How to Keep Your Septic Tank Running Smoothly

Sep 26, 2022

How to Keep Your Septic Tank Running Smoothly

If you want to make the most of your septic tank and ensure it runs smoothly for years to come, you’ll need to stay on top of maintenance. At Septic Blue of Charlotte, we’ve put together some basic septic tank maintenance tips to help you keep your septic tank in excellent shape for many years to come.

Reviews
Mitch Kranes

Tim Grant of Septic Blue performed our septic system service. He was fantastic. Tank had not been serviced in a…

double
Tim P.

Bret Brooks arrived on time, was completely professional and courteous.  I needed my septic tank pumped and a riser installed.…

double
Ashley Maylott

We are renovating a home that has a septic tank. We contacted Septic Blue and scheduled an appointment. They came…

double
Eric Lehtinen

Bret was professional and courteous.  Bret walked me through his process and explained everything to me.  When it came to…

double

Have Your Septic Tank Pumped Regularly

Septic tank pumping is an important part of keeping your septic tank running smoothly. This process involves removing sludge, effluent, and scum in a septic tank before the contents build up to a level where they overload the system. Without pumping out your septic tank regularly, the solids will build up in the tank and diminish the tank’s holding capacity. Besides, not pumping your septic tank can result in backups, clogged filters, and, eventually, septic tank failure. The average septic tank should be pumped every 3 to 5 years, depending on usage, the number of people living in a household, and the size of the system.

Carry Out Regular Inspections

You should have your septic tank inspected by a professional septic company at least once every three years. By having your septic tank inspected regularly, you’ll be able to spot signs of trouble earlier on, allowing you to take quick action before the problems become expensive repairs.

Learn What You Can and Can’t Pour Down Your Drains

Preventive care is an integral part of septic tank maintenance. You shouldn’t flush just anything you want down the toilet. Never flush wet wipes, paper towels, tampons, cotton swabs, diapers, hair, dental floss, cat litter, cigarettes, and other such items down the toilet. Likewise, avoid introducing food refuse, fat, oil, and grease into your septic tank. These items can not only cause blockages, but they can also upset your septic tank’s pH balance, thereby interfering with the process of breaking down waste.

Watch Out for Signs of Trouble

Being on the lookout for signs of a failing septic tank will help you take action early enough and prevent minor problems from becoming expensive repairs. Some of the common signs of septic tank trouble include:

  • Slow drains
  • Bad odors near where your septic tank is buried
  • The water is backing up
  • Gurgling sounds when you use plumbing appliances
  • Toilet flushing issues
  • Bright green grass growing near your septic tank

If you notice any of these signs, make sure you call a professional septic company to inspect your septic tank and make repairs.

Avoid Chemical Poisoning

You should avoid introducing chemical drain cleaners into your septic system because they can kill the good enzymes and bacteria in your septic tank. Besides, chemical drain cleaners can eat away at your pipes.

Reduce your water consumption

Too much water flowing into your septic tank is a frequent factor in failed septic tanks. If you’re constantly overloading your septic tank with an excess amount of water, then you’ll put a lot of strain on your tank and disturb the natural balance in the tank. You should take robust measures to make your property more water efficient.

Other tips that will help you keep your septic tank in good condition include:

  • Direct water from land and roof drains away from your septic tank
  • Keep your septic tank lid closed and secured
  • Protect the area surrounding your septic tank

If you require septic tank pumping or septic tank repair, Septic Blue of Charlotte can help.