Septic System Maintenace
Do’s and Don’ts
Pertaining to the proper maintenance of septic systems and mound systems
Remember: Septic systems and mound systems are not permanent! Nor are they giant municipal systems that can handle anything you pour or flush into them. They are merely filters built in your yard that will fail (due to accumulation of solids) at some point in time. The following information, if followed properly will help you maintain your system for as long of time as possible.
Do
Do have your installer install two septic tanks or a two-compartment tank.
This has been shown to reduce the amount of solids getting into the bed by up to 50% !
Do maintain your septic tank filter to prevent backups.
This will also reduce solids which cause clogging !
Do have your tank(s) pumped or evaluated once per year.
This is done to remove or observe the accumulation of solids in the tank(s).
Do install a washing machine filter.
Substantially reduces fibers which cause clogging !
Do leave manhole covers exposed/ accessible.
Buried manhole covers prevent easy maintenance! In emergencies, buried covers interfere with efforts to service the system. Make certain they are LOCKED to prevent unauthorized access and protect children.
‘WIPES’ are the WORST
DO NOT FLUSH ANY wipes into your system! Baby wipes, dusting wipes, cleaning wipes, etc. We are finding systems severely clogged with these items and they DON’T break down (at least in our lifetime) no matter what the packaging says! For the protection and longevity of your system, do NOT flush any “wipes” into the system.
Don’t
Don’t install a garbage disposal.
This not only creates the fine particles you are trying to prevent accumulating in your system, but it also creates oils and greases which cause these fine particles to accumulate faster!
Don’t pour or flush oils or greases into your Causes the solids to accumulate much faster and subsequently faster system failure.
Don’t use “additives” in the system.
- Some do nothing at all
- Some actually harm the system
- Some actually harm the environment
Don’t have your water softener discharge into
- Water volume from softeners is detrimental to your system.
- It is code compliant to have your softener discharge outside untreated.
Don’t flush medicines or other pharmaceuticals into the system.
Don’t flush anything down the toilet that could potentially clog your system.
Do not think of your toilet as a method of disposing of objects that wouldn’t normally go in your toilet. Items as small as cigarette butts are detrimental to the system due to the particles which could accumulate in the system.
Just because an item “fits down the toilet” does not mean it won’t clog your system! Toilet paper should be the ONLY paper product making it into the system.
Other ideas to maximize the longevity of your system:
If your water softener is going to regenerate into your system, make sure you use a high efficient, “demand” dose water softener as opposed to one that uses a timer method. Do not flush any type of “wipes” or paper towels into the system. It is highly recommended that you either pump your septic tank(s) annually or at least have them closely inspected to assure both maximum longevity as well as a method of preventing problems from occurring.