A new septic tank can cost as much as $5,000 or more, depending on the damage to the tank and the rest of the septic system. Express Septic Services cannot only help you get more life out of your septic tank with regular maintenance, but we also offer five tips below to ensure you are able to extend the life of your home’s septic tank.
1. Be Efficient With Your Water Usage
Drowning the tank with inefficient water usage will cost you years out of the tank. Save water and the tank by only washing full loads of laundry and only doing one load per day. Use your dishwasher only after you’ve filled it completely. Repair any plumbing system leaks or other problems and install high-efficiency plumbing fixtures to avoid flooding your tank and overflowing it.
2. Avoid Flushing Harmful Objects Into the Tank
When you flush things down the toilets and drains, the solids sink to the bottom of the septic tank. Many solid objects can damage the septic tank, including food, baby and wet wipes, condoms and feminine products, grease and oil, dental floss, diapers, cotton swabs and balls, tobacco products and ashes, napkins and paper towels, medication, cat litter, and toilet tissue that is not septic safe.
3. Professional Tank Inspections
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control recommends septic system maintenance inspections every one or two years. This allows septic system professionals to detect problems with your septic tank and fix them before the tank becomes an environmental hazard on your property. Cracks in the septic tank can leak sewage underground, which can be an expensive hazardous waste cleanup.
4. Pump the Septic Tank Every Three Years
A good rule of thumb is to get your septic tank pumped every three years, but this can change depending on your household size. If you have a small household, you can likely extend the service out to five years. If you have a huge household, you might need to have the tank pumped annually or every two years. Pumping the tank regularly prevents harmful tank sludge and sewage backup.
5. Make Sure Your Yard Doesn’t Damage the Tank
Exterior things such as excess weight on top of the septic tank or tree roots can wreak havoc on the tank. Runoff can also expose your tank or crack it due to shifting soil. It’s important that the earth surrounding your septic tank is cared for, stable, and free of damaging things such as the tree roots mentioned above. Something as simple as parking your car on top of the tank can destroy it.
Call Express Septic Services in Greenville, SC, to schedule a septic system inspection. We’ll assess the health of your septic tank and put you on a maintenance schedule to extend its life.