Should I inspect or open my septic tank?Never attempt to open a septic tank yourself. Gases and bacteria in the septic tank are dangerous and lethal. Have only experienced professionals maintain and inspect your septic tank.
How often should I have my tank pumped? It depends on the tank size and your usage, but for a family of three you will generally be safe following these guidelines:
900 gallon tank and below – Once every 2 years.
1000 gallon tank – Once every 2 - 3 years.
1500 gallon tank – Once every 3 - 5 years.
2000 gallon tank and larger - Once every 6 - 10 years
Have you had your septic tank pumped more than once in a 12
month period?
If you have had to have your septic tank pumped more than
one time in a 12 month period you have one of three
problems. 1) The field line is full of solids and needs
replacing. 2) You have a toilet leaking or your water
consumption is more than the system can handle. 3) Ground
water is infiltrating the tank and overloading your field
line. If the answer from the service provider is to
continually pump your tank, please call someone else to
diagnose and fix your system.
A
septic tank is a septic tank, right?
Wrong.
Each manufacturer has their own way to produce tanks.
Barger And Sons is the only manufacturer in East Tennessee
that is audited (unannounced) by an independent engineering
firm on an annual basis that certifies our plant production
process. No other manufacturer makes the same tank as us or
has more experience and engineering background when it
comes to manufacturing septic tanks in East Tennessee.
System maintenance
Bleaches and antibacterial
soaps are a detriment to proper working of the tanks. The
amount of enzymes needed to help bacteria break down the
solids in the tank can not overcome the bleaches and soaps
from weekly use.
Do additives seen on TV and sold by door-to-door salesmen
work?
Our
answer is no. There is no amount of enzymes you can add to
your septic tank that will overcome the bleaches and
antibacterial soaps that enter your septic tank. Save your
money and put it toward high quality system components such
as effluent filters, and access ports that extend to near
ground level that allow for easy pumping.
Trees
Roots from trees can damage both the tank and field line.
Keep trees away from your drainfield or you will experience
major problems years down the road.
Water intrusion into the tank
You
need to divert rainwater from your gutters and landscaping
away from the field line area. Also, check your faucets and
toilets for leaks. You can not hear most toilets leaking,
so you will have to be clever and use food coloring in the
holding tank to see if any leaks down into the bowl after a
24 hour period. Typical top load washing
machines use 50 – 65 gallons of water per load. A front
load washing machine uses between 17 – 20 gallons per load.
A local utility district has reported that one leaky toilet
has allowed 100,000+ gallons of water go into the septic
tank and field line. Conserve water and be a good steward
for the environment and help your septic system.
Your toilet is not a garbage can
Do not
flush unnecessary solids down the toilet such as: excess
toilet paper, disposable diapers, cigarette butts, face
wipes and feminine hygiene products.
Garbage disposals
Don’t
use one or even think about using one.
Grease is your enemy
Dispose of grease somewhere
besides your septic system. When grease hardens, you will
have a gigantic mess.
Minimize heavy duty cleaners
Overuse of heavy cleaners kills
beneficial bacteria in the septic tank. In today’s world it
is hard not to have bleach or antibacterial soap entering
the tank. Therefore, septic tanks today are not as
efficient at degrading solids in the tank as they were
decades ago.
Avoid hazardous chemicals
Varnish, paint thinners, motor
oils, gasoline and other similar chemicals can damage the
tank, eat the field line pipe and are hazardous to
groundwater. Dispose of them properly at a local recycling
center.
Protect the system from damage
Do not
drive over the drain field, build a structure on top of it,
or cover it with concrete or asphalt. Plant grass on the
drainfield to minimize soil erosion.