Having a septic treatment system in your home is essential to ensure that wastes are disposed of efficiently. For this reason, you need to be careful how you handle your septic treatment system. When using your septic treatment system, you might make some mistakes without even knowing. Mistakes, whether draining, plumbing or cleaning, are the roots of all septic tank problems. Repair of septic treatment systems is usually very costly, which is why you may want to avoid some of these mistakes.
1: Flushing Down All Kinds of Paper Products
Be very careful what you flush down your toilet. There is a reason toilet paper is recommended for toilet use. You should NEVER flush down paper products such as baby wipes and tampons, especially in large quantities. Unlike toilet paper, these paper products won't fully decompose or break down once they are in your septic tank. This means there are high chances you will end up clogging the septic treatment system and unclogging it won't be cheap.
2: Using Too Much Chemical Additives
Septic treatment systems have beneficial bacteria that break down the waste entering the system. Let it stay that way. Adding a lot of chemicals to your septic treatment system to help break down the sludge is in fact a bad idea. What most of these chemicals will do is interfere with the working of the bacteria responsible for breaking down waste material. This is part of the reason many manufacturers will recommend the use of natural cleaning agents such as baking soda and vinegar. If the 'waste-eating' bacteria in your septic system are affected or die, much of the waste material won't be decomposed and you will end up with a clogged or failed septic treatment system. Repairs will cost you a significant amount.
3: Pumping Before Inspection
Pumping of your septic tank once in a while, especially after heavy usage is one way to ensure the system continues functioning properly because the process helps prevent clogging. On the other hand, inspections are necessary to ensure your septic treatment system is in good working condition. Don't pump your septic tank before inspection. Since inspections aim to determine how efficient your septic system is, your septic tank should have enough content for the wastewater to pass into your drainfield. Emptying your septic tank by pumping can make it harder for inspectors to identify any major issues. This means hidden problems in your septic treatment system may not be identified. Leaving hidden problems to become severe will cost you a lot of money later in repairs.
