If you are unable to select a load size, run only full loads of laundry. By selecting the proper load size, you will reduce water waste. Washing small loads of laundry on your washing machine’s large-load cycle wastes water and energy. Faucet aerators and high-efficiency showerheads.įaucet aerators, high-efficiency showerheads, and shower flow restrictors help reduce water use and the volume of water entering your septic system.Replacing existing toilets with high-efficiency models is an easy way to reduce the amount of household water entering your septic system. Many older homes have toilets with 3.5- to 5-gallon reservoirs, while newer, high-efficiency toilets use 1.6 gallons of water or less per flush. Toilet use accounts for 25 to 30 percent of household water use. Efficient water use improves the operation of a septic system and reduces the risk of malfunctions.ĮPA’s WaterSense program has many simple ways to save water and water-efficient products. The more water a household conserves, the less water enters the septic system. Just a single leaky or running toilet can add as much as 200 gallons of water per day.Īll the water a household sends down its pipes ends up in its septic system. The average indoor water use in a typical single-family home can be as much as 70 gallons per individual, per day. The National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association's (NOWRA) directory of septic system professionals makes it easy to find service professionals in your area. If other repairs are recommended, hire a repair person soon. The service provider should note repairs completed and the tank condition in your system’s service report. To keep track of when to pump out your tank, write down the sludge and scum levels found by the septic professional. Your tank should be pumped if the bottom of the scum layer is within six inches of the bottom of the outlet, if the top of the sludge layer is within 12 inches of the outlet, or if more than 25% of the liquid depth is sludge and scum. Your septic tank includes a T-shaped outlet which prevents sludge and scum from leaving the tank and traveling into the drainfield area. See the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association's Guide and Record Keeping Folder example. Keep the maintenance records on work performed on your septic system. When you call a septic service provider, he or she will inspect for leaks and examine the scum and sludge layers in your septic tank. Here is what you need to know for a service provider These are the major factors that influence how often to pump your septic system: A service contract is important since alternative systems have mechanized parts. Alternative systems with electrical float switches, pumps, or mechanical components should be inspected more often, generally once a year. Household septic tanks are typically pumped every three to five years. The average household septic system should be inspected at least every three years by a septic service professional. Upkeep comes down to four key elements:įor more about septic system maintenance, see answers to frequent questions on caring for septic systems. Septic system maintenance is not complicated, and it does not need to be expensive.
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