Your septic system is a critical component of your Chappaqua and Mohegan Lake NY home and protecting the integrity of your system should be high on your priority list. Here is how to protect your new septic installation so it performs well for many years.

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Why do you have a septic system?

Are you wondering why some people have a septic system and others connect to the sewer system? A builder will put in a septic system for a home when sewage system access is not available through your city.

This can happen when you live in the county or in a rural location where you want to live but need a waste removal system and there is no city sewer. A septic system is an amazingly environmentally friendly waste removal system that allows your home to function smoothly and stay healthy.

When you flush anything in the toilet or down a drain, it flows to the septic system. There, the waste separates and some stays to be decomposed, the watery fluids seep out into the drain field, and the grease and oil float on the top. Protecting your system is important to maintaining a well-functioning system and these tips will help.

Tips to Protect Your New Septic System

There are specific steps you can take to protect your system and ensure it works well every day.

Toilet Flushing: Taking care with what you flush is the first step in septic system success. The only thing that should flush down your toilet is human waste and toilet tissue. Even when wipes say they are biodegradable, most septic professionals will advise against flushing them. Feminine products and baby diapers and wipes should be thrown away and not flushed. The reason for this is that they will not decompose in the septic tank and can cause clogging.

Drains: The only things that should flow down the drains are water and soap. Pouring grease, oil, chemicals, bleach, cigarette butts, or anything that does not belong in the drain can harm your septic system. Grease and oils don’t decompose in the tank and stay there until it is pumped. Too much of the wrong things going down the drain can cause your septic system to stop functioning correctly and can lead to a potentially costly repair or replacement.

Washing Machines: The washing machine drain can only handle soap and water as well. Because the septic tank can only hold a limited amount of water at a time, space out your washing so you are not sending too much water into the septic tank at one time.

Showering: Showering is similar to the washing machine in that too many showers back to back can overload the water in the tank. That water has to go somewhere so it will most likely back up into the house. This can create a big mess in your home and possibly introduce unsanitary water.

Try to space the showers throughout the day or encourage some family members to shower at night while others shower in the morning. This can be an excellent method to protect your septic system and keep it running at peak performance.

A septic system does not require hard things to keep it in great shape but it does need consistency in not flushing the wrong things.

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