Protect Your Septic Tank with Enzymatic Bio Tabs

For the millions of Americans relying on septic systems to manage household drainage needs, maintaining a healthy setup is crucial to proper operation and longevity. The bacteria in the tank and drain field require an environment free of harsh chemicals and corrosive substances to function and keep the system running efficiently. Many homeowners seek effective, natural ways to care for their septic system.

Building a Balanced Septic Environment

Although the average residential septic system lasts about 25 years, adequate care and maintenance can help it last for years longer. One vital key to longevity is the sustained use of septic tank bio tabs for a healthy bacterial habitat. Septic system failure can lead to many unpleasant circumstances, such as system overload and backups in the yard or inside the house, slow draining in bathtubs and showers, and foul odors in the home or around the drain field.

When wastewater from sinks, toilets, and washing machines leaves the house, it exits into a municipal sewer system or an extensive sewage tank typically found in the backyard for those without sewer services. Inside the septic tank, heavy waste products sink to the bottom while lighter items form a scum level on top while water and other liquids flow away from the tank through the drain field. Helpful bacteria digest and break down the solid particles in the tank.

Many people are surprised by everyday items that can easily spell doom for a robust system environment. Typical food products like soda, leftover medications, and scraps of food from a garbage disposal change the ph of the system, causing problems with efficient operation. Harsh laundry detergents, fabric softeners, antibacterial soaps, and drain cleaners kill massive amounts of beneficial bacteria inside the tank.

Protecting the Septic System

Unbalanced ph and bacteria inside the tank and drain field can interfere with system operations and eventually lead to overflow or other uncomfortable surprises, but taking care of the outside of the apparatus is equally essential to keep things running smoothly. Parking vehicles or storing other heavy items on top of the drain field can compact the soil around the outlet and cause problems with drainage.

Homeowners should also be careful when planting trees or shrubs near the septic tank or drain field. If these plants have the potential to develop a deep root system, those roots could spell trouble in a few years as the plant grows and the roots clog or interfere with drainage.

Setting Your System Up for Long-Term Success

A septic tank provides decades of faithful service by carefully monitoring the level of water leaving the house at any given time and keeping dangerous substances out of the drain. The good news is that a septic system is typically trouble-free with proper routine care. Performing a few additional tasks can ensure that you and your septic tank are in it for the long haul.

Emptying a septic system is labor-intensive, potentially dangerous work, and having a plumbing professional perform an in-depth inspection could save you thousands of dollars down the road. While homeowners with the equipment and know-how can undoubtedly pump out the tank themselves, contacting a professional is wise. While the bacteria in the tank keep the system operational daily, removing heavier waste items from the tank every so often becomes necessary.