3 Septic Tank Maintenance Tasks You May Be Neglecting

There's one maintenance task every homeowner with a septic tank knows: pumping. You must pump your tank regularly to prevent solids and grease from accumulating inside it. While the tank's job is to hold these waste materials, it can only hold so much before the microbiome in the tank becomes overwhelmed and can no longer manage the waste levels.

However, pumping isn't the only maintenance task that your system requires. While failing to schedule routine tank cleanings will quickly cause your system to fail, neglecting other maintenance tasks can reduce its lifespan and efficiency. If you don't spend much time thinking about your septic tank, you may want to check out these three commonly neglected maintenance tasks.

1. Filter Cleaning

It's easy to think of your septic tank as a vessel for waste storage, but it's more of a treatment and filtering plant. Your septic system directs effluent to your leaching field, where the filtering medium can remove harmful pathogens. However, this field can't effectively deal with solid waste or grease, as these materials will clog the system and destroy the helpful bacteria.

Instead, the bacteria and other microorganisms in your tank handle this waste, and the tank ensures that only effluent reaches the leaching field. An outlet baffle helps to prevent solids from leaving the tank, but many modern systems also include a filter. If your tank has a filter, you should check and clean it at least as often as you pump your tank.

2. Inspections

Inspections are a crucial part of septic tank maintenance. Most companies that provide septic cleaning will also provide inspections since the most convenient time to inspect a tank is when it's empty. Septic system inspections can provide useful information about your tank, including the condition of the drain lines and the tank interior.

A thorough inspection when cleaning your tank will help you spot problems before they ruin your septic system. Deteriorating baffles are one common problem that's easy to spot and solve during an inspection, and catching this issue can prevent solids from clogging your drain field.

3. Septic Treatments

Septic treatments are special additives that you pour into your septic system through the drains in your house. The composition of these treatments can vary, but they typically help oxygenate the water while adding beneficial microorganisms. Septic treatments can help maintain the current bacteria levels in your tank or deal with existing problems, such as anaerobic drain fields.

Treatments are always necessary for healthy septic systems, but they can be beneficial in certain circumstances. If you're unsure if you should use a treatment or which treatment is best for your tank, you should consult with a local septic professional for advice and recommendations. 

For more info, contact a local company like Chris Mote's Pumping Service.

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