Septic tanks, in general, are very efficient, but even when you treat them well, you will have to get serviced by a septic tank pumping company in Napa, CA every now and then. You can count on the process happening once every 2-4 years, depending on how many family members you have. But with good care, your septic system can last for decades so it’s important to treat the system well. If you’re new to having a septic tank, you don’t want to disturb the ecosystem within the tank, if at all possible. There are a number of things you can do to make sure your system is set up well for your home.
Water, Toilet Paper, And Waste Goes Down The Drains—That’s It
There are a lot of things that you could put down the drains and on a regular sewage system, maybe you could get away with that. With a septic system, things are different. Your system is designed to handle water, toilet paper, and human waste and that’s about it. You don’t want to put even something like paper towels down the toilet and you never want to rinse oils and fats from cooking down the kitchen drain. Keep this a hard and fast rule and your septic system will be healthier for it.
Avoid All Chemicals
While bleach and drain cleaners may have been the norm in other places you lived, they won’t work well for you in a home with a septic system. These items have chemicals and they can actually harm the bacteria in the septic tank. When the bacteria die off, the tank can’t do its job and you are stuck with a filling tank with no outlet. You’ll have to get things pumped out as the ecosystem resets itself and starts to work properly again.
Ration Water
While you can use as much water as you need, you will want to spread things out over the course of the day and week, so you don’t overload the septic tank with too much wastewater all at once. Don’t take a long shower while running the washing machine, for example, and after doing a load of wash, wait a few hours before running the dishwasher.
Don’t Utilize The Garbage Disposal
Homes with septic tanks really shouldn’t have garbage disposals, but many do. You don’t want to put things down there to grind them up and send them down the pipes. Dump any clippings and cuttings from veggies and other things into the trash can instead.
There are plenty of other rules and tips you’ll want to know if you are new to the septic world, so you won’t have to get septic tank pumping service any sooner than necessary. The professionals at American Sanitation Inc can help you with the ins and outs, dos and don’ts so you don’t have to call for emergency help any time soon. Maintain your septic system and it will be good to you well into the future.