Keep Your Septic System Healthy with These Simple Tips

You may not give much thought to your septic system, but when you have a backup, you'll want to know why it happened. We have lots of customers that tell us that they've never had a problem until one night their pump alarm is going off or worse, they have water backing up into their basement or bathroom! Fortunately, most septic issues don't happen suddenly, they occur over time so they can be prevented. Keeping your septic tank healthy is the easiest way to ensure things continue flushing smoothly, so contact us today to schedule service, or keep reading for some simple tips!

Tip #1: Spot a Small Problem, Before it Becomes a Big Problem

Here are some simple ways to spot a potential backup before it happens:

• Gurgling sounds when flushing or slow draining of your sinks and showers
• Septic odor coming from your drainfield of sand mound
• Noticeable soggy area above your septic tank or drainfield

If you've noticed any of these signs of septic trouble, there's no need to panic - we can help! There are some simple ways to keep your septic system healthy so that you don't have these problems.

Tip #2: Routine Maintenance

We recommend scheduling a septic tank cleaning every 2-4 years. Regular septic pumping is key to ensuring its optimal performance. Over time, solid waste and sludge accumulate in the tank, which can hinder its ability to function efficiently. Pumping the tank at recommended intervals removes these solids, preventing blockages and backups. By sticking to a regular septic pumping schedule, you minimize the risk of system malfunctions, backups or clogs, and avoid costly repairs that may arise from neglect.

Tip #3: Consider a Septic System Additive

We recommend a septic system additive like our very own Waste & Grease Eco-Friendly Digestant. (That's just a fancy name for "good bacteria!) Here's how it works:

GOOD Bacteria vs. Anti-Bacterial Products 

Septic tanks safely treat and recycle wastewater through the use of a surprisingly simple system, basically powered by nothing more than gravity, fluid dynamics and bacteria. That's right: good bacteria are essential to the proper functioning of your septic tank by breaking down waste solids. We're accustomed to viewing bacteria in a negative light, as demonstrated by the abundance of disinfectants, sanitizers and anti-bacterial products in every home. Since these products routinely go down the drain in the process of household cleaning and deodorizing, especially in the bathroom, they can have the side effect of killing off the beneficial bacteria your septic tank needs. The failure of "dead" septic tanks is an increasing problem. But septic tank owners don't have to avoid using anti-bacterial products. Adding Waste & Grease Eco-Friendly Digestant once a month restores the good worker bacteria and enzymes to counteract the effects of household disinfectants. Waste & Grease makes it easy to maintain a clean and sanitized home environment as well as a healthy bacteria population in your septic tank.

Monthly use of Waste & Grease Eco-Friendly Digestant will help reduce surface and bottom solids in the septic tank. Buildup of surface and bottom solids can carry over to the leach field and cause the leach field to become clogged. Once clogged, the system has nowhere to drain and the tank fills up, causing backup in the home and wet areas in the yard.

Use of Waste & Grease Eco-Friendly Digestant also restores the biological population of good worker bacteria and enzymes which reduce solids. The beneficial bacteria also get carried over to the leach field to reduce solids and help prevent clogging. A clogged leach field is the biggest problem for septic systems, the hardest and most costly to repair. Ask us about using a septic system additive at your next septic pumping in the Twin Tiers region.

Ready to purchase your one-year supply of our very own Waste & Grease septic additive? Call now to get started or request a box at your next septic pumping. We provide quality septic service to homes, restaurants and businesses throughout the Twin Tiers region.