Most people rarely think about their septic system until a foul smell greets them at the kitchen sink, or the backyard becomes a swampy mess. But your septic tank is constantly swimming against the tide of modern habits. Because the tank is buried underground, it stays out of sight and out of mind. This makes it easy to ignore the warning signs until the pipes finally give up.
The Hidden Enemies in Your Pipes
Because there are good bacteria inside the tank that are responsible for breaking down the waste, septic systems are essentially living organisms. Unfortunately, many people treat their systems as though they are bottomless trash cans, flushing anything down the drains that they can. They routinely use strong household chemicals, such as bleach, that inadvertently kill the helpful bacteria that keep the system functioning. This disturbance causes solid waste to build up much faster than expected.
You must be careful about what goes down your drains. Don’t allow those “flushable” wipes to go down your toilets, despite what their label says. The same goes for feminine hygiene products, diapers, paper towels, and cotton balls among many other things. None of these products break down as quickly as toilet paper, and they eventually clump up into a mess that will block your inlet pipe. Flush only human waste and toilet paper. Minimize the use of bleach and strong chemicals, and switch to natural products to protect good bacteria.
Cooking Hazards
After you fry up some bacon, that liquid grease looks innocent enough, so you believe it is harmless to dump down your kitchen sink. But as soon as it cools off, it solidifies into a hard, waxy substance. This creates a floating layer of scum in your tank that grows thicker until there is no room left for water to move. Even if you use a garbage disposal to grind up food scraps, those tiny particles add to the organic load that the system struggles to process.
Nature’s Thirst for Your Wastewater
The outdoor environment can also impact your septic system. For example, tree roots are naturally drawn to the moisture and nutrients found inside septic lines, and they can find even the smallest crack to wiggle their way inside. Once they have intruded into your pipe, they continue to grow and catch toilet paper, hair, soap scum, and grease until they cause a complete blockage. These roots can also widen cracks in your pipes as they grow bigger.
Plumbers will advise you to never plant trees near your drainage field. If you currently have large trees nearby, it is a good idea to remove them. Regular maintenance, such as pumping and cleaning, is also critical because this helps your system continue to function optimally for many years.
When you give your system the care it needs and are careful about what goes down your drains, you can save yourself thousands of dollars in emergency repairs and keep your backyard smelling like fresh grass instead of a sewer. To preserve the septic system at your Muncie, IN home, call Happy & Clean Septic Rescue for septic pumping, cleaning, and inspections.
