Millions of households throughout the world rely on their own personal sewage system – the septic tank. This on-site treatment facility will serve a household and its members for many, many years if installed, managed and operated correctly. It will treat the sewage around you, in order to protect your family, keep your community disease free and prevent dirty water.
Here´s a few tips in order to maintain your septic tank to the best possible level. Here at Jones Septic Pumping Stanfordville NY we abide by these rules and we hope you find them as useful as we do.
Tip 1: When to pump your septic tank?
Once a year, inspect the tank yourself or have a septic tank technician check the levels. Also, periodically inspect the drain field areas for odors, wet spots or surfacing sewage.
When the bottom of the scum is within 3″ of the bottom of the outlet device, the tank should be pumped.
When the top of the sludge layer is within 12″ of the bottom of the outlet, the tank should be pumped.
Tip 2: Don´t add any of the following to your tank!
- Fats or grease
- Motor oils or fuels
- Disposable diapers
- Coffee grounds, egg shells, nut shells
- Filter tip cigarettes
- Sanitary napkins, tampons or condoms
- Paper towels or rags
- Paints or chemicals
Tip 3: Keep traffic off your drain field
No vehicles, heavy equipment or livestock because the pressure can compact the soil or damage the system pipes. Do not plant a garden; construct a building or a pool near the septic system without checking with the health department first.
Tip 4: Grass is the best cover for your septic system
Do not place impermeable materials over your drain field. Concrete, asphalt and plastic prevent oxygen from getting into the soil. Oxygen is needed by bacteria to break down the sewage.
Tip 5: Don’t poison your septic tank
Drain cleaners, floor cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners, paints solvents, waxes, polishes, coating or strippers may destroy important bacteria in the septic tank and contaminate ground and surface water.
Tip 6: NEVER enter any septic tank
Poisonous gases or lack of oxygen can be fatal. Any work to the tank should be done from the outside.
We hope you found these top 6 tips useful and applicable to your septic tank situation. The team at Jones Septic Services will help you install, repair and maintain your home’s septic system to a professional quality all in a time-friendly period. Dutchess County NY septic tank pumping services like Jones is waiting for you.
