CARING FOR YOUR SEPTIC SYSTEM

Inspect Your System

If your system is only a septic tank and drainfield, commonly called a gravity system, you need to inspect it at least once every three years. All other types of systems are required to be inspected at least once every year. Your local health agency may have a more stringent inspection requirement. You can call Shalom Plumbing & Septic to do the inspection or, if your local health department allows it, you can do the inspection yourself.
Septic tanks are settling chambers that allow time for solids and scum to separate out from wastewater, so clear liquid can safely filter into the drainfield. It is important to keep the solids, called sludge, from building up and coming near the outlet baffles of the system – if this happens, solids could plug the pipe to the drainfield, or even worse, clog the drainfield.

Pump Your Tank

Pump out your septic tank when needed. Don't wait until you have a problem. For a typical household, septic tanks are usually pumped every three to five years. Routine pumping can prevent expensive failures such as a clogged drainfield or sewage backing up into the home. Using a garbage disposal will increase the amount of solids entering the septic tank, requiring more frequent pumping. Four major factors influence how often you need to pump your septic:

Household size. Generally, the more people in the home, the more often you need to pump.
Total wastewater generated. If you put a lot of water down the drain (from inefficient or leaky toilets, washers, showerheads, and sink faucets), the tank can't settle completely and you may need to pump more often.
Volume of solids in wastewater. Garbage disposal and food waste going down the drain, and RV and boat waste dumped into your system, will fill the tank up quicker with solids.
Septic tank size. The bigger the tank, the more capacity it has to handle solids and water, which could allow for more time between pumpings. Older septic tanks might not be sized appropriately for your home, especially if your home has been remodeled and is now larger.

Use Water Efficiently

Practice water conservation. The more wastewater you produce, the more wastewater the soil must treat and dispose. By reducing and balancing your use, you can extend the life of your drainfield, decrease the possibility of system failure, and avoid costly repairs.

To reduce your water use:

Use water-saving devices such as faucet aerators and high-efficiency toilets, showerheads, dishwashers, and washing machines.
Repair leaky faucets and plumbing fixtures. A leaky toilet can waste hundreds of gallons of water a day.
Take shorter showers.
Take baths with a partially-filled tub.
Wash only full loads of dishes and laundry. If your washing machine has load settings, make sure you select the proper load size. Don't select the large-load cycle if you're washing a small amount of laundry.

Toilets Aren't Trash Cans

Your septic system is not a trash can. Besides human poop and pee, toilet paper, and soap used for washing, not much else should be going down your drain.

Never flush:

Baby wipes, cleaning wipes, or any moist towelettes.
Feminine hygiene products such as tampons or pads.
Condoms.
Paper towels, rags, or newspaper.
Dental floss.
Cotton balls and swabs.
Diapers.
Hair.
Cigarette butts.
Band-aids.
Coffee grounds.
Cat litter.
Grease and cooking oils.
Household chemicals like gasoline, oil, pesticides, antifreeze, and paint.
Prescription medication.

Take Care at the Drain

Your septic system contains a collection of living organisms that digest and treat household waste. Pouring toxins down your drain can kill these organisms and harm your septic system. Whether you're at the kitchen sink, bathtub, or utility sink:

Avoid chemical drain openers for a clogged drain. Instead, use boiling water or a drain snake.
Never pour cooking oil or grease down the drain. Let it cool, harden, and then throw it away in the trash.
Never pour oil-based paints, solvents, or large volumes of toxic cleaners down the drain. Even latex paint waste should be minimized.
Eliminate or limit the use of a garbage disposal. Food waste from garbage disposals fill the septic tank and can clog the drainfield.

Septic tank additives sold in stores aren't necessary to keep your septic tank working properly and they don't reduce or eliminate the need for routine pumping.

Don't Ignore Problems

Minor septic system issues can turn into big costly problems. Fixing minor problems and paying maintenance fees of a few hundred dollars every few years is a bargain compared to the cost of repairing or replacing a malfunctioning system, which can cost thousands of dollars. Don't avoid the signs of septic system failure.

CARING FOR YOUR SEPTIC SYSTEM

Pump Your Tank

​

Household size. Generally, the more people in the home, the more often you need to pump.

Total wastewater generated. If you put a lot of water down the drain (from inefficient or leaky toilets, washers, showerheads, and sink faucets), the tank can't settle completely and you may need to pump more often.

Volume of solids in wastewater. Garbage disposal and food waste going down the drain, and RV and boat waste dumped into your system, will fill the tank up quicker with solids.

Septic tank size. The bigger the tank, the more capacity it has to handle solids and water, which could allow for more time between pumpings. Older septic tanks might not be sized appropriately for your home, especially if your home has been remodeled and is now larger.

Use Water Efficiently

​

​Practice water conservation. The more wastewater you produce, the more wastewater the soil must treat and dispose. By reducing and balancing your use, you can extend the life of your drainfield, decrease the possibility of system failure, and avoid costly repairs.

To reduce your water use:

Use water-saving devices such as faucet aerators and high-efficiency toilets, showerheads, dishwashers, and washing machines.

Repair leaky faucets and plumbing fixtures. A leaky toilet can waste hundreds of gallons of water a day.

Take shorter showers.

Take baths with a partially-filled tub.

Wash only full loads of dishes and laundry. If your washing machine has load settings, make sure you select the proper load size. Don't select the large-load cycle if you're washing a small amount of laundry.

Toilets Aren't Trash Cans

Your septic system is not a trash can. Besides human poop and pee, toilet paper, and soap used for washing, not much else should be going down your drain.

Never flush:

Baby wipes, cleaning wipes, or any moist towelettes.

Feminine hygiene products such as tampons or pads.

Condoms.

Paper towels, rags, or newspaper.

Dental floss.

Cotton balls and swabs.

Diapers.

Hair.

Cigarette butts.

Band-aids.

Coffee grounds.

Cat litter.

Grease and cooking oils.

Household chemicals like gasoline, oil, pesticides, antifreeze, and paint.

Prescription medication.

Take Care at the Drain

​

Your septic system contains a collection of living organisms that digest and treat household waste. Pouring toxins down your drain can kill these organisms and harm your septic system. Whether you're at the kitchen sink, bathtub, or utility sink:

Avoid chemical drain openers for a clogged drain. Instead, use boiling water or a drain snake.

Never pour cooking oil or grease down the drain. Let it cool, harden, and then throw it away in the trash.

Never pour oil-based paints, solvents, or large volumes of toxic cleaners down the drain. Even latex paint waste should be minimized.

Eliminate or limit the use of a garbage disposal. Food waste from garbage disposals fill the septic tank and can clog the drainfield.

Septic tank additives sold in stores aren't necessary to keep your septic tank working properly and they don't reduce or eliminate the need for routine pumping.

Practice water conservation. The more wastewater you produce, the more wastewater the soil must treat and dispose. By reducing and balancing your use, you can extend the life of your drainfield, decrease the possibility of system failure, and avoid costly repairs.