Don’t Threaten Your Health! Follow These Septic System Tips

If your septic tank is not properly designed, carefully installed, suitably located, and adequately maintained, it can fail. A failed system puts your family’s and your neighbors’ health at risk, costs a lot of money to repair, and reduces the value of your property.

The routine septic system tips listed below will help keep things flowing safely and smoothly:

1. Keep Records: Keep copies of all plans/drawings of the site, service records and installed equipment with other documents pertaining to your home appliances.
2. Laundry: Spread wash loads throughout the week.
3. Food Waste: You can use a garbage disposal, but bear in mind you may have to have solids removed from your septic tank more frequently. Use the garbage bin whenever possible.
4. Leaky Fixtures: Early detection and repair helps prolong the life of your septic system, especially the drain field.
5. Fats, Oils & Grease: Too much grease (lard, vegetable oils, animal fats, etc.) may prevent the bacteria from breaking down the waste fully. This is one of the most critical septic system tips.
6. Cleaners/Disinfectants: Use chlorine, citric acid and/or other biodegradable cleaners according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Do not use pine-oil based or quaternary ammonia. Only use drain cleaners to unclog pipes as a last resort.
7. Floor Drains from Workrooms and Garages: These should be diverted away from the septic system. Items such as saw dust, gas and petroleum based oils should never enter the system.
8. Medications: Never flush them down the drain. Return unused medicines to your doctor or a pharmacy – do not throw them in the trash.

For more septic system tips, contact us at Southeastern Septic LLC in Lakeland, Florida.