Your septic system is made up of three primary parts: the main septic line, the septic tank, and the drain field. The main septic line carries the waste and wastewater to the septic tank. The septic tank stores the solid waste. The drain field treats the wastewater and releases it into the groundwater supply. You can flood your septic tank and drain field yourself, or heavy rain can flood it. Here are tips to help you avoid flooding your septic tank.
Limit Your Water Usage
Once the drain field is flooded, the water can back up into the septic tank. To avoid this, limit your water usage to prevent flooding the drain field. The most common thing that floods the drain field is washing several loads of laundry in one day. Limit the laundry to one load per day, and make sure to prevent a ton of running water when it is raining outside. The drain field is already getting flooded by the rain.
Avoid Work Around the Tank
Digging or working around the tank, especially if your yard is already flooded, can crack the tank and introduce the excess water into it. This will flood your septic tank. A full tank, even if it is full of water, will back up into your home through your drains and toilets. This can leave you with sewage in the home. Always keep the location of your septic system in mind when digging in your yard.
Don’t Park on the System
It is also important to know where the tank and drain field are to prevent parking on them or driving over them. The weight of any vehicle can be too much for the tank and drain field to handle, and, consequently, you can damage the tank or drain field by driving or parking over them.
Consider Tree Roots
Another thing that can flood a septic tank is damage caused by tree roots. As such, you should always plant your trees far away from the septic system. The roots will grow toward the system and can actually crack the tank. They can also damage the drain field. Keep trees clear of the system.
Finally, call us annually for a septic system inspection. This allows us to check the main septic line, tank, and drain field to ensure there are no clogs, cracks, or other damage. It also allows us to pump the tank if it is full of solid waste. This keeps your septic system healthy and prevents flooding in the tank.
