Our Top 3 Summer Septic Maintenance Tips

The dog days of summer are here! In Central PA that means hot, humid days and severe thunderstorms that can drop inches of rain in just a short period of time. Summer storms can leave your yard feeling soggy for days, and if you have a septic system the excess water can quickly saturate your drainfield. Today we're sharing our top three tips for keeping your septic system healthy this summer so you can avoid unexpected problems or a sudden septic backup. Contact us today to schedule septic service or keep reading to learn more!

1. Make sure you're up to date when it comes to routine septic tank pumping.
We recommend every household with a septic tank have it pumped every 2-3 years. In Lancaster and York counties, most townships have mandatory pumping ordinances that require a thorough clean out every 2-3 years so you can always check with your township if you're not sure when your tank was last serviced. If you've recently purchased a home with a septic system and you're not sure when the tank was last pumped, we recommend you schedule a site visit for us to perform a septic inspection and pump out the tank if necessary.

2. Be sure to stagger water usage during the summer months.
In Central PA we've experienced some very wet summers in recent years. Your drainfield is designed to handle a certain amount of water, and when it becomes fully saturated by rain you may need to stagger your water usage. Things like laundry, showers and baths require the largest amounts of water so we recommend you space out your laundry and do a load or two at a time, compared to five loads in one day. If your kiddos want to play in the sprinkler, place it somewhere in the yard that's away from your septic system and drainfield so it doesn't become soggy. Simply be mindful of your water use, especially when there's lots of rain in the forecast -- your drainfield will thank you!

3. Avoid washing chemicals, paint, or grease down the drain.
Summertime means lots of home projects -- painting, power washing, gardening and canning. It might be easy to rinse things out in the laundry tub, but before you do make sure you're not sending harsh chemicals, paint thinner or other manmade products straight to your septic tank. Your septic tank requires a healthy balance of bacteria to break down solid waste and keep things working properly. Excess grease, cleaners or toxins can ruin the balance of healthy bacteria and cause sludge to build up.

If you stay up to date on septic maintenance and treat your septic system with care, the same way you would any other major utility, you're likely to have an event-free summer. Should you run into a backup or a septic emergency due to excess storm water or sludge buildup, we want you to know we offer 24/7 service. That's right, one of our technicians is always on call, even on nights and weekends. If you're due for routine septic pumping or want to set up an inspection, contact us today to get started -- our team is standing by!