Septic System Care 101: Keeping It Running Smoothly

When you live in a house that's not connected to the city's sewer system, you probably have a septic system. This special system treats wastewater from your home right in your backyard. Imagine it as a private sewage treatment facility. It's super important to take good care of it, or else things can get messy, smelly, and expensive to fix. Let's dive into how you can keep your septic system happy and healthy.

Understanding Your Septic System

Your septic system has three parts: a septic tank, a drain field (also called a septic bed, tile field or a leaching bed) and soil cover. The septic tank is a big underground container that holds all the water that goes down your drains. Organisms that live in the septic tank, digest the organic matter. It is also where the solids settle at the bottom., and the liquids flow out into the drain field, which is protected by the soil cover. The drain field is the area in your yard that distributes the water from your tank to the soil. Microbes in the soil clean the water as its absorbed into the ground. This type of sewage system has been around for 100’s of years and is a natural/organic way of treating the sewage waste from your home.

Why Keeping It Running Smoothly Is Important

A well-cared-for septic system can last you a long time—up to 30 years or more! But if it's not taken care of, it can stop working which can result in a wet, smelly backyard, slow drains, and even sewage backing up into your home! Regular maintenance keeps the system functioning and avoids expensive repairs.

Tips for a Happy Septic System

Here are some simple yet crucial tips for keeping your septic system running smoothly:

1. Be Careful What Goes Down the Drains

Not everything is meant to be flushed or washed down the sink. Things like cooking grease, coffee grounds, food and non-biodegradable items (like wipes, even if they say they're flushable) can clog up your system. Stick to water, human waste, and toilet paper. There is important bacteria in your septic system that digest the organic matter. Avoid using bleach and antibacterial soaps as these can kill or reduce the amount of these helpful bacteria in your tank, which can slow or stop the septic system from working. .

2. Don't Overload the System

Avoid large volumes of water going through your septic system. Fix any water leaks promptly; a toilet running can add large volumes of water to your septic system, and consider using water-saving fixtures in your home. Its also important to avoid flooding your drain field as this saturates the bed stopping it from doing its job. To avoid saturated your bed do not drain your pool or hot tub onto your drain field, pile snow on the drain field as when this snow melts it produces lots of water, and protect the drain field by redirecting surface water by making sure that ground water or water from your roof downspouts do not flow towards and over your drain field.

3. Keep Roots Away

Tree roots can grow into your septic system and cause damage. It's best to plant trees and large plants away from your septic tank and drain field.

4. Protect the Drain Field from Compaction.

Your drain field needs to breathe to work properly. Compaction of the soil above and around the drain field reduces the oxygen that can get into the soil which will kill off the micro-organisms in the soil that are needed for the drain field to work properly. Don't drive or park heavy vehicles on it, avoid building sheds, pools or skating rinks, and/or piling snow on the bed in the winter. Also, keep the grass above it trimmed and healthy.

Regular Maintenance Is Key

Even with the best care, your septic system needs regular check-ups and maintenance:

1. Pump It Out: Every few years. We recommend every 3 to 5 years depending on the size of household and septic tank. Pumping the tank removes the solid waste that's settled at the bottom.

2. Clean your Effluent Filter. Tanks installed on or after 2006 have an effluent filter to prevent solids from the tank reaching the drain field. This filter should be cleaned annually.

3. Inspection the tank: Having a professional check your septic system regularly for cracks or leaks can catch small issues before they become big problems.

What to Do If You Have a Problem

If you notice any signs of trouble, like a wet lawn, bed smells in your backyard, or gurgling pipes, don't wait. Call a professional right away to check it out. Trying to fix it yourself can make things worse.

How We Can Help

In Ontario, septic system design, installation and repairs are regulated by the Ministry of Municipal Housing and Affairs, Call the Plumbing Doctor is a Licensed On-site Sewage System installer. At Call the Plumbing Doctor, we're experts in keeping septic systems healthy offering septic system design, installation, repairs and emergency services to ensure your system is working at its best. Our team knows how important a smoothly running septic system is to your home and family, and we're here to help keep it that way.

Keeping your septic system in tip-top shape doesn't have to be complicated. With a little care and regular maintenance, you can avoid big problems and keep everything running smoothly. And if you ever have any questions or need help, we're just a phone call away. Remember, a happy septic system means a happy home. Let's keep it that way together. Call us at 1-800-814-7014 today for all your septic system needs!

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