Understanding Your New Septic Tank and Maintenance Tips for Longevity in the Bedford and Chappaqua, NY Areas

May 16, 2023 Halstead Media Group

If you’ve recently added a new septic tank to your Bedford and Chappaqua, NY, area property, or are about to do so, you want to make sure you take good care of this system to promote its longevity. Fortunately, there are ways you can take proper care of your new septic system and help it keep working for your family for many years to come. Here are some septic tank maintenance tips to keep in mind:

Pump the Septic Tank Regularly

The septic tank only has so much room in it. So, it’s important to pump the septic tank regularly to ensure it’s ready for future uses. With that said, you don’t have to get your septic tank pumped monthly or even annually—it may be a few years until you have to schedule for your septic tank to be pumped. The exact pumping schedule will depend on the size of your septic tank and the amount of wastewater your household produces.

Consider Efficient Water Use

As you use your septic tank system on a daily basis, be mindful of water usage. Since all the water that you and your family use makes its way to your septic tank system, you’d be surprised what careless water usage or leaking faucets can do to increase the amount of water output. The more water your household uses, the harder your septic tank system has to work to keep up with this output. Therefore, try to use water in your home with conservation goals in mind.

Keep Disposal Precautions in Mind

A septic tank system is a sturdy piece of equipment; however, the system cannot handle every piece of waste you put down into the toilets or into your sink drains. Be mindful of what you dispose of in your sinks and toilets. For example, some items that should never be disposed of in either of these areas include non-flushable wipes, diapers, paper towels, cat litter, coffee grounds, and other non-disposable items. Disposing items such as these can damage your septic system and cause it to work ineffectively, causing the need for extensive maintenance and repair.

Get Regular Inspections

It’s also important to have your septic tank system regularly inspected. Regular inspections every few years will ensure your septic tank system is working correctly. The septic service professional knows exactly what to look for when performing inspections and will ensure your system is maintained and doesn’t require any repairs. In addition, regular inspections of your septic tank system help to improve the longevity of the system overall.

Septic Tank Drainfield Precautions

In addition to being cautious with the septic tank itself, such as being mindful of what you dispose of in your sinks, showers, and toilets, you must also use care around the septic tank drainfield. The drainfield is the part of the system that removes contaminants that come out of the septic tank. It’s important to know exactly where your drainfield is located so that you refrain from parking on top of this area and don’t drive over it. In addition, you don’t want to add large trees and shrubs too close to the drainfield as roots from these plantings can extend into this area and cause damage. Also, keep any water producing systems, such as roof drains or rainwater drainage systems, away from the drainfield as extra water could impact the efficiency of a working drainfield.