When you have a septic system for your Croton-on-Hudson, NY, home, there are certain positive habits to cultivate so that you can keep your system running smoothly for years to come. Avoid the need for septic repair with these tips.
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How a Septic System Works
You might be tempted to think that a septic system works the same way a waste system that dumps into the sewer does, but a septic system requires some care to function well and to avoid needing costly repairs. Proper maintenance and care cost little to nothing while a septic repair can be expensive.
All waste from your home flows into the septic system through the pipes that connect to the toilets, sinks, washing machine, and any other appliance that uses water. Once in the tank, the solids sink to the bottom to begin decomposing, aided by beneficial microbes and microorganisms. The water rises to the top and is filtered out to the leach bed, where it slowly drains back into the ground.
Grease, oil, and any other non-biodegradable matter rises to float on the top, and this is called scum. If too much grease or oil passes through the pipes, they can clog and allow very little to any waster pass through. This can require digging up the pipes to clear the blockage. If the tank gets too full of waste that should not be there, you will need to have a septic tank specialist come over to pump the waste and water out.
Good Habits to Practice
Always flush carefully: Practicing correct flushing habits can be the real difference-maker for the functioning of a septic system. Don’t flush cigarette butts, kitty litter, personal feminine products, coffee grinds, baby diapers, or any other waste that should be thrown away. The septic system is not a garbage can and should only be used to flush human waste.
Never flush harsh chemicals: Harsh chemicals such as oil, gas, weed killer, cleaning products, and any other chemical that can be damaging should never be flushed down the drain. These disrupt the natural balance of the septic tank and can cause it not to function properly.
Do space out laundry loads: When you have multiple loads of laundry, try not to wash them all in one day as that can overload the water in the septic tank. A similar occurrence can happen if too many people shower at the same time. When you have guests staying with you, consider having some shower in the morning and some in the evening, to put less stress on your system.
Don’t plant or park on the leach bed: You should not use the leach bed area as an additional parking area as this can cause the soil to become compacted, reducing the filtering of the wastewater because the soil is too tight to absorb the excess. Also Avoid planting any shrubs, trees, or other plant that grows deep roots over the leach bed since the roots can penetrate the tiniest crack and widen it by growing toward the water source. Once a septic tank is cracked, it must be repaired or the entire system can stop functioning correctly.
The Best Habit
The best habit that you can have is to entrust the care of your septic system to your septic system experts. With over 40 years of septic installation and maintenance experience, we know how to protect the long-term health of your system so that it functions well for many years.
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