4 Things to Maintain Your Septic Tank and Pumping Services in Santa Rosa, CA

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About 25% of American homes have a private septic system to handle the treatment of household wastewater effectively. If you own such a home, it falls to you to maintain and protect your septic system. Left unmanaged, a septic system can malfunction, costing you thousands of dollars to replace and possibly contaminating your source of drinking water.

So, what exactly does a homeowner need to do to maintain a septic system? Fortunately, it isn’t complicated. Periodic inspections and septic tank pumping in Santa Rosa, CA will go a long way in keeping your system effective, safe, and functional. Here are the four main things you should do to maintain your septic system:

1. Regularly Inspect and Pump Your System

A typical septic system should be evaluated every three years by a professional inspector, with the tank being pumped every 3-5 years depending on the inspector’s recommendation. If your system has any floats, pumps, or mechanical elements, you’ll probably need an inspection at least once every year. The provider will check for tank integrity to identify any leaks. They’ll also check the layers of scum and sludge in the septic tank. If needed, inspections also include assistance locating the system, uncovering access portals, running toilet flush checks, looking for indications of waste backup, and pumping the tank as required.

A few variables can influence how often you need to pump your septic tank:

• How many people are actively using the system
• How much wastewater is being produced
• The volume of solids generated in the wastewater
• Size of the septic tank itself

2. Make Efficient Water Use a Priority

On average, a single-family home uses about 70 gallons of water per person each day. Septic systems are designed to handle these averages, but every effort to conserve water is not only good for the environment but is also good for your septic tank. Efficiency will help you prevent system overflow and failure.

You can encourage water conservation in your home by installing efficient toilets using 1.6 gallons of water per flush, vs. older toilet models that use 3.5 to 5 gallons of water per flush. High-efficiency showerheads, faucet aerators, and faulty water fixtures can all be replaced to help reduce excess water usage in the home or building.

3. Think About What’s Going Down Your Drain Pipes

Regardless of what it is, everything that goes down the sink ends up in the septic tank. If you are casual in your disposal of waste, you are likely hurting your system. The septic system is not designed to handle any refuse other than human waste and toilet paper. Not only can blockages occur in sewer pipes when waste is improperly disposed of, but the efficacy of the septic system can be damaged. This can result in premature septic tank pumping services in Santa Rosa, CA.

The system is designed to naturally breakdown waste solids and sludge until it can flow forward from the tank into your drain fields for natural percolation and filtration back into the earth. If garbage and other foreign objects end up in your septic tank, it can interfere with the microbial assimilation of the wastewater. For this reason, avoid flushing cooking oil, wet wipes, feminine hygiene, diapers, cat litter, condoms, dental floss, chemicals, paints, pharmaceuticals, and other such products not suitable for your septic tank.

4. Maintain Your Drainfield

Your septic tank works in tandem with a drainfield. The drainfield acts as a natural earth filter that cleans the impurities that come from the liquids that spill forward from your septic tank. It’s an important part of the system that requires attention to maintain. You can keep your drainfield safe by following a few basic rules:

• Avoid parking or driving over the drainfield.
• Never plant trees in or nearby the drainfield. The roots may eventually grow into the septic system, wreaking havoc and destroying it.
• Keep drainage systems and sump pumps outside of the drainfield area. The drainfield should not be saturated with other drainage waters apart from the septic system.

Schedule Septic Tank Inspection and Pumping in Santa Rosa, CA

As a homeowner with a private septic tank system, the right time to service your tank is not when it is showing signs of backup or failure. The right time is when your system is working well and requires your regular support to keep it that way.

When you call a professional technician at American Sanitation Inc. for septic tank pumping in Santa Rosa, CA, you’re taking responsibility for the proper care and disposal of the wastewater your family is generating. Our service technician will help you investigate the state of your septic system and make relevant recommendations for future care and service. Next time you need professional support, call and schedule service today at (707) 554-8258. Our offices are located at 1729 Action Ave, Napa, CA 94559.

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Septic Tank FAQ’s

What are the things not to drain into septic tanks?

• Cigarette butts.
• Disposable diapers.
• Paper towels.
• Plastics.
• Sanitary napkins or tampons.
• Learn More.

Are flushable wipes safe for septic systems?

• In recent years, the use of items such as pre-moist "flushable" wipes has been marketed as a way to feel "cleaner" and "new" but most do not realize that they have caused harm to wastewater systems around the world. The labels of these items show that they are suitable for sewers and septic systems. Learn More.

Can you use a dishwasher with a septic tank?

• Avoid any dishwashing products containing phosphate; this acid endangers the healthy bacteria and enzymes in the septic tank responsible for the treatment of wastewater. Run your dishwasher only when it's loaded to keep wastewater out of your septic tank. Learn More.