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Easy to follow tips and guidelines for keeping
your septic system in good working condition.
Septic Tank Maintenance Tips
Divert runoff water from roofs, patios, driveways, and other structures
away from your drain field. While having your septic tank pumped
regularly, also have it inspected for leaks and cracks. Make sure the
exit baffle and effluent filter are in place. Install a lint filter.
Spread out your laundry loads over a few days.
Don't use a garbage disposal; compost your garbage or put it in the
trash. Garbage disposals normally double the amount of solids going in
the tank! Don’t flush sanitary napkins, disposable diapers, or other
products down the toilet. Don’t pour solvents, oils, paint thinners,
disinfectants, pesticides, or poisons down the drain. They kill
bacteria, disrupt the treatment process, and contaminate the
groundwater. Don’t dig in your drain field or build anything over it.
Don’t drive over your drain field or compact the soil. Don’t plant trees
or shrubs close to the septic system, either, because the roots can get
into the lines and plug them up. Grass is the only thing that you can
plant on or near your drain field.
If Your System Fails
Most of the time, you can avoid the high cost of replacing your system
by having the tank properly pumped, cleaning (jetting) the drain field
lines, and installing washing machine and effluent filters. If these
measures don’t work, you can try fracturing the soil. A hollow tube is
inserted into the soil, then a 300-pound blast of air is injected to
create thousands of tiny fissures. These fissures open up the soil and
allow the drain field to drain. The soil is oxygenated and the aerobic
bacterial colonies are able to repopulate. Aerobic bacteria live in the
top 26 inches of the drain field. They require oxygen and process waste
much faster than anaerobic bacteria which don’t require oxygen. This
process can be done in a few hours with no digging or damage to the
yard.
If you have a clay type of soil that has become plugged due to sodium
from the wastewater binding with the clay, try Septic Seep. This product
releases sodium-bonded clays and reopens the soil, restoring passages
for air and water. It also disperses any greases and scum clogging the
soil.
References
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