Did you know it can cost thousands to repair a failed septic system?
If the the thought of a private well and/or septic system on your property frightens you, you are not alone! These two things are often a mystery to a person who purchases a vacation home. If you lived an urban area your whole life and finally bought the home out in the country or wilderness that you dreamed of owning forever, your dreams might have turned into nightmares when you found out that you had your very own well and septic to go along with that dream home! Many problems at vacation homes center around the well and septic, and these problems can be the most devastating of all. However, there is hope! As long as you are properly educated about your well and septic and maintain them properly, your chances of ever having any problems can be greatly diminished or eliminated altogether.
If you learn anything from this website, it should be that you absolutely must have your septic tank pumped from time to time. Most waste in your tank is decomposed by anaerobic digestion, but some waste will not be, and it is very important that it be removed to keep it working properly. You will need to consult with your septic service professional to see how often you need your tank pumped. It will depend on the size of your tank and how much waste is produced at your household. Usually every two to three years is sufficient. However, your tank may need to be pumped as often as once a year. Often times, septic professionals will recommend that homeowners get their tanks pumped every year before the cold comes if they are leaving for the entire winter and nobody else will be using the home throughout the season. If you fail to keep up with regular maintenance, such as keeping your tank pumped, it can result in major damage that will cost you tens of thousands of dollars to repair. Not only will you end up paying a bundle for this mistake, but you will be harming the environment as well. This is because waste that is not decomposed will end up discharging directly into the drainage field. The good news is that by simply scheduling the tank to be pumped as needed, your system will most likely last many, many years or a lifetime without the need for major repair or replacement.
In between service by septic professionals, here are some things you can do yourself to keep your system healthy:
Great products to help you maintain your septic
system, from informative books to treatment
solutions.
Things you can do to maintain a trouble-free septic system:
·Replace older appliances such as toilets and washing machines with newer versions that use less water
·When doing laundry, spread the use of it out throughout the week
·Limit showers to no more than a few minutes.
·Dispose of cooking oils and grease into an old coffee container, rather than dumping down the drain
·Inform your guests that you have a septic system and educate them about what to avoid doing to keep it working properly if they are unfamiliar with these
·Seek the advice of a professional in the septic business if you have questions about your system
·Check for leaks in faucets and shower heads and have them fixed promptly if you find any
Here are some things to avoid if you want to keep your system healthy:
·Do not ever flush non-biodegradable hygiene products
·Antibacterial agents and certain harsh chemicals should be avoided
·Avoid the use of powdered detergents
·Keep vehicles off the area
·Do not drain a lot of water into the house drain
·Avoid putting food down the drain that is likely to cause damage to your system, especially egg shells and fibrous foods like fruit and vegetable peels
·When planting trees or any deep-rooted plants, do not plant them close to this area
·Avoid dumping grease, fat, and cooking oils down the drain
·Do not ignore leaky faucets. These will add constant water to your tank and cause strain on the drain field.
