If you have a septic tank at your home or place of business, there are a few things you shoud know about it. You don’t need to be a septic tank expert by any means.

But by understanding a few basic details, you can ensure your septic tank is running properly so you avoid any serious messes down the road.

Here’s a simple checklist of the things you should know about your septic tank.

Where It’s Located

First and foremost, you should know where your septic tank is. It’s going to be outside somewhere, but where? This is important for a few reasons. One, when someone comes out to look at your tank, you can lead them directly to it so time isn’t wasted.

Two, you want to keep the area above your septic tank cleared. Don’t build structures or park vehicles above your septic tank.

And finally, it will prevent you from sticking anything into the ground that might break or damage your septic tank.

How it Works

You don’t need to know all of the science and engineering. Just the basics. Wastewater is fed into the tank through a pipe from your house. This is then stored in the tank where heavy waste sinks to the bottom. Meanwhile, lighter particles float to the top, leaving the remaining water in the middle where it is drained out of the tank.

There’s also natural bacteria in the tank that breaks down waste and harmful compounds.

This doesn’t completely clean the water, but it does filter out the worst contaminants, leaving them behind in the tank.

What Not to Flush

There are certain things you should let down your toilet or sink, or it can cause damage to your septic tank and your plumbing pipes, causing all sorts of problems. This includes paper towels, feminine hygiene products, harsh cleaning chemicals, cigarette butts, coffee grounds, and essentially anything else that’s not water or toilet paper.

Signs of Problems

You should also know how to spot the early warning signs of septic tank problems. This could include pipes draining slowly, strange smells around your tank or coming out of your drains, soft soil above your septic tank, and more.

If you have even a slight feeling there might be a problem with your septic tank, we recommend contacting a professional and having them take a look. It’s better to have a false alarm with a septic tank than a serious problem that’s not handled right away.

When it Was Last Inspected and Cleaned

Septic tanks should be regularly inspected, cleaned, and maintained. As the owner of a septic tank, you should know when the last time was that your tank was inspected and flushed. The best way to ensure it’s taken care of properly is to keep it on a regular maintenance schedule.

For septic system cleaning in Dayton, OH and beyond, contact AAA Wastewater. We’ll keep your tank up and running.