5 Things Every Septic Owner Needs

With home ownership comes maintenance responsibilities.  Taking good care of your septic system can save you thousands of dollars. Neglecting your system can cause damage and costly system failure.  See my list of 5 things every septic owner needs.

A Drain Snake

Drain snake

Don’t kill your system wi-th Drano! Hair clogs happen. Instead of pouring caustic Drano into your plumbing try this super cheap (less than $2 each) and easy drain snake that works in seconds. (Chemicals can actually cause damage to pipes and will kill your septic system) This tool coupled with prevention (see #2 below) will keep you from having to resort to expensive and dangerous remedies.

A Drain Cover

Drain Cover

There are hundreds of different types of drain covers. We have tried several to reduce the guess work for you.  We discovered that we like this flat and wide version best. You can order it here. Honestly, regardless of which kind you purchase your septic will thank you.  It doesn’t matter what you use as long as it keeps hair and other large particles from swirling down your drains and getting clogged.

The Right Toilet Paper

Most people are too dignified to talk about things related to the potty.  However,  as a septic system owner you need to know that there is a right and a wrong kind of toilet paper if you want to keep your system in excellent condition. If you put a piece of your TP in a glass of water, stir it up a bit and let it sit for a few minutes it should dissolve pretty quickly into tiny pieces no larger than a nickel. This is called the TP test. If it stays intact in larger pieces your septic system is going to have a real problem breaking it down. Then the chances of you clogging your toilet are MUCH higher. Check out the results from a test The Art of Doing Stuff did here.

A Pumice Stone

With hard water being the rule and not the exception  there is a constant battle to keep our toilet bowls and sinks free from the dreaded hard water rings. Using harsh chemicals to try and remove them can work but at the cost of damaging the function and life of your septic system. The solution? A simple and cheap pumice stone! A wet pumice stone won’t scratch porcelain but it will easily and effectively remove hard water build up just by rubbing it back and forth across the stain. Try it and let us know what you think!

A Good Septic Inspector

Septic Inspector

Because you now own your very own mini sewage treatment machine you will need to maintain it. Finding a great septic inspector and getting on an inspection rotation is as easy as picking up the phone and calling me. I pride myself on always having the inside knowledge about and great relationships with vendors my clients need. Septic inspectors are #1 on that list! Many of them have a program you can join that puts you on a regular inspection rotation so you don’t have to think about it.  Contact me today so I can help you with your septic needs.  Call or text me at 509.668.2053 to discuss these 5 Things Every Septic Owner Needs.