Septic System Maintenance

Regular maintenance is the most important step in making sure your septic system works well. As your system is used, solid materials are broken down by bacteria and start to settle at the bottom of the tank. Grease and lightweight materials float to the surface of the septic tank. When a tank is properly installed they are designed with enough space to safely hold 3-5 years of solids. When the level of solids increases beyond this point, sewage has less time to settle and break down properly.

When a tank accumulates more solids than its designed to hold they start to discharge unwanted material into the drainfield. The drainfield uses small holes to drain the water used in the home deep in the ground. When solids make it out to the drainfield it starts clogging the system and creates backups in the home and water discharge to the surface.

Septic system size is based off the amount of water use in the home, septic tank size is based off the amount of bedrooms and people in the home. If you have more people in the home than the system is designed for you will need to pump the tank more frequently due to solids entering the system. If the amount of water use exceeds the drainfield design a new drainfield may be necessary or adding extension lines if the county allows it.