The Most Common Septic Tank Problems and How to Avoid Them
First, excessive use and subsequent dumping of oil and grease, which take a long time to degrade into your septic tanks can clog up the upper chamber of the tank, as well as the inlet drains. This can result in all sorts of bad odors, not to mention the added difficulty when tank-emptying season comes around. To solve this problem, try curbing on your oil and grease use, or use a separate system for your oil and grease waste.
Do not dispose of non-biodegradable products like plastics down the toilets or drains, since this can clog up your pipes or the soil.
Avoid overloading your system with excess water, because too much water filling the system can cause it to fail and shut down. This can also be the result of excessive food particles, which can overload the system and shut it down.
Certain chemicals and supposed septic tank additives can do more harm than good to your system. Adding pesticides, lye, paints, or solvents can damage the system and basically render it totally ineffective. Do not unload your paint and other solvent wastes into your septic tanks. Dispose of them properly. Not only are you prolonging the life of your system, you are also doing your environment some good.
Finally, if you’re having problems that you know you can’t fix, avoid self-medicating and contact your local health or environmental authorities immediately. It will make things much easier on everyone involved.
