How to Keep Your Septic Tank Clean
Septic tanks are an important part of houses and commercial establishments. They keep the wastewater away from the solid waste, which then goes into the drain.
It’s essential to keep the septic tank clean and well maintained. Otherwise, you may have to deal with a number of problems like the pooling of the water, smell and clogging problems. There are a number of ways you can keep your septic tank clean and efficient.
Here are some tips on septic tank cleaning for residential areas to help keep your septic tanks in good condition all the time:
- Check your pumps regularly
In a septic tank, all the waste from your house goes into it. The solid waste gets settled at the bottom and the excess water goes out into the drain. The scum on the other hand rise to the top. Some septic tanks come with an alarm. Make sure to check them regularly so that you can pump the waste out to keep the septic tank efficient.
- Reduce the level of water in the tank
One of the reasons why septic ranks overflow or become inefficient is because of the excess water. Your tank can only hold so much water at a time, beyond that it cannot function properly. What you need to do is ensure that you don’t use excess water. Start with the limiting of water usage. Check your toilet faucets and taps if there is a water leakage. You can also install low flowing faucets to control the amount of water you use daily. This will help you keep your septic tank from getting overflowed.
- Don’t put heavy things in the septic tank
Never park a heavy vehicle or machinery on top of the septic tanks. It can damage the whole system making it inefficient. Mark the area where the septic tank is located and ensure that no one puts heavy things on top of that. Keeping of heavy things on the septic tanks is against the law in many jurisdictions, so be aware of it.
- Flush carefully
Flushing the wrong things down the toilet could clog the tanks and your drains as well. Things like diapers, dental gloss, and feminine hygiene, Cigarettes, and tissues should never be flushed down in the toilet. Some of the chemicals can actually kill the bacteria in the septic tank that break down the garbage in the tank. So make sure that you know what you are flushing down the toilet.
- Homemade septic tank cleaning agent
Spoiled buttermilk is one of the best ways to provide your septic tank with the bacteria that is needed to break down the waste in the tank. You can put a liter of spoiled buttermilk in the toilet and flush it down. This is one of the most effective methods for septic tank cleaning for residential areas.
- Get them pumped once in a while
Apart from all the caring and keeping the septic tanks clean, getting them pumped by professional cleaners is essential. A thorough cleaning once in a while will help you keep your septic tank clean and efficient. Professional cleaners use industrial grade equipment to clean them. In case of emergencies, they are one of the best options. If you are unable to clean yourself or don’t know how to do it, then hire the professionals and get the job done right the first time.
These are some of the best ways for septic tank cleaning for residential areas. Keep them clean and well maintained so that you can live in a healthy environment.
6 Comments
Just a couple questions. When you say ‘don’t flush tissues’ are you taking about facial tissues (Kleenex) or are you talking toilet tissue/toilet paper? And how often are you supposed to flush a liter of spoiled buttermilk? You didn’t mention that. Hope to hear a reply! Thanks!
Thanks for pointing out that a septic tank could be kept clean by checking pumps regularly. I can imagine how important it is for residential areas to have their pipes regularly maintained and cleaned to avoid problems in the long run. Should I know anyone who might need residential septic cleaning soon, I’ll make sure to save this article as a reference for them.
Thanks for explaining how keeping your septic tank clean can prolong its lifespan. My friend wants to own a home once he’s ready to marry. I will recommend that he find a septic tank professional that can look after his home’s unit to prevent unwanted accidents!
It really helped when you elaborated on hiring professional septic tank cleaners to pump your system. My parents haven’t gotten their septic tank inspected in years, so before they suffer from a septic emergency, I’ll suggest they find a professional to clean it. Thank you for the advice on keeping our septic tank clean and working efficiently.
Thanks for also talking about how some homemade cleaning agents can also be used on a septic system. I’d like to find a good septic system pumping service soon because I’m thinking about getting my drains cleaned soon. I think the septic system itself will have to be maintained for that.
It really helped when you said that we should get the septic tank checked regularly to pump waste out if necessary keeping it efficient. We have lived in this house for almost three years now and we should probably consider hiring a septic tank cleaning service. Even if you do not see any signs of the system being full, is always better to get issues prevented than getting them fixed in whatever aspect it is.