Tips for Maintaining a Healthy Septic System

April 14, 2017 9:54 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

Whether you take great care to keep your septic system running as smoothly as possible or you’re new to receiving septic service in Strafford County, NH, it’s never a bad idea to make sure you’re up to speed on all of the everyday tips you can follow to help keep your septic system working at full capacity.

While a septic service professional can offer more extensive advice and answer specific questions, here are some good rules of thumb for maintaining a healthy septic system:

  • Conserve water when you can: Your septic tank can easily become overwhelmed if you avoid paying attention to how much water you’re using. Be conscientious about turning off or fixing any running or leaky sinks or faucets, and refrain from doing all of your laundry on the same day and running the washing machine and dishwasher simultaneously. You might also consider having high-efficiency or low-flow toilets installed.
  • Be mindful of what you pour down the drain: Items and materials that don’t decompose easily shouldn’t be put down the drain, as there is a good chance they will remain in the septic tank. Avoid placing substances such as oils, grease and fats down the drain, and dispose of eggshells and coffee grounds in a different way. Make a point also not to pour chemicals down the drain.
  • Pay attention to the type of toilet paper you use: Your system is able to process thinner toilet paper much more effectively. This is because thicker styles of toilet paper are more likely to clog up your septic system.
  • Don’t take any chances with what you flush down the toilet: If you have a septic system, your toilet is more sensitive than it would be if you didn’t have a septic system in place. That means that only toilet paper—again, the thin kind is better—and human waste should be flushed. Refrain from placing items like dental floss, cigarette butts, cotton balls, cat litter or disposable wipes in the toilet to help avoid a septic system clog.
  • Be careful with any objects placed near or over the drain field: Water lines, such as those being used for a sprinkler system, must be a minimum of 10 feet away from the septic system. If you’re looking to plant shrubs or trees, they should be at least 30 feet from the drain field.

Likewise, it’s a good idea not to grow vegetables over a drain field. A setup like this would require water, which would make your septic system less effective, as additional water in the soil takes away from the soil’s capacity for processing wastewater. It’s also possible that vegetables being grown over a drain field could become contaminated if they come into contact with sewage.

To schedule septic service in Strafford County, NH, or for assistance in developing an initial design for your septic system, securing permits for a septic installation or converting to your city sewer system, contact the experts at B.H. Cameron Septic Services LLC. We work hard to bring our customers the best value possible, and we even use an odor control system to make septic pumping a bit more pleasant!

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