A typically working septic system and designed appropriately is free from odor and must remain for decades with no maintenance except regular pumping of the septic tank. A properly designed septic tank either fiberglass or plastic should last for about 5 decades.

Potential problems

- Too much throwing away of grease and oils can trigger blockage to the inlet drains. They are frequently hard to decompose. In addition, it brings odor problems and complexity when emptying the tank.

- Washing out cigarette butts, sanitary napkins, cotton buds, tissues and other non-biodegradable products can cause clogging to the septic tank. Those stuffs should be disposed in a proper way.

- Using of garbage disposers for clearance of trash food might lead to a speedy overload of the septic system. A garbage disposers or waste disposal unit is electrical devices mounted under the kitchen sink that grate and tear food waste into tiny pieces small enough to pass through the pipes going down to the tank.

- Chemicals like pesticides, herbicides and others with concentrated bleach components or lye components can cause damage to the septic tank. Also, add to list those inorganic things like solvents and paints.

- Roots from grown shrubs or trees on top of the tank or the drain field can cause rupture or breakage to the tank.

- Covering the drain field with an impermeable surface like driveway will bring serious effect to the efficiency of the system and a possible breakage to the septic tank.

- Unobserved septic tank may lead to vital injury, harm or sometimes even death to kids playing around the system.

- Unnecessary water coming in to the system may cause overload and failure. Proper regulations on the plumbing leaks will help the system's function.

- Floods from massive amount of rainfall can stop the system from its normal operation.

Helpful tips

- As cited above, there are chemicals causing damage to the septic system like detergents and other household cleaners. The best method is to prevent utilizing caustic cleaners. Ask the specialist to find out what additives maybe allowed to use.

- As stated non-biodegradable items such as flushed cigarette butts, sanitary napkins or sometimes hair from shower drains that make their way to the inlet T-pipe then to the tank can cause clogging. To avoid such things, I suggest install a filter to prevent those things from entering the system.

- Septic system cover safety is an important factor especially to the concerns of the children. A regular inspection on the cover of the tanks at least twice is important, maybe at the end or beginning of summer and fall. It is also highly suggested that an inspection will undergo after the winter season in cold regions, as we know ice and snow can cause rupture even to a new cover.

- There are lots of chemicals that are considered treat to your septic tanks. Best thing is to let the re-accumulation of the natural bacteria that eats the toxic waste.

Always remember an accurately maintained system can carry on for decades or if possible even a generation.

At UK Septic Tanks we supply and install septic tank systems and Septic tank conversion units all over England and Scotland.