How do I maintain my Septic?

[Jjohnson]

I read something about adding enzymes. I've also read that it causes issues. Everything I can find about it though is by someone selling them. Should I use these products and what should I use?

[bradthebard]

A properly functioning septic tank doesn't need enzymes. There are a few good practices that will give you a long life. First, don't use a garbage disposal. Food scraps should be composted or tossed in the garbage. The bacteria in the tank (they are naturally occuring bacteria) cannot effectively process the large chunks washed down by a disposal and they will either sing to the bottom and fill the tank faster or they will find their way into the leach field and clog that up.
next, go easy on harsh cleaners such as bleach. THese are great disinfectants and kill bacteria in your house and laundry, but they also kill the bacteria trying to work in the tank! A little bit wil dilute out and not cause a problem, get excessive and you will mess with the little ecosystem working hard at breaking down the mess.

Third, conserve water. You want to try to maintain at least a 24 hour holding time in the tank, though more is better. If you have a 1200 gallon septic tank, this means you want to flush less than 1200 gallons down the drain a day. Seems like a lot but it adds up fast. The longer holding time gives the tank time to process the effluent and not only maes it work more efficient but helps keep the leach feild healthy as well.

These three things alone will go a long ways towards keeping it functioning for a long, long time.
Brad

[Conway]

Brad what is typical for some one to flush down? 1,200 seems like a lot of water for daily use.

[bradthebard]

Originally Posted by Conway

Brad what is typical for some one to flush down? 1,200 seems like a lot of water for daily use.

Typical American household uses anywhere from 300 to 500 gallons per person per day. That is an average and may be a little skewed with residential irrigation in some areas, but none the less, we Yanks tend to use a boatload of water.

That said, those numbers are a few years old and are dropping with the more widespread use of water conserving showerheads, toilets, etc.

On an interesting note, when I was hauling water in for my cabin, we would average about 15 gallons a day for the whole family (you learn to conserve when you haul it in by hand). The drains ended up clogging up because the county stipulated 1/4" per foot max drop and we weren't putting enough water in to flush out the toilet paper and poo! (if you are wondering, we hand filled the toilet tank until the supply side plumbing was installed).

ALso, I believe most tanks are in the 800 to 1000 gallon range for a residence, though it may vary locally.

[majakdragon]

Septic systems work with nature. natural bacteria eats the waste in the tank. Brad gave you all the proper things to avoid putting into the system for trouble free operation. used to be a saying that "if it didn't go through you, it shouldn't go to the septic". This is overkill, but has some truth in it. If you realize that anything in the tank has to be dissolved by the bacteria, you will watch what you toss or flush.

[Dennis/Ohio]

Very good gentlemen,
Just remember to pump out regularly.
Additives are usually not needed but having a customer use additives reminds them they have a septic system. Versus out of sight, out of mind.
Dennis.... DennisHoover.com
My big toy:Tanker Restoration

[Dunerunner]

I throw enzymes into my septic every six months. I currently use Snow Fresh. Any comments on this product? I also use it in my RV holding (black and grey) tanks.

I'm also a home brewer, which means lots of Star San and Brewers Wash goes into the tank, along with trub and yeast. Any issues with this?

[johnnyring]

By paying my sewer bill every month.

[Otahyoni]

A couple of you mentioned pumping your tank out every other year, my parents have lived at the same house for 15 years and have only pumped the tank twice. Is this something that needs done more often, or only when there's problems?

[phishfood]

Another thing that I have seen causing problems is people planting bushes near their drainfield. I have run into an infiltrator chamber completely filled with roots from this. Grasses and so forth are said toactually help the drainfield by sucking up water from the field and letting it evaporate into the air, but anything much bigger should be kept well clear.