It’s a good idea to have your septic system inspected annually and then pumped every few years or so, depending on the size of your household, the usage of the system and the size of the tank. But as a homeowner with a septic system, there are some other general steps you can take for septic system care in Modesto, CA in between visits from your septic technician to keep the system fully operational and in good, efficient condition for years to come. Here’s a quick overview of some of those steps you can take.
Make efficient use of water
Households use a lot of water each day: an average of 70 gallons per individual per day in the United States. You can take some steps to decrease your water usage without inconveniencing yourself.
You can, for example, install high-efficiency toilets and low-flow faucets and showerheads in your home. Toilet use can account for almost a third of household water use. Newer toilets will use less water per flush, so you can drastically decrease your water usage over time with a newer model. Flow restrictors and high-efficiency faucets accomplish the same.
You can also try to wash larger loads of laundry to cut down on water waste and energy waste. This isn’t to say you should jam as much laundry into your machine as possible, but you should still try to run full loads whenever you can.
Waste disposal
Think twice before you let something go down the drain, toilet or garbage disposal. Remember: all of this will end up in your septic system. There are certain items that should never be flushed down toilets—basically anything other than human waste and toilet paper. You should also be careful of what you put down the sink. Never use chemical drain cleaners to combat clogged drains if you have a septic system—these chemicals could kill off the bacteria that are necessary for a healthy septic system. You should also avoid pouring oils and greases down the drain, as well as oil-based paints, solvents and toxic cleaners.
Drain field maintenance
The drain field is another important part of your septic system that you must protect. Never park or drive on top of the drain field, as this could result in soil compaction that lessens its effectiveness. Avoid planting trees or other plants with large root systems over the septic system so the roots will not interfere with the natural filtration of the soil in that area. Finally, keep roof drains, sump pumps and any other drainage systems for rainwater away from the drain field area, because an overly saturated drain field will be much less effective at filtering and treating wastewater.
These are just a few steps you can take to keep your entire septic system in good condition in between service appointments to ensure efficient and safe operation. To learn more about septic system care in Modesto, CA, we encourage you to contact the experts at Alvarado Pumping Septic Service today.