Common Septic System Problems and How to Avoid Them
Don’t put things in your septic system that it isn’t designed to handle!
It is the job of your septic system to break down biological waste into gas, water, and solid components. The gas and water are eventually purged from the septic system entirely, while the solid matter sinks to the bottom and must be periodically removed via septic pumping. As long as you’re treating your tank well and having it pumped regularly, you should be able to go on with minimal problems. However, using your tank improperly – or just plain bad luck – can lead you into a sticky situation.
Luckily, we’re here to help. The following are the four most common septic system issues we see at Mountain Top Portable Toilets and Septic Service:
1) Too much water in the tank: If your system isn’t eliminating water as it should, the excess water doesn’t give the solid material the chance to properly break down. The result is a water level that rises to the point where the material comes out of the tank and into the distribution tubes, which blocks them. To prevent this, make sure you do laundry over a period of several days and try to shorten shower length. Installing low-flow shower heads and toilets can also help.
2) Flushing items that aren’t biodegradable: Only flush waste and toilet paper down your toilets. Never flush kitchen oil or grease, feminine hygiene products, diapers, paper towels, or cigarette butts.
3) Excess laundry detergent or dish soap use: These products typically contain phosphates, which encourage the growth of algae in the septic system’s distribution pipes. Try to use liquid or gel soaps and detergent whenever possible, as they normally do not contain phosphates.
4) Putting harsh chemicals into the tank: Don’t ever try to get rid of things such as solvents and paint thinners by dumping them in your septic system. They won’t be eliminated; they will simply infiltrate the surrounding soil, creating a toxic environment.
Of course, even if you take our advice, you might still end up with an issue. That’s when you call on Mountain Top Portable Toilets and Septic Service. We’re happy to provide job site waste removal, septic pumping, and septic service to residential and commercial customers in Albany, Averill Park, Chatham, and Troy, NY. If you notice any signs of trouble with your septic system, just give us a call!
Counties We Serve
Rensselaer, Albany, Saratoga, Warren, Columbia, Greene, Montgomery, Schenectady, Washington, Fulton, Montgomery, Dutchess, Hamilton, and Berkshire counties
