How And Why Septic Maintenance Will Save You Money In The Long Run

Maintenance is cumbersome and it seems expensive at the time, especially when there aren’t any glaring problems. But, as is the case with most things in life, the more you keep up with your septic tank maintenance, the less headache you will have later. And anyway, of all things you want to be giving you a headache, septic tanks should go pretty close to the bottom of that list. Keep in mind that your tank works all day every day for years on end. With anything that works this much, maintenance is always the key to longevity. Keep your eyes out and your tank could last you 10 to 15 years without needing to be replaced.

You don’t have to clean it out every month, or even every year. But if you don’t pump your septic tank every two to three years, you will pay the consequences in due time. This entails hiring a professional septic tank pumper who has been licensed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to inspect, pump out, and measure layers of the tank. Keep in mind how frequently a septic tank is used, especially if you are living with several people. Anything that’s used with such frequency will see some wear and tear. However, all you need to do to prevent that is keep an eye on it and make sure it passes inspection.

Below are the measures you must take to prevent a crisis in the future:

Pump out the tank regularly and document the timing so you can keep track. By keeping a record, you’ll also be able to notice sooner whether there is a leak. The sooner you notice that something is clogged, the less of an issue it will be to fix it.

Know where everything is. A septic system, also referred to as an onsite wastewater system (OWTS), consists of six separate parts: the house sewer drain, the septic tank, the distribution box, the trenches, the absorption field, and the vent. If you can map out the location of each of the different components, you will have a much easier time monitoring them over time. Again, the closer you monitor, the easier your life will be down the stretch.

Be conscious of the weight you’re putting on top of it. In general, if your tank is located beneath a driveway or parking lot, you will probably have some problems at one point or another. But in any case, you can put it off as much as possible by avoiding parking on top of it. Heavy objects will damage the structure, which is an issue that builds up over time. If possible, park in the garage or on the street if this is the case. Either that, or deal with the consequences.

Plant grass over the tank. As we mentioned above, parking cars over your tanks is a bad idea. The better route, if possible, is for the tank to be located in a field of sorts. This will prevent you from parking heavy cars or trucks on top of it, and will also allow for some absorption in the soil. However, make sure not to plant anything with particularly long roots, like trees, as they could grow long enough to cause damage to the tank’s structure.

Don’t forget about it. Put septic tank maintenance on your calendar right now, before you forget. It’s out of sight and easy to put off for an eternity. If you make sure it is something that absolutely has to be done on a specific date, it will be easier to actually make it happen when it should.

Haven’t you put this off enough? Is it really worth it to have to pay for a new one, which would cost you anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000, all because you were too apathetic towards addressing the issue ahead of time? Need some septic maintenance in the Lagrange, NY area? Contact Jones Septic with whichever septic tank related comments or questions, or feel free to set up an appointment any time for an inspection or other repairs.