Maintenance Tips To Avoid Unnecessary Septic Tank Repair
A common misconception homeowners have is that once their septic tank is installed, they do not have to pay it any mind. This could not be further from the truth though. Just as you would ensure other systems in your home are running smoothly, such as your air conditioning system and more, you also need to perform regular maintenance checks to avoid unnecessary septic tank repair. Here are some tips that could come in handy in keeping it in good working condition.
Ensure the tank is pumped regularly
The number of times your septic tank will need to be pumped will largely depend on the number of people in the household as well as the size of the tank. In general, an average home would have to consider having their tank pumped at least once every five years, but this would vary. If a septic tank goes un-pumped for extended periods of time, the amount of solid material accumulating could find its way back into the tank's drain field. This, in turn, will dirty the entire system and could lead to costly repairs.
Do not direct any runoff in your tank's direction
The location of your septic tank should be away from any gutters or drainpipes that are on your property. This is to avoid the runoff from these systems pooling into the septic tank. If you would like to keep your tank in good working condition, it should only be used to treat the waste that it is assigned for, rather than having to deal with rainwater and other runoff from the property. When this occurs, you risk your tank becoming overloaded. This makes its own drain field overloaded, thus compromising its ability to work at optimum levels. In addition, ensure that all ports on the septic tank are sealed tight. This also works to avoid over saturation of its drain field from excessive runoff on the property.
Conduct regular tank inspections
Homeowners will generally call in the professionals once there is something not working with their septic tank. More often than not, this means the problem has already escalated and you will ultimately need either to repair parts of the tank or consider a complete replacement. To avoid leaving problems with the tank unchecked until it is too late, you should have a professional come and inspect the tank at least annually. This way they can establish whether it is at its best working condition and if there are any issues that can be arrested before they become a fully-fledged septic disaster.
For more information, contact a local septic tank repair company like Sullivan Septic.