visually inspect around the area where the septic tank is buried to look for leaks or detect bad odors. For tank inspections, it’s recommended you have one conducted every three years. Tank pumping should be performed every three to five years—depending on household and tank size and the average amount of waste.
- Use garbage disposals less: You may have a garbage disposal in your kitchen sink, so it’s tempting to want to use it. Unfortunately, using your garbage disposal too often can lead to a large amount of solid waste buildup in your tank. Too much solid waste trying to go through the system at the same time can cause pipe clogs, and even problems with the drain field.
- Know that not everything should be flushed: The only things that should be flushed down your toilets are toilet paper and human Avoid putting trash can worthy items like paper towels, household cleaners, plastic wrappers and medications in the toilet, as they can wreak havoc on septic systems.
- Keep chemicals out of drains: In your septic tank are organisms ready to break down the waste that drops down inside. But if you dump household chemicals down toilets, sinks and other drains, the good organisms occupying the tank will be killed off, leaving household wastewater and waste solids to pile up beyond a safe capacity.
- Maintain the drain field: The drain field (also called a leach field) is an essential component of your septic system. It’s job is an important one—to remove contaminants from the liquid that comes out of the tank—so make sure to keep it properly maintained. Also, take steps to protect the drain field from damage, such as avoiding planting trees or plants with invasive root systems nearby, avoiding parking heavy vehicles on the drain field and steering all other drainage systems away.
Following the above advice can save you from the headaches that come with a busted septic tank, as well as keep money in your wallet. Whether you are in need of septic repairs, a system installation, parts inspections or septic maintenance in Prior Lake, MN, you can count on the experienced team of professionals at Mike’s Septic & McKinley Sewer Services for all your septic needs.