5 Do’s And 5 Don’ts Of Septic Tanks For Your Orinda CA Home

5 Do’s & 5 Don’ts Of Septic Tanks For Your Orinda, CA, Home

Prolong Your Septic Tank’s Life While Avoiding Plumbing Headaches Later By Knowing The Do’s & Don’ts

Do you use a septic tank for your Orinda, CA, waste? If so, do you know the do’s and don’ts of having a septic tank so you can avoid plumbing issues later?

Believe it or not, many homeowners are surprised that they often do something that could affect how their septic system works and potentially lead to premature septic tank replacement.

For those in the East Bay Area, get ready to start making some changes to your routine so you are doing your best to prolong the life of your septic tank. Here are five do’s and five don’ts when you own a septic tank!

The 5 Don’ts Of Septic Tanks

When dealing with a septic tank in your Orinda home, you must avoid doing things that affect your entire system.

1. Never Flush Trash

Many people flush every piece of trash they have in the bathroom and never think twice. However, your septic tank is not equipped to handle items like:

• Cigarette butts
• Diapers
• Baby wipes
• Cotton swabs
• Feminine care products
• Plastic wrappers from things you use in the bathroom

Your trash is not flushable and will not degrade inside your septic tank. Plus, you always run a massive risk of clogging the main sewer line if you were to flush these large trash objects.

2. Say No To Chemicals

Chemicals should never be flushed and sent to your septic tank as they can affect the microbiological system inside the tank. When the microbial system is affected, it can lead to your tank needing to be pumped sooner than you thought, smells coming from the drains, and much more.

You don’t have to worry about chemicals you may use for cleaning, such as toilet bowl and bathtub cleaners, as long as you only use the recommended amounts. So, yes, you can still clean your toilets, sinks, and tubs with cleaners – use those formulated for the areas.

3. Never Plant Deep Rooted Vegetation Near The Septic Tank

You may think the area where your septic tank is buried needs a little color, so a few trees or bushes will look amazing. However, deep-rooted vegetation will cause a massive issue for your septic tank.

Not only can roots grow into lines and end up breaking these and causing your interior to back up, but these roots can affect the tank itself, resulting in septic tank replacement sooner than you planned.

4. Avoid Straining The System With Excessive Water

Ideally, you should avoid straining the system with the amount of water that hits the septic tank simultaneously. For example, space out when the dishwasher is running while taking showers.

In addition, try to space out the laundry you do so you have a manageable amount of detergent and water going into the system at a time. Professional plumbers often recommend balancing your laundry loads over two or more days rather than doing back-to-back loads in one day.

5. Never Build On Top Of Your Septic Tank

Never build a deck or patio on top of where your septic tank is located. When there comes a time to replace your Orinda septic tank, you will have to tear down the structure. Plus, the excessive weight on the septic tank, despite having a layer of dirt between it, could cause cracks and leaks in the tank.

The 5 Do’s Of Septic Tank Ownership

While it may seem as though there are more things that you cannot do when it comes to your septic tank, there are certain things you can do that will be helpful for the health of your septic tank!

1. Mark Your Septic Tank Location

While you don’t have to go outside and mark the ground with spray paint, you must know where the septic tank is. Knowing the location can ensure you don’t plant anything too close to the tank, build over it, and avoid driving over the tank area.

Place a small flag close to the ground that showcases the septic tank’s location. It can be easy to mow around and will be visible to those needing access to your septic tank.

2. Regular Inspections, Pumping, And Cleaning Are Mandated

You need to ensure that your septic cleaning is inspected, pumped, and cleaned regularly to ensure no significant issues happen later. Use professional plumbers to do these tasks, as it is NOT a DIY project.

3. Keep Records Of Anything Septic Tank Related

Whether you own your home or rent, note what has been done anytime you have anything related to your septic tank. Plus, when you have records, you can quickly narrow down when you may need more maintenance work done.

4. Upgrade Your Water Efficiency

One of the don’ts of septic tank ownership is simultaneously bombarding the septic tank with water. To help you avoid that, upgrading your home to be more water efficient is a good idea. For example, upgrade the faucets, showerheads, and toilets to ensure they use less water.

5. Upgrade Your Septic Tank When Needed

The life of a septic tank is anywhere from twenty to forty years in most cases. So, when your septic tank hits that milestone, consider replacing your septic tank with a more modern tank.

Replacing the tank before major issues can avoid massive headaches and property damage. Having records of the septic tank’s age and all maintenance work done can help you decide whether septic tank replacement is the right option for now or not.

Free Quotes For Orinda, CA, Septic Tank Replacement

By following the do’s and don’ts, you can extend the life of your Orinda, CA, septic tank and avoid some major plumbing issues. However, if septic tank replacement is in your future, Avalon is here.