The cost of replacing a home’s septic system can be tens of thousands of dollars, so it makes sense to do everything you can to help your septic system last as long as it can. With proper maintenance and regular inspections, a home’s septic system can last decades. Here are four tips on the best ways to maintain your septic system and keep it operating at peak performance.

Schedule Routine Pumping and Maintenance

Most homeowners in the Savannah, GA area should schedule septic pumping to remove the solids from their septic system every three to five years, depending on the size of their household and the size of their septic tank. Professional septic service providers like TNT Service Group will also inspect the system for any leaks or damage that needs attention. The maintenance records for your septic system will come in handy if you need to make a warranty or insurance claim or if you decide to sell your home.

Keep Foreign Objects Out of the Septic System

Nothing should be flushed down a toilet except waste and toilet paper. Anything else, including personal hygiene products, flushable wipes, diapers, and dental floss, can potentially harm the septic system because they are not designed to be broken down quickly. Choose toilet paper that is labeled as safe for a septic system, as some other types may contain chemicals or other ingredients that are bad for the system.

Watch What You Wash Down the Drain

There are some things that you should never wash down the drain if you want your septic system to continue operating in good working order. Cooking oil, grease, and fat can cause clogs in the system, while chemicals and some types of medications can affect the effectiveness of the system. You should also prevent produce stickers, jar labels, coffee grounds, and eggshells from going down the drain into the septic system.

Avoid Overloading the System

Septic systems need time to do their job properly and overloading the system makes it much harder to do that job. Having an average amount of wastewater going into the system each day is better than having a huge load of wastewater go in on a single day. Reduce the risk of overloading the system by installing low usage water fixtures and spacing out when you do loads of laundry and use the dishwasher.

Conclusion

The performance of your septic system is crucial to the health and well-being of your family as it removes wastewater from the home quickly and efficiently. Savannah summers get hot and humid, and you don’t want to spend days in the hot, humid outdoors trying to fix your septic system.

Keeping it working properly requires regular inspections and preventative maintenance by trained professionals. If you need any questions about your septic system answered or would like to schedule service, call the pros at TNT today!