Septic System Care Guidelines

Household cleaning products or chemicals should be discharged down the drain into the septic system sparingly. Typically, available household cleaning products can normally be used. Cleaning products containing disinfectants, pesticides, or products that make claims they kill bacteria should be used sparingly.

Laundry soap and detergents with bactericides should also be avoided. Laundry should be spaced out over the week. If bleach is going to be used, choose a powdered bleach. If possible, do no more than one load a day when using bleach.

Products labeled “natural, organic, and biodegradable” still can be toxic; toxic compounds are found everywhere in nature. Read the labels carefully and avoid products that claim to “kill bacteria.”

Water softeners may cause problems for a septic system if the backwash discharges into the septic tank. High concentrations of salt discharged into the septic tank can raise the PH in a system upsetting the bacteria. Keep your water softener maintained in accordance with the manufacturer.

The unit can be damaged or clogged by non-biodegradable items or materials that enter the septic system, including but not limited to: any items made of rubber, latex, plastics or metals, sand, or soil from non-water-tight septic tanks, etc. It is important to keep such items out of the onsite wastewater treatment system.

Prescription drugs, including but not limited to: antibiotics, chemotherapeutic and immune system suppression drugs, can have a devastating effect on any bacteria community within a septic tank. If anyone within the home is using these types of drugs, then notify your local certified installer or maintenance inspector for an additional service visit to check the system and purchase additives. It may be necessary to inspect the tank frequently for signs of trouble.

Additional materials that should not be allowed in a septic system include, but are not limited to, automotive products, petroleum products, pesticides, paint or paint thinner, solvents, etc.

If the home is unoccupied for any extended period of up to two months or if the unit is in a septic tank serving a vacation property that is periodically occupied, leave the air pump operating. Service intervals should be scheduled for the start-up period of each season when possible.

If a vacation home is closed after the vacation season and the system will be unused for more than two months, unplug the air pump. When the vacation home is occupied the next season, have the service provider install a new bacterial catalyst, and plug in the air pump. The system will restart without additional oversight.

Power outages: if power is lost for up to six days where the air pump is not functioning, then the septic system should function without problems. Should the power remain out for an extended period, then contact your local certified installer or maintenance provider for an additional service visit to check the system.