4 Steps to Preventing Septic Backflow and Flooding

Your septic system is one of the hidden heroes of your home. It holds, treats and processes hundreds of gallons of waste weekly. While many septic systems will function well for years or even decades under less-than-ideal circumstances, it's also true that neglect can cause unfortunate incidents such as septic backflow.

You can greatly minimize the possibility of such an incident by simply following these four steps.

Septic Tank Setup — Conyers, GA — Bowen’s Septic & Environmental

1. Set up Your Septic System for Success

When you install a septic system or move into a house that has a preexisting one, make sure it has a high enough capacity for not only your family but any guests you plan to invite over regularly. This will help reduce the possibility of backflow caused by incorrect sizing.

If you're having a new system installed, you should make sure to put it in an area where you don't plan to grow anything other than grass, and in an area well away from any parking areas. Your contractor can help you choose a place that's ideal in these ways, as well as in drainage capability and other important factors.

If you're moving into a home that already has a system, you should have a thorough septic system inspection by a trusted professional so you can be sure you're starting out with a well-kept, capable treatment system.

Whether you're buying or installing, though, you should make sure there are no trees in the area (or if there are, have them removed) because tree roots can get into the pipes and cause clogs that create backups. You should also check that the ground above the septic drainage area is slightly rounded in a little mound shape so that it can use gravity to direct excess rainwater away from the drain field.

2. Install a Preventive Mechanism

A backflow valve is a must. Even if you keep your system well-maintained, having a physical device to protect your home from contamination is still helpful not only to prevent worries but also to serve as an added precaution. If your septic system starts getting old, invaded by tree roots or clogged because of something your toddler flushed down the toilet, this added measure could be a lifesaver.

3. Keep your Septic System Healthy

Keeping that toddler from flushing things down the toilet is one way to keep the system free of clogs. In fact, make sure the entire family knows not to flush items that could hurt the system (or put them down any other drain). Some items that should never go down the drain to the septic tank include:

Trash in general
Chemicals (other than the amount used to clean the toilet bowl)
Any type of paper other than bathroom tissue
Baby wipes, flushable wipes or other wet wipes
Food waste (coffee grounds, grease or scraps)
Medications (prescription or otherwise)
Flossers, floss, toothbrushes and other hygiene products

In addition to keeping an eye on what goes down the drain, you'll need to get your tank pumped regularly and inspected annually for maximum health. Also, keep stormwater away from the septic drain field.

4. Handle the System Gently When the Weather Is Extra Wet

Finally, you simply need to be aware of the intrinsic limitations of a system that uses the ground for water treatment. Because of this aspect of the system, it may treat water more slowly when the ground is wet, or seem to stop completely for a while if there's a particularly bad rainstorm that totally saturates the ground.

When this happens, try to give your septic system the day off as much as possible. Consider taking shorter showers (and placing a bucket in the shower to catch some of the water), flushing the toilet less often and holding off on baths and laundry until the weather improves.

These tips should help you keep your septic system healthy and safe and greatly reduce any possibility of experiencing sewage backups. For more information on how to keep your septic system healthy and free from clogs and backups, feel free to contact Bowen's Septic & Environmental today.

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