Maintaining your septic system on a regular basis can boost your home’s value. Potential buyers will look at it as an asset, rather than a liability.

To keep your septic system functioning properly, avoid flushing items that can cause clogs and failure. These include hair, dental floss, diaper wipes and cigarettes. Contact The Septic Guys for professional help.

Septic systems are highly effective in managing wastewater, but they also require routine maintenance to keep them working properly. One of the most important septic services available is septic tank pumping and cleaning, which removes the sludge and scum from your septic system to reduce the risk of clogs, backups, and other problems. It’s also often required by your county.

In addition to septic tank pumping, your septic service provider can also clean your drainfield and other components of your septic system. They can also perform a perk test, which evaluates the soil to determine how much water your system needs and helps ensure that your septic system is designed correctly.

Most people are familiar with sewer systems, which connect homes to centralized waste treatment facilities. But septic systems are also common in areas without public sewer systems, providing homeowners with the freedom to live in rural locations. Septic systems use a combination of nature and proven technology to treat household wastewater. They consist of a septic tank and drainfield, which are underground structures that treat wastewater and absorb it into the ground.

When your septic system is functioning properly, you may not think about it very often. But if you fail to perform the necessary maintenance, your septic system can overwork itself or even break down completely. Over time, this can lead to expensive repairs and replacements.

One of the most common signs that your septic system is in trouble is blackwater backup into your home’s toilets or drains. This can happen when the septic tank is full and blocks exit baffles, or when clogs in the plumbing system block the drainfield. If you notice this symptom, it’s critical to stop using any water until your septic service provider can arrive to resolve the issue.

Other common septic system problems include excessive water usage, which overloads the septic system; overuse of detergents and other household chemicals, which disrupts bacteria in the tank; and improper disposal of items that cannot break down in the septic system. To prevent these issues, use water wisely, install low-flow faucets and toilets, and repair leaky fixtures. Avoid dumping non-biodegradable materials down drains, such as coffee grounds, grease, and fat; dispose of these items in the trash, rather than using garbage disposals; and don’t flush paper towels, tissues, tampons, and sanitary products.

Inspection

Septic system inspections are a vital part of routine maintenance. These visual and functional evaluations ensure that your system functions properly and are a proactive way to identify potential problems before they escalate into costly repairs or replacements.

Regular inspections help prevent wastewater backup, environmental damage, and health issues. They allow septic technicians to determine the status of your system and its components, including the septic tank, liner, absorption field, drainfield, and septic pump.

In addition to identifying any existing issues, septic tank and line inspections can also provide insight into the future of your home’s septic system. For example, if your septic tank is overflowing or the septic tank is close to the maximum capacity, these signs could indicate that your septic system needs to be replaced or repaired.

Getting these services can save you a significant amount of money in the long run. By proactively seeking out these services, you can extend the life of your septic system and avoid costly emergencies.

If you have a septic system emergency, your septic service can quickly diagnose the problem and repair it to minimize damage and prevent health hazards. They can also provide tips and advice for preventing septic system emergencies in the future, such as reducing the amount of toilet paper used and avoiding flushing items that can cause clogs.

Septic tank, pump chamber, and grease trap cleaning: Removal of sludge and scum to prevent clogs. Tank and line inspections: Using video technology to check for a variety of issues, including damage, clogs, and wear and tear. Septic tank locating: Checking that the septic tank is located on your property and sized correctly for your home. Drain field installation: Checking that the septic drain field is correctly positioned and designed with the proper slope and gravel.

If you are thinking of buying a home that has an existing septic system, it’s essential to have a point-of-sale septic inspection done. These evaluations provide valuable insights into the state of a home’s septic system and can help you make an informed decision when negotiating with the seller.

Repair

Septic systems are responsible for disposing of your home’s wastewater and sewage, and they must be treated with the same care as any other system in your house. That means regular inspections, cleaning and pumping, as well as practicing proper septic system use (never flush cotton swabs or dental floss, never put grease down a drain or into the toilet and keep kids and pets away from the tank and drainfield).

Fortunately, your septic system can usually tell you when something is wrong with it. The most common indicator is a foul-smelling odor that lingers around your property. You may also notice gurgling sounds coming from your plumbing, which indicates that there are clogs or blockages in the system that need repair.

Regular septic tank pumping removes solid waste and soap scum from your septic tank to prevent a buildup that can cause health hazards. It’s recommended to get your septic tank pumped every two to three years or whenever it is 30% full.

Septic systems can have a variety of problems that require professional repairs, including a broken lid, cracked septic tank, or a failing septic pump. If you experience any of these issues, contact your septic service provider right away for prompt and efficient service.

Depending on your type of septic system, there are many different types of pumps used to handle the sewage. Two of the most common are solids-handling pumps and effluent pumps. Located before your septic tank, solids-handling pumps include a grinder that shreds the raw, unsettled waste and helps it move to the septic tank. Alternatively, effluent pumps are positioned after the septic tank and help transport relatively clear wastewater to your drain field.

These pumps can be subject to wear and tear from household chemicals, and it’s important that they are replaced periodically. Septic services can provide replacements for both kinds of pumps, as well as the piping that connects them to your drainfield and septic tank. In addition, your septic service provider can install a new septic tank if your old one is beyond repair.

Installation

The septic system is an effective way of managing wastewater, but only if it’s built and maintained properly. Professional services are the best way to ensure septic system installations and repairs are done right the first time, reducing the likelihood of expensive problems in the future.

A residential septic system is a complex, highly-efficient system that moves hundreds of gallons of water each day through your home. Unfortunately, it’s often out of sight and out of mind for homeowners until a problem occurs. When it does, a septic emergency can disrupt your life and cause costly damage to your property.

Septic system emergencies are caused by a variety of factors, many of which can be prevented with proper septic tank maintenance. If you’re experiencing slow draining, gurgling after flushing or foul odors, it could mean that your septic system is struggling. Fortunately, a trusted septic provider can help you get your home back to normal quickly with septic emergency services.

When your septic system is working well, it processes wastewater from all of your home’s sources through one pipe. Kitchen sinks, showers and toilets all drain into a septic tank where solids are separated from liquid waste. The liquid waste then flows into the septic system’s drainfield for further treatment. The septic tank and drainfield are the last step in your home’s sewage treatment, filtering the wastewater before it enters the groundwater.

The septic tank’s design allows the solids to settle at the bottom, while the liquid waste rises to the top. Aerobic bacteria decompose the remaining waste, transforming it into gases and water. Compartments or T-shaped tank designs prevent the sludge layer from exiting with the wastewater into the drainfield, while recommended effluent filters prevent any solids from entering the soil.

A septic system is an integral part of your home, so it’s important to maintain it regularly. Routine septic tank pumping removes accumulated solids and helps your system work efficiently. Other septic tank maintenance tips include using water-efficient appliances, practicing “do not flush” rules and maintaining the surrounding area of your drainfield.