Proper Maintenance Of Your Septic Field Can Prevent Unwanted Water Disasters

Many clients ask me how they can reduce the load on their septic systems and reduce the need for expensive repairs or in the case of very overloaded units the replacement of a septic system. There are two simple answers to this. The first being to use your household water efficiently. The second being that any water that goes down your drain can have a major impact on your septic system. With proper care and conserving water you can extend the life of your septic system as well as save money due to reduced water wastage.

Using water efficiently reduces the amount of water that enters your septic system in the first place. You can start by installing water efficient fixtures within your home. Water efficient toilets can eliminate the one cause of water waste. In fact toilets are the number one water guzzler in homes. Toilets consume about 30 percent of a households water consumption and add significant strain on our septic systems. New low-flow models now offer increased efficiency and performance. You want to look for a high efficiency WaterSense certified toilet to reduce your water waste and reduce your water expenses (in areas where water is metered at any rate). If you can, purchase a toilet that uses 1.28 gpf (gallons per flush) or less. These toilets are not expensive, in fact they can be purchased for around $220 at Lowe’s.

Once per year you should inspect you toilet and make sure it is in working order. A common malfunction with toilets is when the toilet’s water reservoir begins to leak into the bowl. You can check for this by adding 10 drops of food coloring into your reservoir before bed. If the dye shows up in your bowls toilet water the next day your reservoir is leaking and repairs will be
needed.

You should also be careful of what you decide to flush down the toilet. Toilets are meant to only flush down fecal mater, toilet paper and arguably flushable toilet wipes. Flushing down Dental floss, feminine hygiene products, condoms, diapers, cotton swabs, cigarette butts, coffee grounds, cat litter, and paper towels can severely damage your septic system due to clogging it up. Most of these products will not degrade inside of your septic tank. You should also avoid flushing down any household chemicals, gasoline, oil, pesticides, antifreeze, and paint as these can disrupt the delicate biological treatment and balance with in the system as well as possibly contaminating groundwater. Reducing or eliminating flushing these products down the toilet can greatly reduce the need for frequent pumping out of your septic tank.

Your homes faucets are also a source of water waste and high water consumption. A simple fix for this is faucet aerators. Faucet aerators reduce water usage and there for the amount of water entering your septic system. WaterSense labeled faucets and faucet accessories like aerators are very high performing water fixtures which will save you money on your water bills. WaterSense labeled faucets that are rated no more than 1.5 gallons per minute can save you 30 percent or more than traditional 2.2 gallon per minute faucets. If the entire country used these faucets the U.S would save billions of gallons every year. WaterSense labeled products are also EPA approved. Not only does this help you save money, reduce stress on your septic system but it also is extremely environmentally friendly.

If your faucets drip this can drastically add to your water consumption. Just a small drip from one faucet can cause many gallons of water waste every day, and each of these gallons are unnecessary water pumped to your septic system every day. If you doubt this here is a simple test. Simply take a glass or a cup and place it underneath a dripping faucet for 10 minutes. You then will need to multiply the water within the cup by 144, which is the number of minutes in 24 hours divided by the 10 minutes of water collected. This figure represents the accurate amount of clean potable water entering your septic system from just one leak every day.

Following these simple tips will reduce the need for frequent inspections and pumping. These tips will also prolong the life of your septic system and sump pumps. For the best restoration services in Long Island New York, count on the New York Cleanup Pros, your local disaster cleanup and restoration contractor serving Suffolk and Nassau County NY.