If your new home's waste will be processed through a septic system, and you've never been responsible for one before, the thought can be a bit intimidating. While it's true that your septic system will require routine maintenance, and you will need to take precautions to avoid problems, it doesn't need to be intimidating. The precautions you'll need to take with your new septic system won't need to be all that difficult. In fact, once you get the hang of it, your septic system will be quite easy to care for. To help get you started, here are four tips that will protect and preserve your septic system.
Go With a Gray Water System
When it comes to protecting your septic system, one of the best things you can do is run a gray water line from your washing machine. This is particularly helpful if you do a lot of laundry. The gray water line will ensure that your septic tanks don't get filled too quickly. Gray water lines are easy to install. All you need to do is run a flexible hose from your washing machine out to the yard. Once you have the hose set up, simply place the washing machine drain pipe into the flexible hose. As the washer empties, the water will flow through the flexible hose out to your yard. Just be sure that you don't have the hose emptying over your septic system seepage field, or you'll defeat the purpose.
Take Care With Long Hair
If anyone in your family has long hair, you'll need to install hair filters over your drains. All that long hair going down the drains could lead to clogs that could cause serious damage to your septic system. Be sure to clean the hair filters out on a regular basis. Toss the excess hair in the trash to keep it out of the drains.
Don't Let the Drips Fool You
If you live in an area that experiences freezing temperatures during the winter, you might have heard that letting your faucets drip overnight will stop your pipes from freezing. It is true that allowing your faucets to drip during the night will prevent your water pipes from freezing. However, those little drips could get backed up in the drains due to debris that hasn't washed through. The addition of that trickle of water could cause the debris to freeze, which could result in a rupture of your drain pipes. If that happens, you may need to have the drain pipes to your septic system replaced. If you're going to let your faucets drip, place a bucket or bowl in the sink to capture the water.
Don't Plant Trees Near Your Septic System
While you're landscaping your new home, you'll want to keep your septic system in the forefront of your plans. Most importantly, you'll want to avoid planting trees near your septic system. They may be small saplings now, but eventually they're going to be mature trees. When that happens, their roots could compromise your septic system, leading to complete collapse. Prevent the problems by leaving the area around your septic system free of trees.
For more information, contact a business such as Pete's Outflow Technicians.
Share