Septic Care Advice for Homeowners

Your septic system depends on living biological cultures to break down waste.

• •DO NOT FLUSH: 'Flushable' wipes, facial tissues, paper towels, dental floss, or feminine products. These do not decompose in a tank.
• •NO GREASE OR COOKING OILS: Pouring grease down the kitchen sink solidifies into a thick scum blanket that chokes inlet baffles.
• •LIMIT HARSH CHEMICALS: Large amounts of bleach, antibacterial soaps, and drain openers kill off the beneficial bacteria your tank needs.
• •RULE OF THUMB: Only human waste and regular septic-safe toilet paper should go into your plumbing.

Pumping is preventative maintenance that costs a fraction of a new drain field.

• •PUMP EVERY 3 TO 5 YEARS: For a typical household of 3 to 4 people, a 1,000-gallon tank should be pumped every 3 to 5 years.
• •DON'T WAIT FOR BACKUPS: Waiting until toilets overflow or drains gurgle means solids have already started escaping into your drainage lines.
• •KNOW YOUR TANK SIZE: If you are unsure of your tank size or when it was last serviced, Larry can inspect the depth of sludge.

Early warning signs give you time to call for service before a major mess occurs.

• •SLOW DRAINS: Sinks, bathtubs, and toilets draining sluggishly at the same time point to a full septic tank rather than a single pipe clog.
• •GURGLING SOUNDS: Odd bubbling sounds coming from your toilet bowls after running the washing machine.
• •SULFUR OR SEWAGE SMELLS: Foul sewer odors around the tank area or near plumbing vents outside.
• •SPONGY, BRIGHT GREEN GRASS: Unusually lush or soggy grass directly over your drain field indicates wastewater surfacing.

A ruined drain field can cost ten thousand dollars or more to replace.

• •KEEP HEAVY VEHICLES OFF: Never park trucks, cars, boats, or RVs on top of your septic tank or drain lines. Heavy weight crushes pipes.
• •PLANT ONLY SHALLOW GRASS: Tree roots and heavy shrub roots aggressively seek wastewater and will punch through drain lines.
• •DIVERT ROOF RUNOFF: Direct gutter downspouts and yard sprinkler runoff away from the drain field to prevent soil saturation.