Septic tank problems are one of the more difficult problems to deal with because of their dirty nature. People who are not used to them will find them gut-wrenching, making the task quite impossible. Calling a plumber would be the next best thing to do but unfortunately, they can be quite costly too. The best and most obvious way to dealing with this dilemma is by avoiding septic tanks problems through cleanliness and maintenance. This article will look into the common septic problems and how to avoid them.
Excessive use and dumping of oil and grease can clog up both the upper chamber of the tank and the inlet drains because they can take quite some time to degrade. Aside from the clogging, you will most likely notice some unpleasant odors due to the clog. It will also make emptying the tank a much more difficult time when that time of the year comes along. A simple solution for this problem is to lessen your oil and grease usage. If you can’t seem to curb them, try using a separate system for your oil and grease where you can dump them without affecting your septic tank.
Throwing non-biodegradable items such as plastics down the drain can also lead to clogging the pipes or the soil. It isn’t too much of a hassle really to dispose of garbage properly because it will ultimately do you good in the long run.
Too much water filling your system can also lead to failure or shutting down. This may also be the result of too many food particles that are present in your system. Avoid overloading your system at all costs. Again, proper disposal is stressed to avoid this problem.
Certain chemicals can also harm your system as well as some septic tank additives that are thought to help the system. Adding or disposing of paints, pesticides and solvents can lead septic tank damage and will render it totally useless. Through proper disposal, you will be doing yourself and mother nature a favor. It will also extend the life of your system thereby sparing you from the hassles and expenses that come with repairs.
Lastly, never try fixing something that you have no knowledge of. It may make matters worse than it already is. Unless you have the knowledge and skill as well as the stomach to fix your septic tank, it would make everything easier for everyone if you just call the local health or environment authorities to assess the problem.
Septic tank problems are very hard to fix but ironically, it isn’t very hard to avoid. Repeated several times in the article is the need for proper waste disposal which isn’t impossible to do. Just make sure to have trash cans nearby where you can throw away your non-biodegradable wastes with ease instead of throwing them down the drain and you’ll be problem free. It may be difficult at the start because of what you’re used to but as time goes by, you’ll get used to proper disposal.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
we had a recent storm hit and i just had my septic drained less than a year ago. very careful not to put anything in that doesnt belong. due to recent storms in palmdale we now have our toilet and bathtub overflowing into each other. i know septic not full but how do i stop it?????????
i thought to add a hint in relation to new septic systems. Sometimes the new septic systems will release a heavy smell until the bacteria inside the system is grown to a level high enough to break down the waste. To speed-up the process is good to insert in the system couple kilograms of fresh meat (the older plumbers will recommend a dead rabbit). It did work every time i recommended this to my customers.