Septic tank cleaning is a necessary part of having a septic tank system at your home. Septic tanks are amazing. They are like your personal wastewater treatment plant. They are efficient and don’t require much maintenance when they are protected with good practices by homeowners. If you have more people in your household, expect that you will need septic tank cleaning more often. There are some things you can do to reduce the frequency of septic tank cleaning.
Here are some tips to keep your septic tank and system in tip-top shape:
- Avoid using garbage disposals in the kitchen. Don’t wash coffee grounds or fats and grease down the drain.
- In the bathroom, throw away items like hair clippings, floss, diapers, gauze, and feminine hygiene products.
- Do not flush kitty litter or cigarette butts.
- Do not use harsh chemicals.
- Only use the water you need to use.
- Make sure excess water, like the water that comes from your gutters, does not flow into your drain field.
- Do not drive over any part of your septic system.
- Avoid planting shrubs, bushes or trees near your septic system because the roots can damage the system.
- Do not cover your septic system with asphalt or concrete.
You can make septic tank cleaning easier by adding access covers and risers to your system when you have it serviced. This will keep you from having to dig it up each time you need septic tank cleaning. It is always a good idea to keep a record of any maintenance or repairs performed on your septic system.