Recommendations for Maintaining Your Septic Tank

Taking care of your septic tanks begins with your daily household activities. You should be careful about what you put into your septic tank if you want it to last a long time.

Beware of excessive water

If there is too much water in the tank it can cause a backup. 

Beware of excessive household chemicals

Excessive amounts of chemicals such as laundry detergent, dish detergent, drain cleaner, bleach can impede a septic tank system.  Never pour the water from latex paintbrushes or cans into your drains.

Beware of non-decomposable materials

The following items will clog your septic tank and impede its functionality.  Do not dispose of any of these in your sewage system:

• Coffee grounds

  

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•  Cooking fat
• Paper Towels
• Disposable Diapers
• Facial Tissues
• Cigarette Butts

  

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Beware of grease

It’s not a good idea to put grease down the drain after you cook.  It can cause back up or build up in the septic tank or even plug the inlet.  It is best to keep a container for used grease, freeze it and then throw it away in the garbage.

Use high-quality toilet paper

High-quality toilet paper breaks up easier when it is wet.  If you want to check to see if you are using high-quality toilet paper, you can take some toilet paper, crumble it up into a ball and then fill a small jar half way with water.  Once you shake the jar a few times if the toilet paper breaks up very easily, then it means that you can safely use it in your septic tank.

Get your septic tank professionally cleaned

One of the most important ways to maintain your septic tank is to get it professionally cleaned. The rule of thumb is every 1-3 years.  However, it can depend on the size of your tank, the volume of wastewater you have, the amount of solids disposed of as well as the climate you live in.  If you live in an area where it gets cold during the winter, you will need to have it cleaned more often because colder temperatures prevent decompositions of the solids.   Remember that if your drains are slow or backed up or if you smell a bad odor near the drain field this indicates that your septic tank needs to be pumped and cleaned. 

If you are in the New York area, Jones Septic is a family owned and operated business with over 60 years in the septic industry. Jones offers prompt services at competitive prices and is a company that you can trust. Jones Septic offers septic pumping Patterson NY, septic pumping Bangall NY, septic pumping Annandale on Hudson NY and septic pumping North East NY. They offer free estimates and 24 hour septic emergencies NY service.  

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