Avoiding Septic System Emergencies: Common Pitfalls and How to Steer Clear 

Your septic system must keep a sensitive balance to work correctly; anything that goes out of balance can bring a catastrophe. With that idea in mind, here is a guide- Avoiding Septic System Emergencies: Common Pitfalls and How to Steer Clear.

How Do You Steer Clear of Septic System Emergencies?

If it’s been more than three years since your septic system was inspected and pumped, you may have a potential disaster awaiting you. Here are some ways to avoid having your septic system crash.

• Treat Your Septic System Well
• Ensuring you don’t abuse your septic system is an excellent start to ensuring you don’t have an emergency. Here are a few tips.
• Don’t use additives with your septic system. Additives can kill the good bacteria that break down waste in your septic tank. If the bacteria disappears, more waste will stay in the tank and eventually back up into your home.
• Don’t park heavy vehicles over drainfields; it could cause them to collapse.
• Don’t let trees or shrubs grow over your drainfields. Their roots can be disruptive to your septic system.
• Refrain from pointing downspouts from your gutters towards areas with drain fields; it could overload them.
• Using a lot of water at once is a bad idea. You don’t know how much waste is in your septic tank or if any clogs are present. Running a large volume of water can be a risk that causes toilets or drains to back up. Try using low-flush toilets or low-flow shower heads to limit the amount of water used at any time.
• Try to limit the use of garbage disposals; too many solids can create a clog.
• Never flush foreign objects down your toilet. Wipes, Kleenex, dental floss, cotton balls, diapers, plastic wrap, and other objects can cause clogs and will undoubtedly lead to a backup.
• Never, ever dump gasoline or paint thinners into your septic system. Not only will these substances kill good bacteria, they are also flammable. 

How to Spot Issues with Your Septic System

Some of these signs are more apparent than others, but none of them should be ignored-

• Your toilets back up.
• A gross black liquid in your toilet.
• An overpowering odor is being emitted from your drain field.
• Puddles of sewage in your yard.
• Your plumbing makes a bubbling noise.
• The water drains very slowly from showers, bathtubs, toilets, and sinks.

How Do You Deal With a Septic Emergency?

A septic system emergency is always unpleasant and should be dealt with as swiftly as possible. The best way to deal with it isn’t to try and fix it on your own; you should hire an experienced and qualified septic service. The septic service will inspect the septic system to find the underlying cause of the trouble and then take action to fix it. 

Let Lakeland Septic Deal with Your Septic Emergency

If you live in the greater Lakeland or Polk County areas, call us at 863-738-0504 or complete our easy contact form. We will dispatch a team of septic system specialists to determine the cause of your emergency and then quickly rectify any issues. Don’t let your septic system emergency get out of control; call today.