Your septic tank will efficiently manage your waste water, however, like all things it requires a bit of maintenance to ensure it continues to do so. A lack of maintenance will increase the likelihood of damage to the tank and surrounding environment and it could potentially shorten the tanks lifespan, all of which can be expensive issues to fix. So here are our Top Tips for Septic Tank Maintenance:

Keep an eye on your septic tank and have it regularly pumped to keep it working optimally.

-Carry out regular inspections and keep records to spot faults early. If you are in doubt about whether septic tank is working properly, West Wales Waste will be happy to advise.

-Have the tank de-sludged regularly. The more waste your tank holds, the less efficiently it will run. This should be done ideally every six months but there are factors to consider which will influence this. Check out our guide ‘How to know when your septic tank needs emptying‘, how much it will cost to empty your septic tank will vary too.

Properly dispose of waste and use biologically friendly cleaning products.

-Don’t allow commercial chemicals, medicines or hygiene products to enter the system

-Don’t use large quantities of biological cleaning products or bleach

-Bacteria in the tank is vital to the biological process and can be harmed if you dispose of anything other than human waste, toilet paper and a small amount of biologically friendly cleaning products.

Think about how much water you are using.

-Overloading your septic tank system with too much water can the septic tank to become weakened, damaged or blocked.

-Fix leaky taps or toilets, install energy efficient toilets and shower heads, and only put that washing machine or dishwasher on when they’re full. Try and space your use of the washing machine and dishwasher use out over a few days or use a small load settings for small loads.

-You could also try and spend less time in the shower, think before you flush and use toilet tissue which breaks down easily when wet too!

Protect Your Drain Field.

-The drain field of a septic tank is as important as the tank itself because the tank works as a system rather than a storage facility for your waste water.

-Prevent backlogs and overflows by not parking on your drain field and avoiding planting trees to ensure roots don’t interrupt the flow of the waste water.  Talk to a septic tank professional if you are unsure as to how far away would be an appropriate distance.

-Try to keep other drainage systems away from your drain field. The location of roof and rainwater drains and sump pumps should be thought about to prevent it slowing or stopping the wastewater treatment process.

West Wales Waste offer septic tank pumping services. If you would to find out more about our septic tank services, please click here to fill out our contact form.

Septic tanks are an effective way to store liquid waste, but when they fill up, they have to be maintained and emptied to prevent any damage to the environment around them.

Understanding the signs your tank is full is extremely important in order to prevent costly issues.

The answer to ‘how to know when your septic tank needs emptying’ will be indicated by the following signs, and should be acted on as soon as possible:

Seeing puddles around your tank:

This is a good indication that the solids within your tank have blocked up the system and is forcing the liquid waste to the surface. The problem needs to be investigated as soon as possible and emptied swiftly if need be.

Unpleasant smells:

One of the clearest signs is an increase in the amount your tank will smell. You can envision the kinds of scents to expect and they will become worse/more noticeable when the cesspit needs to be emptied.

This will usually indicate that your system is due an empty.

Slow working drainage:

It’s not uncommon for us to be called out to a blocked drain to discover a full septic tank is the cause. The best way to know if you have either a septic tank issue or a blocked drain is to identify the number of drains affected by slow draining fluids. If only one drain is affected, then this is an indication that you have a small blockage. But, if all of your drains seem to have the issue, then most likely you have a full septic tank.

Greener grass:

As much as it’s great to see a nice lawn, lush green grass around your septic tank could spell trouble. You will most likely see the grass greener in patches rather as the septic tank will leak in various directions.

Drains backing up:

The biggest headache of them all is when your drainage backs up. This will leave you with a very unpleasant clean up and a costly bill on disinfectant and cleaning materials. The tank will usually affect the drains at the lowest parts of the property first, but it is obviously good to identify the issues before it gets this way.

Keeping tabs on your septic tank is important as overflows will become a regular issue if the problems aren’t addressed. It is also important to maintain contact with your local waste management company in order to keep a record of how often they have emptied your tank.

If you would like to choose West Wales Waste as your provider, please feel free to contact us at any time or fill in one of our instant quote forms.

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