As the owner of a septic system, there are a few tips and maintenance tasks you need to be aware of to keep your system running at its top condition. Here are some recommendations to help you take the best care of your septic system.

Manage the Septic System Landscaping Site

The surface soil of your septic system needs to be managed and maintained. Don't drive your vehicles over the site, as it can cause damage to the tank and drain field lines. Also be sure to plant trees well away from the site and only grow shallow-root plants, such as grasses and ground cover so the roots don't damage the system.

Also, be sure you know where the septic tank opening is, and if it is buried below any soil, add risers onto the opening so it is accessible from the surface. Your septic tank professional will need to access it easily when it next needs servicing. 

Clean the Tank and Drain Field

Your septic tank is going to handle a lot of incoming waste, including solids and water from your home that will slowly fill it to capacity. Once the solids and other waste take up a large enough layer inside the tank, it will need to be pumped to ensure the water can still flow into the drain field and soak into the soil. Based on your septic tank size and how much water waste your household produces, every few years you will need to hire a septic professional to pump out the waste from your tank. This will restore the tank to a free-flowing capacity where it can receive solid waste once again.

Just as your tank fills with solids, often your drain fields become clogged with an accidental solid flowing into the drain field and will require extra cleaning. Your septic professional can spray out the drain field pipes with a water jet to clear them and restore your system to full function once again.

Take Care of the Tank Interior Set-Up

After you have your septic tank pumped and any clogs in the drain lines cleared by your septic professional, you will need to provide additional care to your tank to make sure it continues to work well. The fluids inside your tank contain beneficial bacteria that work to break down the solid wastes that enter the tank. This can help increase the time between tank pumping services and keep the system clean. So, it can be helpful to use bacteria additives in your tank to boost the bacteria levels and increase the tank's efficiency.

Next, ask your pumping professional to check the effluent filter inside your tank and add one if there is not, as some older tanks do not have a filter installed. The effluent filter prevents the flow of solid waste into your drain field and reduces the occurrence of blockages. Contact a septic service for more information.