…. if you don’t, it will cost you a LOT of money!
If you have a septic system it is important to learn how it works. If you just treat your wastewater as “out of sight, out of mind”, you are destined to be spending a lot of money fixing problems. The WA Department of Health has a good explanation HERE.
Your septic tank outlet will usually have an inspection hatch above it which, most likely will be on the downhill side of the tank. It is most important to make sure your tank outlet is running fairly clear water with no sludge or grease. Simply tape a plastic cup onto a stick and take a sample as per this photo.
If the outlet is sludgy, STOP using the house drains and toilets IMMEDIATELY and get a pump out ASAP. The sludge will clog up & wreck your expensive absorption trenches!
If your outlet is still running clear, you have got a bit of breathing time to conduct further investigations.
This video shows you how to test how soon you will need a pump out.
There is no set rules how long between pump outs are needed. If you are super careful they can go a long time. If not, they can need to be pumped out every year or two.
Here are some suggestions on how to avoid pump outs for as long as possible –
- Use good quality septic safe toilet paper. Alternatively, if you want to use cheap toilet paper, put a lidded bucket next to your toilet and then burn the paper.
- Don’t flush anything other than septic safe toilet paper.
- Regularly flush septic enzymes which promote health bacteria in your tank. These are available from most hardware stores.
- Don’t use any antibacterial or chemical cleaning products. Do a web search to find out about natural cleaning products which are safe for septics.
- Use tubs in your kitchen sinks to prevent grease going down the drain. Never pour any, oils or fats down the drain.
- Use only natural body care products when washing.