Home ownership is a monumental step and typically the largest expense for an American family. Owning a home forms a sense of community, and new homes being built are an economic boost that impacts many businesses locally, across the state, and in the region. Even though there are many joys and comforts of owning a home, it is also an asset that must be maintained. Homeowners should take the steps to educate themselves on the different components of their unique home that require any level of attention. The majority of components of a home do not require any attention unless the component is not fulfilling its designed purpose. For example, shingles may be installed on your roof, and nothing has to be maintained and/or repaired unless you notice a leak inside the home. A water heater (electric or gas) may be installed, and most homeowners do not touch or concern themselves with the water heater unless it stops producing hot water. A home must have some form of wastewater treatment, and that may be a public supply or it may be an onsite wastewater system (septic system).
Septic systems are designed to operate with minimal oversight and maintenance as long as the system is not disrupted. But we must realize that we cannot simply set the tank in the ground and forget it. A septic system is one component of a home that should have routine maintenance. Listed below are a few items to note if you have a septic system as your wastewater treatment.
1. Make sure not to allow certain things to be introduced to the septic tank.
- Fats, oils, and greases (FOG) should not go down the drain because they may lead to clogs in the system and in the drain field.
- From toilets, anything other than human waste and toilet paper should not be flushed.
2. Have your tank inspected and the solids pumped regularly.
- If you are curious if it is time to have your tank pumped, have an inspector access the tank and measure the sludge level.
- A rule of thumb is to have your tank pumped every three to five years. This number may vary depending on the size of the tank and the number of people in the home.
3. Make sure to take caution around the drainfield.
- Don’t park, drive over, or build on top of the drainfield because of the potential to compact the soil or crush the field lines.
- Don’t plant trees or shrubs around the drainfield because the roots may clog the drainfield and prevent proper leaching.
Being aware of what goes in the drains inside the home, adequately pumping the tank, and protecting the drainfield are key to the long-term operability of an onsite wastewater system. Septic tanks can be a very productive way to collect and treat wastewater, but we as homeowners cannot simply set it and forget it. We must do our part to maintain this vital component of our home.