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Septic System Management

Do's and Don'ts of Taking Care of Your Septic System

If you've recently installed a septic system in your residential or commercial property, please go through the helpful information provided by The Christopher Bryant. This page will tell you everything you need to know about taking care of your septic system.

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Septic System Do's

  • Do spread laundry use over the week rather than many loads on one day
  • Do make a permanent record of where the key parts of your septic system are located for future maintenance (i.e. septic pumping service or field repairs)
  • Do have septic pumping service regularly
  • Do keep the records of septic pumping service and septic system maintenance
  • Do use water-conserving devices where possible. Low flush toilets and showerheads are commonly available
  • Do have manually cleaned lint traps on your washing machine
  • Do check any pumps, siphons, or other moving parts of your system regularly
  • Do remove or prevent trees with large root systems from growing near the leach field
  • Do keep surface water from upslope or from roof drains away from the leach field
  • Run water regularly in seldom used drains such as sinks, tubs, showers, etc. to avoid noxious gases from building up and causing odors inside

Septic System Don'ts

  • Don't overload the septic system with high volumes of water
  • Don't connect basement sump pumps to the on-site septic system
  • Don't connect backwash from water treatment devices directly to the on-site septic
  • Limit the use of a garbage disposal. Chopped up food particles do not break down in the septic tank and can make their way out into your leach field lines causing clogs
  • Don't allow large amounts of fats, chemicals, or solvents to enter the septic system; don't allow any plastics to enter
  • Don't allow vehicles or heavy equipment to drive over or park on the leach field. This may compact the soil and crush the piping
  • Don't plant anything over the leach field except grass. Especially do not cover the septic tank or leach field with asphalt or concrete or other impermeable material
  • Above all else - Don't wait for signs of failure. Check the septic system regularly
Septic system

Do Not Flush

The best thing to do for your septic system is to be sure not to flush anything other than human waste and toilet paper (preferably 1 ply toilet paper).

Even if items are marked as "septic safe," do not flush them. For example, some baby wipes and cat litter may be labeled this way. It is not good for your septic system to flush anything other than human waste and toilet paper because it does not break down in the septic system correctly.

No Flush List

  • Cloth
  • Paints
  • Tissues
  • Poisons
  • Thinners
  • Tampons
  • Varnishes
  • Kitty litter
  • Pesticides
  • Condoms
  • Cigarettes
  • Waste oils
  • Dental floss
  • Disinfectants
  • Paper towels
  • Coffee grounds
  • Plastic materials
  • Sanitary napkins
  • Chemical wastes
  • Disposable diapers
  • Fats, grease, and oils
  • Sump pump discharge
  • Photographic chemicals
  • Pills and unused medication
  • Backwash water from water softeners

Odors

Odors coming from outside the house can be an indication that your septic system is overfull and you need septic pumping service. A vent pipe may also be installed to help release odors from the septic system.

Sometimes, when drains are not used, the noxious gases can build up and cause odors. For example, if you have a shower downstairs that gets little use you may notice that at times there is an odor coming from that area. Running the water regularly in those drains will help keep odors at bay.

Toilets and Slow Drains

Garbage disposals are not a good thing to have along with a septic system. Chopped-up food particles from the garbage disposal make their way into the tank and do not completely biodegrade before they can get out into your leach field lines. These lines can then become clogged with food and cause a back-up.

Having a filter will be a good way to help prevent this from becoming an issue. Filters are placed on the outlet line of your septic tank and keep the hair, grit, grime, food particles etc. from escaping into your leach field lines and causing issues.
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