How to Treat Septic Systems
- 1). Inspect your septic system on an annual basis. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends a yearly inspection of your septic tank to determine whether the solid waste build-up requires pumping. Inspections can also reveal the need for repairs to fittings and pipes and whether drainfields are functioning properly. The best treatment for a septic system is proper maintenance.
- 2). Make necessary repairs to your home plumbing. If home plumbing is faulty, too much water can flow into your septic tank. Each time a gallon of water enters the tank, an equal amount flows out. If the flow is too high in volume or the entry-exit process is too rapid, solid waste will not have time to sink to the tank bottom. If solid waste flushes into the exit pipes or drainfield, clogs can occur, as well as contamination of the soil with untreated pathogens.
- 3). Hire a certified professional to pump out your septic system. Pumping your septic tank out onto your yard is illegal and dangerous since it may contain pathogens that can contaminate ground and surface water and the surrounding soil. Only a certified expert septic system pumper should inspect or empty your septic tank. The EPA recommends a three to five year pumping schedule.
- 4). Add beneficial bacteria. Though the EPA says adding bacteria and enzymes is not necessary, some companies advertise that beneficial bacteria can be reduced or expunged by household cleaners and other toxins. Using powders or liquids that contain natural elements (not chemical compounds) may break up solid waste and increase the time between pumping.
- 5). Reduce the strain on your septic system. Keep water use as low as possible by taking short showers and spreading out laundry and dish washing evenly over a week. Flush only toilet paper and human waste, not trash like dental floss or cotton swabs. Don't use your garbage disposal to eliminate hard-to-degrade food debris and never pour any greasy product down a drain. Use gentle cleaners like baking soda instead of bleach or other caustic products to avoid damaging the septic system's delicate bacterial balance.
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