Why Is Proper Drain Cleaning So Important For Septic Systems?

Keeping your drains running cleanly and smoothly is the best way to avoid costly water damage or plumbing disasters. While any home benefits from routine drain cleaning, this service is especially crucial if your house uses a septic tank for waste elimination. Problems in your drains can quickly turn into problems with your septic system, leading to far more expensive repairs in the future.

If you've gotten into the habit of ignoring drains that run slowly or occasionally stop entirely, then you're reading the right article. Keep reading to understand why slow drains are a genuine threat to anyone with a septic tank system.

The Essential Elements of Septic System Drainage

When your house uses municipal sewer lines, your responsibility typically ends after your sewer lateral. In other words, drainage problems that make it off your property quickly become someone else's problem. With a septic tank, your waste stays your responsibility from beginning to end. Anything that you flush down your drains is all but guaranteed to remain your problem.

In a typical septic system, four areas may be affected by drainage problems: the house sewer line, the septic tank, the drain field pipes, and the drain field itself. Drain clogs can make their way into almost any part of the system, causing severe blockages. Even worse, contamination in the septic tank can negatively impact the biomass that controls solid waste.

The long-term impacts of drainage problems get even worse for septic systems, however. Clogs that make their way into the tank can cause it to fill much too quickly, ultimately allowing solids to enter into the drainfield. Once this occurs, you may be facing incredibly expensive drainfield repair or replacement costs.

Dealing With Septic Drain Problems Correctly

Because the consequences can be so dire, it's crucial to act whenever one of your home's drains begins to run slowly. Removing a clog is the safest way to clean any drain in a septic system. Snakes are an excellent option for pulling out clogs without pushing debris or grease further into the system. Natural, DIY approaches that can break up a clog are also a good option.

Crucially, you should never use chemical drain cleaners with a septic system. These products can destroy the life that exists in your septic tank, removing its ability to keep solid levels under control effectively. Over the long run, this can lead to a need for more frequent septic tank cleanings and a more significant chance of drain field damage.

If your attempts to restore a slow drain don't seem to be working, then calling in a professional drain cleaning service is the next step. By bringing in a pro, you can get your drains flowing smoothly again without risking damage to your septic tank or system.

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