Septic tanks are lifesavers for folks who live out in the country. Without a septic system, those who live outside city limits would be forced to use an outhouse! Since septic tanks are so crucial to your everyday life, wouldn’t it be nice to know a little bit about them and have a good understanding of septic maintenance in Modesto, CA? Of course it would! Continue reading to learn everything you need to know about septic systems.
Septic components
Before we get too deep into the weeds regarding maintenance, it’d be good to learn a little bit about your septic system. Here are the basic components of each septic system:
- Septic tank: Your septic tank is buried underground and is where wastewater is held until it separates the solids (sludge) from the oils and grease (scum). Your tank is specially designed to prevent any nasty solids from escaping and entering your leach field.
- Leach field: Wastewater eventually exits your septic tank and is discharged into your leach field. Here, it oozes into the soil, where it’s treated naturally. The soil removes harmful bacteria, viruses and other nasty stuff.
Maintenance tips
Now that you know a bit more about septic systems, it’s time to learn a little about septic maintenance in Modesto, CA:
- Inspect and pump frequently: The best way to maintain your septic system is to call a professional at least once a year for inspection. Our crewmembers can take a look at your system and determine whether or not everything is functioning as it should be. If there are any issues, we can repair them before there’s any further damage. In addition to yearly checkups, be sure to have your tank pumped every few years. Pumping frequency depends on usage and the size of your tank. Call us today to see if it’s time for septic pumping!
- Care for your leach field: As you can imagine, caring for your leach field is crucial when it comes to maintaining your septic tank. Avoid planting trees and shrubs near your septic tank. The roots can damage the system and necessitate major repairs. You should also avoid parking any heavy trucks or equipment on top of the field. Too much weight will compact the soil in the leach field and damage the tank or pipes. Finally, you should avoid leach field flooding at all costs. Make sure any rainwater flowing from your gutters is directed away from your leach field. Flooding slows down the treatment process and can cause backups.
- Be efficient: Water conservation is a key part of maintaining your septic tank. Your tank can only hold so much wastewater at once before it can overflow or run into bigger issues. Monitor your shower length, and never do too many loads of laundry at once.
Be sure to pick up the phone and give Alvarado Pumping Septic Service a call if anything seems out of the ordinary with your septic system, if you need routine septic maintenance in Modesto, CA or if it’s been a while since the system was last inspected. Our team of experts can diagnose and fix any potential problems before they get out of hand.