Many of the folks outside of town areas at Smith Mountain Lake, Moneta, and surrounding areas use septic systems rather than public sewage, simply because that is all that is available.
If you have a septic tank, you also know there are occasional issues involved in keeping it healthy, such as regular maintenance and periodic pumping. What you may not know is that there are numerous things you can do to help lengthen its life and reduce the number of pumpings.
Here are a few tips I have gleaned from professionals along with a little research. If you and your family utilize these tips you will find you have fewer problems with your septic.
– Do not pour chemicals of any kind down the drain unless necessary. They can destroy the bacteria that keep your waste decomposing and may even end up in your groundwater (wells, streams, lakes, etc.
– Plant grass on the drain field to cut down on soil erosion and don’t drive over it or build anything over the top of it. This is where the septic drains and you don’t want it to cave in or be less able to effectively do its job.
– The less water you can use at one time the better. This reduces stress on the system. For instance, try doing laundry in small loads every few days instead of all at once and washing dishes as you dirty them.
– Trees with aggressive roots, such as Weeping Willows, should be planted at least 150 feet away from your septic system. Consider taking out any kind of trees within 75 ft. as the roots can grow into the lines and drain field, etc., and do real damage.
– Dispose of oil or grease in the trash and do not ever pour them down the drain. These types of things do not break down well and sooner or later will stop up your drain field. If that happens you’ll need an expensive pumping or some other type of repair.
– Don’t flush anything down the toilet except bodily waste and toilet paper. Female sanitary napkins, cigarettes, cat litter, etc. will also eventually clog up your septic and require costly fixes.