Septic System Do’s & Don’ts

Essential Tips for Every Calgary Area Homeowner with a Septic System

If you’re having trouble maintaining your septic system effectively, you should read the following dos and do nots mentioned below. These basic but effective tips, if followed, are sufficient to ensure a well-functioning septic system for years on end.

Feel free to contact us in case you have a question or want some professional aid to clean and maintain your drains.

dos and don'ts for a Healthy Septic System

Do's for a Healthy Septic System

  • Have your septic tank pumped and inspected every 2 to 3 years by a qualified professional, don't wait for problems to appear.
  • Use septic-safe toilet paper. Single-ply or products labelled "septic safe" break down much faster than multi-ply or "ultra soft" varieties.
  • Keep your drain field area grassed but make sure you cut the grass short to prevent erosion by promoting evaporation.
  • Keep an eye out for settlements that might direct water onto the drain field.
  • Make sure you know the location of the drain field and septic tank. Always have a handy sketch of your septic system and maintenance plan by your side.
  • Use water-saving toilets instead of the regular ones to decrease the water usage per flush.
  • If you have any unused and leftover medications, ensure to return them to your dispensary. Also, human excrement from anyone on medication will adversely affect the overall efficiency and performance of your septic tank, resulting in excess pumping needs.
  • As soon as you notice any signs of system failure, decreased efficiency or frequent issues with your septic system, reach out to a septic service specialist to avoid any major damage.
  • Dispose of grease with the regular garbage only.
  • Be careful while disposing of the solids; you should only flush out the wastewater and toilet paper, not baby wipes.
  • Keep checking your water softener to ensure that it doesn’t cycle water daily. An excessive amount of clean water should not go to your draining field.

Don'ts — What to Keep Out of Your Septic System

  • Don't use "flushable" wipes. Tthey do not break down in septic systems and are one of the leading causes of pump blockages and premature tank issues.
  • Don't permit any vehicle to drive or park over the drain field area.
  • Do not plant any trees or plants around your drain field area or near your septic tank lid; the plant’s roots can easily clog pipes & can limit access when inspecting or cleaning out your septic tank.
  • Don't use a garburator (garbage disposal). Food waste dramatically increases the rate of solids accumulation in your tank and can cut your pump-out interval nearly in half.
  • Do not cover your drain field with any hard surface like brick, asphalt and patio stones and don’t build any structure over it.
  • Do not plant or build anything over your septic tank lid, including wishing wells, decks, or flowers.
  • Do not water the lawn over your drain field excessively.
  • Do not install automatic lawn sprinklers in or nearby your drain field.
  • Do not drain downspouts, basement sump pumps (groundwater) into the septic system.
  • Do not dispose of any non-biodegradable or plastic items such as paper towels, sanitary tampons, disposable diapers, condoms, baby wipes, and cigarette butts into your septic system.
  • Do not let cooking grease go down your septic drains as it solidifies and blocks drainage pipes.
  • Do not ever put gasoline, oil, solvents, paint thinners, insect killers, or weed killers down the drain. These items severely damage your drainage system and are likely to cause harm to the water supply of your entire locality.

Know Your Septic Tank Better

Having a better understanding of your septic tank can help you maintain it well. The septic tank is the most vital element of a functional septic system containing pumps, alarms and sand filters. It takes regular maintenance to prevent the solids that sediment and eventually deteriorate your septic tank and bring its overall performance down.

Once these solids flow over to the liquid side of your tank, they can plug up or even permanently damage the septic pump, which is why it’s wise to call a professional if you face any such issue. To prevent such build-up of solids, you should religiously follow the do’s and don’t compiled above.

We’re here to help you with all sorts of septic system problems; contact us and tell us what we can do for you.

Know your Do’s & Don’ts for a septic system. Then you don't need repairs

When in Doubt, Call a Professional

If you notice slow drains, unusual odours, or it’s been more than 2–3 years since your last service, don’t wait. Bow Valley Septic offers residential septic tank cleaning, septic system maintenance, and emergency services across Calgary and the surrounding area.

Call us at 403-278-3453 (Calgary) or 403-936-5777 (Langdon).