An average-sized household needs the septic tank pumped every three to five years. If your household is smaller, say only one or two people, you might be able to go longer between pumps. Large households might need their tanks pumped annually. You can extend the life of the tank and the entire septic system. Express Septic Services explains how with these tips to protect this crucial household system.
Less Water Means Less Stress
Your home’s septic system processes all the water you use. It handles each toilet flush, every bath or shower, all the water in the sinks, and your laundry’s water. That’s a lot of water and household waste for the system to handle and, over time, the system can breakdown and fail. You can reduce the stress on your septic by reducing the amount of water you push through it. For example, the EPA recommends
- High-efficiency toilets to reduce water by as much as 3.4 gallons per flush
- Faucet aerators to restrict water coming out of faucets
- High-efficiency showerheads to reduce the amount of water you use each time you shower
- High-efficiency washing machines to reduce water usage by 50 percent in each load
In addition to using a high-efficiency washing machine, the EPA also suggests you only wash clothes when you have full loads. Also, spread your laundry out rather than doing it all in one day. If you wash several loads in one day, your septic system does not have time to treat the waste properly and you also run the risk of flooding your drain field. Reduce your water usage to help your septic system.
Waste Not Want Not
We’ve talked about this in previous blog posts but it bears repeating: Do not introduce waste other than human waste into your septic system. It is not equipped to handle it. Don’t think of your drains or toilets as trashcans, even if your kitchen drain has a garbage disposal. All waste, including food waste, should be thrown away in the trash can, not flushed down the drain or the toilets.
Things such as baby wipes, cat litter, cigarette butts, cleaning wipes, coffee grounds, condoms, cooking oil, dental floss, diapers, feminine products, food (including pet food), household chemicals and cleaners, napkins and paper towels, pharmaceuticals, toilet paper that isn’t septic safe, and even the hair you lose when you shave and shampoo can cause serious damage to your septic system. The less you flush down the drain and toilet the more efficient your septic system is and the longer it lives.
Express Septic Services can also help extend the life of your septic system with regular inspections and maintenance. Call us to set up an appointment. We help customers in Greenville, SC, and surrounding areas. Call us today.
