Dec20

By Dave Bangar

Six Tips for Maintaining Your Septic System

How to Ensure Your Septic Tank Lasts For Several Years

For homes located in a rural area outside of a larger city like Kelowna, septic tanks are incredibly common. But for those who are new to rural country living, the idea of having and maintaining a septic system can feel a bit confusing and daunting.

As a homeowner, maintaining and taking proper care of your septic tank is an essential responsibility as it not only ensures that the system doesn’t malfunction but also prevents environmental and public health issues.

With that being said, if you are struggling to figure out how to maintain your new septic system, we’re here to help. In this article, we will explain the importance of septic tank maintenance while going over the key steps and guidelines to ensure your system functions efficiently and lasts for many years.

The Importance of Proper Septic Care and How It Can Prevent Costly Failures

Septic tanks, which are buried underground to collect your home’s wastewater, are designed to last for several decades, typically anywhere between 15 and 40 years, with proper maintenance. However, the key to having your septic system last this long is to take good care of it and keep up with regular maintenance. We’ll go into this in more detail later.

When your septic system gets neglected, it can lead to serious issues that can cause the system to malfunction, such as:

• Blockages
• Backups
• Foul odours
• Complete system failure
• Expensive repairs
• Premature replacement
• And more

All of the above can be incredibly costly to fix, and in some extreme cases, require you to replace your septic altogether.

Furthermore, a poorly maintained septic system is also a major environmental and public health concern as wastewater from the septic tank can seep out into the ground and contaminate groundwater. This exposure to dangerous bacteria can cause serious illness and other health issues while also harming the local aquatic ecosystems.

How to Effectively Take Care of Your Septic Tank

As previously stated, taking good care of your septic system is an essential part of being a rural homeowner. It requires a lot more thought, consideration, and overall maintenance than you might be used to, so it’s important to familiarize yourself with septic tank maintenance requirements. To help you get started, we’ve listed just a few recommendations for how you can maintain your septic system.

Have it Inspected Annually

The province of British Columbia recommends that septic tanks be inspected every year by a professional septic tank inspector. This helps to identify any issues with the septic system early on before they progress and cause major issues.

Have Your Septic Pumped Regularly

Along with annual inspections, you must also have your septic tank pumped every three to five years to prevent it from becoming so full that wastewater backs up into your groundwater. This is incredibly important and is not something that should ever be skipped.

Avoid Using Chemical Drain Cleaners

Chemical drain cleaners can not only damage your drains and plumbing system, but they can also damage the good bacteria in your septic system that helps to break down waste products. This can reduce the effectiveness of your septic system.

Be Mindful of What is Flushed Down the Drain

This goes without saying but never put anything down your drain or toilet that doesn’t belong there. This includes:

• Grease
• Oils
• Feminine hygiene products
• Diapers
• Paper towels
• Harsh chemicals
• Any other non-biodegradable materials

If these substances get into your septic system, they can disrupt the balance of good bacteria and clog and damage the septic tank.

Use Less Water

Conserving water isn’t just good for the environment and your utility bills, it also helps to keep your septic tank running efficiently.

By using less water day-to-day, you can help prevent your septic tank from becoming overloaded. Other ways you can reduce your water usage are to check and fix any minor leaks and install low-flow fixtures.

Contact a Plumber

If you believe there’s an issue with your septic tank that is affecting your home’s plumbing system, give our team of experts at My Plumber Kelowna a call.

At My Plumber Kelowna, we have a team of licensed, trained, and highly experienced plumbers who can diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve any plumbing and septic issues you might be experiencing.

Call us today at 250-601-0000 or fill out a form on our website and we will be in touch ASAP.