Properly maintaining a septic system?

[kjsayers]

How do you properly maintain a septic system? What should you not put down your drain that goes into the system?

 

[gsxr1100]

garbage disposal is a no no. I think doing like 5 billions loads of laundry is bad too (for leak fields?).

I do not know much since I have sewer and anything goes!

 

[kjsayers]

Why no disposal?

 

[gsxr1100]

http://www.laundry-alternative.com/garbage_disposal_and_septic_system.html

http://www.co.ba.md.us/Agencies/environment/septic.html

http://www.genestprecast.com/septic3.htm

 

[Will_C]

Try to avoid disposing any chemicals, they destroy the bacterial action that helps decompose waste.
Will

 

[Highbeam]

Don't put anything into the septic system that you haven't eaten or that you would not eat.

Don't drain the fat down the drain. Use a fat can in the fridge.

No garbage disposals. Only one half of one precent of sewage by volume is solids so the garbage disposal is dumping the equivalent of a whole bunch of sewage.

You don't need to add any chemicals, yeasts, bacteria, or snake oil to your system. The deposits you make in the toilet have plenty of bugs to do the job.

 

[bczoom]

Don't forget to get your tanks emptied/cleaned every couple years.

Not sure of the age of your system but I'm going to put some of those dye pellets in to make sure my leach bed is working properly.

 

[PhilNH5]

I have been referencing this Septic Owners Manual supplied by Chester County PA. It has been very helpful

Phil

 

[ByronBob]

Grease, hair, tampons, condoms or anything else like this stuff doesn't degrade. It helps clog the system faster. A food shredder takes much longer to degrade the food and it eventually will find it's way out of the septic tank into the d-box and finally out to the leach lines. If the leach lines plug up you'll notice it only after the septic backs up into your house.

Try not to drive heavy equipment over the septic field to avoid breaking anything. Have it pumped out every 2-3 years.
You'll be fine.

 

[getut]

I hate to bring this up again since the last time we discussed this on this forum about a year ago or better, but I have been doing more local research. When talking to freinds or neighbors or helping friends with tractor work, I've asked about their septic systems.

I will still have to hold to the fact that pumping septic systems may only be required in areas where, for one reason or another, the soil doesn't do what it is supposed to.

In talking with people in my area.. here are some stats:

2 septic systems that I know of older than 50 years. Never been pumped, still working great.
5 older than 40 years that I know of that has never been pumped and still working great (one of those did have to have the tank replaced due to a concrete truck crushing it.)
My own house as well as my 2 neigbors (all built at the same time), 20 years and still going strong.
Many others including my co-workers ranging from 10-20 years with no problems and no pumpings.

Believe it or not, out of the 20-25 people that I have asked, I'm batting 100%. Not a SINGLE ONE in my area has ever had septic problems, and none of them have ever had their system pumped.

I've just got to say from personal experience. Pumping is just NOT necessary in all areas of the country.