Is your home sporting a septic system for wastewater disposal? If you’re new to this type of sewage removal system, then you likely have a ton of questions about it, including how to maintain the tank for best performance properly. But most people don’t want to think about their home’s sewage system. They would instead use it, and only deal with it should an issue arise. Maintenance on your septic system, though, isn’t a huge deal. That is as long as you keep up with it.
“I’ve heard about septic tank additives, do they work?”
One thing many plumbers hear is should their customers use additives in the tank for treating sludge and delaying treatment. There are tons of products on the market aimed at destroying the sludge layer, thus delaying or eliminating the need for a pump out. Though many plumbers warn and the evidence suggests that these products don’t remove the need, at best slow down.
There are two types of addictive septic options on the market, biological and chemical. Typically the chemical treatments can have adverse reactions to the tank, not to mention the water that is being dumped into the drain field, which circulates back to the earth water that wells pump from. Biological additives are living organisms that will essentially eat the bacteria and sludge.
Do Septic Tanks Ever Break?
One question homeowners have about septic tanks is, “Do they ever break?” The good news is that septic tanks are very durable. Typically these can go years, even decades without ever needing to be unearthed and repaired. However, certain factors can lead to needing Atlanta septic tank repair. One of the most significant contributing factors is the lack of maintenance. If you’re not caring for your tank, it can become filled with sludge, which can break down the tank. Construction of the tank and maintenance will determine whether there is a possibility of breakage.
When Should You Contact A Plumber?
So you want the best for your septic, when should you get maintenance done and have the tank pumped out? Every three to five years is the national average. However, when will depend significantly on how many people are in the home and how large the tank is. The larger the tank, the less frequently you’ll need to have a pump-out. Conversely, the more people you have in your home, the more frequent you’ll need to have maintenance done to ensure the proper performance and health of your tank.