When your Pleasantville and Chappaqua, NY, septic system is not draining well, this can be cause for alarm but these tips from a drainage company can help you avoid slow drains. Maintaining a healthy septic system should include keeping the drains running smoothly with good habits.
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Know Where the Drain Field and Tank are Located
Two of the critical components of a septic waste system are the drain field and the septic tank. The septic tank is the airtight tank that is buried under the ground, holding all of the waste that is flushed or drained from your home. The tank is usually buried at the back of your home and can often be found at the top of a slope. Ask your drainage company to help you locate the tank if you don’t know where it is because this is a key component of a healthy, functioning septic system and you should protect it.
The drain field is where all of the watery liquids end up to filter back into the earth and it is usually located downward from the buried tank. The water seeps out of the tank through a pipe and ends up in the drain field where it filters back into the ground, removing pollution and particles along the way.
Space Out Water Usage
When you wash many loads of laundry in one day or host family from out of town, the extra washing and showers can overload the septic system and cause the waste and water to back up into the house. Because the water can only drain out of the tank at a certain rate, too much water can make the system not work properly and can result in drainage problems.
Be sure to space out the washing over several days and encourage some of your family and guests to shower at night and some to shower in the morning. These practices can keep your septic tank from being overloaded with too much water.
Be Careful What You Drain
Unlike a municipal sewage system, a septic system cannot handle when you put the wrong things down the drain. You should not flush or drain the following:
Cigarettes, kitty litter, coffee grounds, feminine products, baby diapers, oil, grease, any chemicals or paint.
None of these will decompose in the tank like regular waste does and so they can clog up the pipes and fill the tank so that it will need to be pumped.
Plant Away from the Tank and Pipes
Your drainage company recommends to plant trees and shrubs far away from the septic tank and drain field as the roots from these plants search for water underground. When they encounter a pipe or septic tank with the tiniest crack, the roots will work their way in to get to the water, causing obstructions in the pipes. If the septic tank develops a crack and is no longer airtight, there can be odors that alert you to the need for inspection.
If the crack in the tank is large, the tank will have to be dug up and replaced which can result in a disruption to your landscape and to your life. Your drainage expert recommends regular care with what you flush or drain to maintain the integrity of your septic system.
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