Extend the Life of Your Septic System with These Tips

July 12, 2019 Published by Leave your thoughts

If you want your septic system to last a long time, then you must take good care of it. Using your system frequently but not regularly cleaning and maintaining it is a recipe for disaster. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but some day down the road your system may fail, and the repairs and replacement costs won’t be cheap. Ideally, you have done some research and talked to your trusted septic system professional about what you can do to keep the plumbing in good working order for years to come.

Extending the life of your system is as easy as keeping up with proper maintenance. If you want to prevent expensive septic tank repairs in Erie County, NY, then the following information is for you! Below are some helpful maintenance tips to extend the life of your septic system:

  • Get to know your system: You don’t have to know every little detail about how your septic system works or what components it includes. But in order to take care of your system, you should know most of the specifics. Map out where the tank is buried and the drain field area for all future maintenance needs, find out how many gallons the tank holds, keep note of the times it gets pumped and hang on to the original tank installation plans, building permits and records of all maintenance.
  • Don’t flush non-flushable items: Everyone living in your house, as well as guests, should know what can and cannot be flushed down the toilet or sink. Nothing but waste, toilet paper and water should go down the drain. Never flush items like feminine care products, diapers, hair, food or paper towels. These items can clog up the pipes, or even break them, causing damage to your septic system.
  • Conserve household water: The less water you use, the more your septic system will thank you. Excessive water use means the system has to work overtime, which can flood the system or lead to permanent failure. Do your best to fix leaks. Turn off the water when brushing your teeth, and wash full loads of laundry and dishes, rather than multiple smaller loads.
  • Commit to a regular pumping schedule: Make sure your tank is pumped every one to three years. How often it needs to be pumped depends on average use, household size, tank size and the age of your system. Create a pumping schedule and stick to it!
  • Keep draining water away from your drain field: Try to divert water draining from your roof and other sources away from your drain field. Should too much water reach your drain field, the area can flood, causing it to be less effective and potentially creating damage to the system. Direct downspouts away from the drain field, and do whatever else you can to avoid draining unnecessary water into this critical area.

If your home or commercial building is in need of septic system maintenance, a new system installation or septic tank repairs in Erie County, NY, reach out to the experts at Macken Services, Inc. Call today to book a septic service!

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