3 Questions For Homeowners That Are New To Having A Septic Tank

Did you recently buy a home that is not connected to your city's sewer system? If so, you are going to have a septic tank instead. Using a septic tank is a bit different from using a sewer system since it requires maintenance, special care, and pumping out all of the waste from the tank when it becomes full. Here are some questions you likely have about using a septic tank.

How Do You Maintain A Septic Tank?

Taking care of a septic tank is fairly easy since it comes down to what you put down your drains and making sure that everyone in your household is following the rules. Make sure to avoid putting food down your drains when possible, especially starchy foods, coffee grounds, and eggshells. You should also be aware of how much water enters the tank at once, which includes paying attention to when you are taking long showers, running multiple loads of laundry, and simply leaving the sink on for long periods of time. You should also avoid using antibacterial cleaning products since a septic tank needs bacteria to break down solid waste.

How Do You Know When To Pump The Septic Tank?

When a septic tank becomes full, you'll typically notice the warning signs due to how your drains react. You may notice that water is going down much slower or there are gurgling sounds from the drains when water goes into them, and there may even be an odor coming from the drains as well. Consider calling a septic tank pumping company to come and empty the tank when you notice these issues. 

How Do You Locate Your Septic Tank?

When the time comes to have your septic tank pumped, you'll need to figure out where it is buried underground. While a septic tank pumping company may do this for you, it is possible to do it on your own in order to avoid being charged extra for locating and uncovering the septic tank.

Start by finding out where the main sewer line comes out of your home since there will be a straight pipe that goes out from this location to the septic tank. You can then use a soil probe to stick in the ground to find the septic tank since it will hit something hard underground. Keep using the soil probe until you outline where your septic tank is located. The opening to the septic tank should be located on the side closest to your home, where the main sewer line goes into the septic tank.

To learn more, contact a septic tank pumping company. 

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