It’s a good idea to take care of your septic tank maintenance if you want it to keep taking care of the waste on your property! Septic tank maintenance is one of the most important aspects involved in the excellent functioning and long life of your system. Proper maintenance doesn’t just involve the basic procedure for septic tank cleaning in Loxton; it also involves other processes that can help you easily avoid nasty malfunctions and the hefty bill that comes with them. We’ve put together a few tips from our team of experts to understand what is required to ensure that your septic tank doesn’t leave you high and dry.
What is a septic tank?
Septic tanks are used as a means of wastewater management, and very effective ones at that. The system is designed to hold water, and other kinds of waste which comes from all the drains on your property. Basic domestic septic tanks are usually made up of concrete tanks that can hold well over 1500 litres.
How to Clean a Septic Tank?
The first thing you should do is pick up the phone to call your local septic tank cleaners in Loxton or the surrounds to handle the job for you. The company that comes to clean or pump out your septic tank will open the main lid of the tank to perform a thorough pump out, clean, and inspection of the tank. It’s essential that you use experienced professionals who can ensure the highest quality clean and show you the importance of regular septic tank cleaning. The entire process isn’t a quick job though, and involves a few aspects, including:
- Main lid removal
- A full pump out of the septic tank
- Cleaning and scrape down to remove accumulated sludges
- Tank inspection to identify and advise on any repairs or maintenance needed
Tips for cleaning and maintaining a septic tank
These tips have been validated by the Government of South Australia in a handy fact sheet:
- Only use 1 or 2 ply toilet paper in the toilet facilities
- Repair any plumbing related leaks
- Install water-efficient mechanisms like a dual-flush cistern for the toilet
- Clean the drains and plumbing naturally
- Avoid the excessive use of strong cleaning products
- Don’t flush items down the toilet like tampons, sanitary napkins, paper towels, cat litter or nappy wipes.
- Make sure to thoroughly pump out your septic tank every 2-5 years
- Call a professional if you notice any signs of an overflow
- Only use the services of a licensed expert for your septic tank
- Cut down or closely manage the amount of water you use that enters into the system to improve the lifespan
- Call a professional to remove accumulated sludge every four years
- Make sure that all water from roof downpipes or drains do not enter the system and flows away from the area
- Do not dispose of any chemicals in your septic tank system
- Never allow anyone unauthorised to handle your system
- Try to reduce or eliminate any fats and oils going into the system
Check and clean your irrigation filter fortnightly
If your septic tank uses an irrigation filter, be sure to clean it fortnightly using septic-safe or low phosphorus products. Regularly cleaning your filter will keep your system running in the highest quality function and a clean filter leaves no room for any clogging. Build-ups in the system are natural and will happen over time, but they can also cause blockages which opens you up to a whole host of other issues in the future.
Maintain the surrounding landscape
It’s a good idea to plant and maintain the shrubs on the ground cover near your system. This helps to do two things – offer aesthetic appeal in covering the site and provide protection against weaker plants around the system which may be exposed to leaking waste. Choose easily maintained, strong and resilient grasses or small shrubbery because they are best at handling the environment and the presence of wastewater. They’ll act as a buffer to contain any leakages in cases of overflow.
Never turn off the power supply to your system
Septic tank systems and treatment systems need continuous and consistent power to operate. If the supply to power is interrupted, the entire waste collection process will be thrown out of alignment. You may need to consider installing supplemental power or backup generator to make sure that your system is never without power.
Don’t allow harmful agents into the system
This includes any solvents, bleaching agents, antibacterial products, or solid materials. This applies to a range of everyday household items like most cleaning materials, paint, petroleum and any strong alkaline or acid. These kinds of products will negatively affect the bacteria or treatments in the system.
Why it’s important to use licensed experts?
Your system has to be installed, cleaned and maintained by a licensed plumber or drainer in South Australia. Using an inexperienced installer or cleaner when it comes to a septic tank can lead to disastrous and even dangerous consequences. Septic tanks are complex systems that can safely treat waste on your property, and the costs involved to repair an installation that was done improperly can be expensive. Make sure to take the time to find someone adequately qualified.
Here at Riverland Tank and Drain, we are septic tank cleaners determined to get it right, first time, every time. Whether you need experts to handle commercial septic systems or residential ones, we are licensed for both and have done so in the greater Riverland area for 30 years. Choose us to handle overflow and a range of tank and drain services in Barmera, Loxton, Renmark, Glossop, Berri, Monash, Loveday, Winkie and Cobdogla and the surrounding suburbs. Use a professional who can help assess the severity of any septic tank-related situation and develop a solution for the required services. Call us on 08 8102 0998.