Solving a Problem
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 Solving a Problem

A few weeks ago, my husband and I met with a general contractor. We talked with this professional about building an addition onto our small home. At this time, he informed us about a problem with our septic tank. We learned we would have to relocate a couple of septic lines before construction could begin on our home. Are you considering building an addition onto your house or business? Before you get too far along in this complex process, think about consulting with someone from a reputable septic service in your area. An expert from a septic service can inform you if your current septic tank will be large enough to accommodate the addition. On this blog, I hope you will discover the most common tasks performed by septic services. Enjoy!

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Solving a Problem

3 Things You Need To Do When You Own A Septic Tank

Debra Chapman

Do you have a property that has a septic tank on it? How long has it been since you actually gave serious thought to your septic tank? Most people rarely, if ever, actually think about their septic tank. If it's thought of at all, it's often an afterthought when something has gone wrong. But, you don't have to wait for something to go wrong. By giving more thought to your septic tank, you can help keep it functioning correctly for a longer period of time. Some things that you need to know or to do on a regular basis include:

Pumping/cleaning

On average, a septic tank usually needs to be pumped out every 3-5 years depending on size and usage. Since this is the only way for the sewage solids to safely leave the tank, septic tank pumping is a crucial aspect of its proper functioning.

Without regular pumping, the sewage solids will simply continue to build up in the septic tank and will eventually either clog up the tank or will start leaking into the surrounding soil. If the soil is contaminated in this manner, the septic tank will often have to be decommissioned and a new one installed elsewhere for sanitary and logistical reasons.

Avoid Unsafe Products

Many brands of toilet paper can be used in a city sewer system but cannot be used in a septic system. These are often the thicker papers, ones that don't break down in a timely manner when flushed. If used in your septic tank anyway, they will cause sewage solids to build up more quickly and result in needing a septic tank pumping on a more frequent basis.

The same also applies to the flushing of paper towels, baby wipes, and other similar products. In order to avoid potential issues, only use paper products that say that they are safe for use with a septic system.

Shop around

It may seem strange to shop around for septic tank pumping and other septic tank services but this may be able to save you a significant amount of money. Septic services tend to be priced based on how far away you are from the company providing the service.

The first company you find may not be the one that is closest to you and may charge you a higher rate than another company would charge. Before you choose any particular company, check to see if they actually are the best ones for your needs.


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