The best way to lower the amount your septic system will cost you over time is to set up and stick to a regular maintenance schedule. Just as regular oil changes can help maintain the life of your car, scheduled maintenance allows your septic system to work at its most efficient, saving you money by avoiding wasted water and future repairs.
A small price to pay
With the inexpensive insurance of regular pumping and maintenance every one-to-five years, you can avoid system failure, unnecessary repairs, potential damage to your plumbing, your landscaping and even your home.
Today’s environmentally responsible septic systems are designed with maintenance in mind explains Mike Devine, owner of Devine Septic Services, Swansea, MA.
The filter does two things, he continues, protecting the leaching field and motivating you to pump the tank. The longer you wait to pump, the less efficient the system will be.
Danger Zone
When the scum layer starts to form on the inlet side, the longer it stays, the more the system’s hungry bacteria are able to break it down to form sludge. If this layer of solids gets higher, it can sneak across the tank into the “danger zone,” with fresh waste making it to the second chamber. At this point, the filters in the baffle most likely clog, serving as a kind of fail safe. In other words, if your filter is clogged, your system is already working below its most efficient levels.
Looking for more info on Septic Systems? Check out Septic 101.
“The longer you wait to pump, the less efficient the system will be. By waiting too long in between maintenance, you take years off the life of the system.”
— Mike Devine, Devine Septic Services