Your septic system should be properly maintained to assure years of trouble free service.

Aqua Vac Sewer & Drain Ltd recommends every 1-3 years. Frequency may change depending on high household water usage and if there is a garbage disposal installed.

Failing septic systems can:

Endanger your family's health.

Pollute the environment.

Reduce your property value.

Be expensive to repair.

installation of a micro sewage treatment plant in a private home

Warning signs of septic system problems:

Wet spots in the yard.

Slow draining toilets or drains.

Gurgling sounds in your drains.

Sewage odors.

You've spent thousands of dollars on your home and landscaping, lack of maintenance on your septic system will allow solid waste materials to flow into your drain field eventually clogging it.

Ways to Prolong the Life of Your System

There are many ways to prolong the life of your septic system and lengthen the period between pumping. Household water use directly controls how quickly waste travels through a conventional system. Wastewater that enters the tank requires time to allow the solids to settle to the bottom. The higher the volume of water that is introduced to the system, the less opportunity the wastewater has to settle in the holding tank and the less opportunity the bacteria have to break down the solids. Therefore, limiting the use of water in the home will go far in prolonging the life of the system.

Reduce Household Water Use

Use water-saving shower heads and faucet aerators.

Install low-flow toilets.

Watch what goes down the drain.

Make sure sump pumps and roof drains are not connected to the sewage system.

Use front load washers and space out the time between washings.

If a garbage disposal is installed, septic tank pumping frequency should be increased.

Refrain from putting any plastic, cloth, or unnecessary paper products into the sewage system.

Repair leaking toilets (place a few drops of food coloring into the toilet tank to detect water leakage into the bowl).

Never dispose of toxic or hazardous chemicals by dumping them down the drain as they have the potential to contaminate groundwater.

Controlling what goes into the water that enters the system is just as important as reducing the amount of water that flows into the system.

Avoid using garbage disposals as they accelerate the accumulation of solids in the septic tank.