Proactive maintenance is the best assurance in keeping your septic tank in working condition. That means regular inspections and pumping to avoid problems, such as sewage backups in the house. Septic tank maintenance ensures your home's plumbing remains functional and sanitary. It helps avoid sewage spillovers and drain field problems, which can make your property uninhabitable. It is important to develop a close working relationship with a septic tank maintenance service to keep your septic system in working shape. How can you ensure your septic tank is working optimally?
Keep Records
It would be a mistake to think of a septic system as an install-and-forget fixture. You must keep good records of tasks around it. When was it installed? When was it last pumped? When did you last add bacteria enzymes?
If you have purchased a property with a septic system, you should prioritize getting its records. If you cannot find them, search in the public health office records. They will show you the map of the system, including the location of the tank.
Plan for Annual Inspections
Regular inspections play an important role in septic tank maintenance since they identify both emerging and unnoticed problems. The septic tank service will look for signs of leaks, backups, and drain field failure.
They will also note the level of effluent in the septic tank and recommend pumping if necessary. However, it is easier to inspect the tank after pumping for a thorough inspection of its walls after cleaning. It is advisable to schedule an inspection at least once a year, even if the tank isn't prime for pumping.
Pump on Time
Pumping the effluent is key to septic tank maintenance because the tank can only hold effluent up to a specific capacity. Insoluble matter builds up in the tank as sludge while the top scum layer drains into the drain field via the drainpipe.
If the sludge builds up to the level of the drainpipe, it can cause sewage backups and scum spillovers. The septic maintenance service can show you the level to mark as an indicator for pumping. You can expect to schedule pumping every 2-3 years.
You should also have regular inspection of the filter between the septic tank and the drainpipe. This filter is vital for protecting the drain field from infiltration by insoluble objects, which can cause drain field failure. The septic tank maintenance service should clean or replace this filter as necessary.
Is your septic system not working as expected? Call a septic maintenance service to schedule an inspection of the septic system.
For more information on septic tank maintenance, contact a pumping service near you.