September 2021
· 3 min read
If you’re like me, you grew up without a septic system and didn’t even know what they were until you moved away from the city. To help you avoid a dirty disaster, I’ve gathered some information to help you learn more about what a septic system is along with some useful tips.
Here are my top five things that can go wrong based on some personal experiences and how I can help you avoid more serious problems:
For some reason, I may have a bit of hair pile up on the shower drain. I use a screen over the drain to prevent a hairball from forming and blocking the drain, and I clean the screen as often as needed.
If it smells like sewage, it probably is. Don’t touch it, don’t let your kids play in it and don’t let your pets drink it. Call your local septic installer for assistance.
Put personal care products, wipes and other non-degradable items in the garbage. Speaking from experience, even with an effluent filter in your septic tank, you can still plug it with the wrong things going into the toilet.
Every three to five years have your tank pumped by a licensed septic tank pumper. Follow the pumper’s recommendations based on how much sludge they pumped out to help your tank work its best. If you have more than one tank, both should be pumped.
If your sink drain is moving slower than a sloth, try a plunger. It may be something you dumped from breakfast — not that I have done this — like fat, oil or grease. Wipe pans with fat, oil or grease in them before rinsing with hot water or washing.
Want to know where your septic is located or how old it is? Contact your local health department. Have questions about which onsite septic treatment systems or effluent filters are certified? Contact me at info@nsf.org or +1 800 673 8010.