Septic System Maintenance Advice - Ten Steps in Septic System Care InspectAPedia® -
How to Take Care of A Septic System, 2007 Updated Advice - Ten Simple Septic Maintenance Steps
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How to take care of your septic system - latest septic system maintenance advice for homeowners. With rising septic repair prices and changing weather patterns due at least in part to global warming, septic maintenance is even more critical to keep a healthy home and yard and to avoid costly septic system repairs.
Here is our updated septic system maintenance advice in a nutshell. More in-depth information about onsite wastewater disposal and septic systems is at the septic system links shown at the left on this page.
The original content of this page was produced by the U.S. EPA with edits and addition of references to more in-depth
information resources about onsite waste disposal inspection, diagnosis, repair, maintenance by DJF.
An Expanded Version of The EPA Septic Care Guide - Ten Simple Steps to Septic System Maintenance
Septic drainfield failures or sewage backups may be more common than some people realize.
As the EPS said in the original and brief article on septic system care, "if your septic tank failed, or you know someone whose did,
you are not alone. As a homeowner, you are responsible for maintaining your septic system. Proper septic system maintenance will help keep your system
from failing and will help maintain your investment in your home. Failing septic systems can contaminate the ground
water that you or your neighbors drink and can pollute nearby rivers, lakes and coastal waters." - [Original text, U.S. EPA, editing/additions by author]
People normally seem to forget about their septic tank and drainfield until there are odors, slow drains, sewage backups, or sewage coming up in the yard - signs of a septic system problem. You can greatly extend the life of a septic system by taking
care of it. The most basic step in septic system care is to have the tank pumped on schedule. That's far more important than any magic additives, septic helper, or septic chemicals which usually are of little use and sometimes
are downright harmful.
Here are ten simple steps that the US EPA suggested in order to keep your septic system working, with additional comments added by an experienced septic system inspector.
Locate your septic tank and drainfield. Keep a drawing of these locations in your records. See HOW TO FIND A SEPTIC TANK and also see our video on how to find septic components: Drainfield Location
Have your septic system inspected at least every three years. [Home buyers should be sure to review our Buyer's Guide Home Buyer's Guide to Septic Systems Inspection & Testing -- DF]
Pump your septic tank as needed (generally every three to five years). [Actually, to get this right, see our Tank Pumping Frequency Guide --DF]
Keep other household items, such as dental floss [trivial--DF], feminine hygiene products, condoms, diapers, and cat litter out of your system.
Use water efficiently. [Reducing water usage reduces the load on your drainfield -- DF] See our articles GREYWATER SYSTEMS and TOILET ALTERNATIVES
Plant only grass over and near your septic system. Roots from nearby trees or shrubs might clog and damage the system. Also, do not apply manure or fertilizers over the drainfield. [See our
article, Planting Over Septic Fields for more details --DF]
Keep vehicles and livestock off your septic system. The weight can damage the pipes and tank, and your system may not drain properly under compacted soil. See SEPTIC FIELD FAILURE CAUSES
Keep roof gutters and basement sump pumps from draining into or near your septic system. [And very important, keep surface runoff and subsurface runoff away from the septic tank and drainfield -- DF]
Check with your local health department before using additives. Commercial septic tank additives do not eliminate the need for periodic pumping and can be harmful to your system.
[Actually most septic tank additives don't help, some septic tank additives are highly caustic or toxic and contaminate the environment, some hurt (like yeast), and some or perhaps all (depending on where you live) are illegal to apply - see
Septic System Additives & Chemicals for Septic Tank and Drainfield "Maintenance," "Un-Clogging," or "Repair" - Septic Tank Treatment -- DF]
The U.S. EPA does not regulate septic systems, however, state and local governments do regulate the use of these systems.
Just about any question you could ask about residential septic system care, septic system maintenance, installation, design basics,
tank pumping, field installation, and repair, is at our (DF's)
Septic Systems Home Page. Owners and occupants of homes with
septic systems and people who inspect or service septic systems should also review
Septic System Safety --DJF]
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Additional technical contributors & reference sources for this article are listed below.
Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.
Additives & Chemicals: Septic System Maintenance - Are they even needed? Are they even legal?
Buyer's Guide Home Buyer's Guide to Septic Systems Inspection & Testing - What to Do, Step by Step.
Clogged Drain Diagnosis - is the problem the septic system or the Building drain system?
Don't Flush these things into a septic system: a list of what's ok and what's not ok to put into septic tanks and building drains
SEPTIC FAILURE CAUSES for Septic Systems, septic tanks, septic drainfields, cesspools, drywells, distribution piping
Safety: Septic System, Septic Tank, & Cesspool Safety Warnings for Septic Inspectors, Septic Pumpers, and Homeowners
Tank Pumping Frequency Guide for Septic Tanks: When, How, What to Watch For when pumping or cleaning septic tanks
What is a Septic System An Engineer's View, provided by Lockwood Engineering, & Septic System FAQ's
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
Our recommended books about building design, inspection, and repair, and about indoor environment testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore.
Septic Tank Capacity vs Usage in Daily Gallons of Wastewater Flow, calculating required septic tank size, calculating septic tank volume from size measurements
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The Mold Information Center: What to Do About Mold in Buildings, When and How to Inspect for Mold, Clean Up Mold, or Avoid Mold Problems
Environmental Inspection, Testing, & Diagnosis On-Site IAQ, Gas, Air Testing, Mold Investigation, Sick Building Diagnosis, Lab Services, & Remediation Plan Preparation - indoor air quality testing, problem source determination, supporting lab work, written remediation plan addressing removal of environmental and other hazards and prevention of their recurrence.
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InspectAPedia® Home & Site Map - Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair, & Problem Prevention Advice: In-depth research & advice on diagnosing, testing, correcting, & preventing building defects & indoor environmental hazards. Unbiased information, no conflicts of interest. 
