Are you a home buyer and new to on-site septic systems? Are
you asking yourself: How do I take care
of a septic system? What do I do? What
do I NOT do? What might go wrong?
My current house was my first experience with an on site
septic system. I’d always just lived in a city where sewers were the norm.
Trust me, I was asking these questions!
There is a lot of information out there, thanks to the
Internet. Recently, a company called
FloHawks Plumbing & Septic came
and spoke to my office about septic systems in general and gave some great
information about care and maintenance, as well as what to do when selling your
home and the new rules in Thurston County.
Did you know that 5.7 million residents in Washington State
are on septic systems? 80% are in Western Washington and 50% are in the
counties of Clark, King, Kitsap, Pierce, Snohomish and Thurston. So chances
are, if you are buying a home here in Thurston County, you very well may have a
septic system instead of sewer.
FloHawks describe a septic tank as: a large, underground, watertight container.
All of the wastewater from your toilet, bath, kitchen and laundry flows into
the tank. Heavy solids settle to the bottom where bacteria reduce them to sludge
and gasses. Lighter solids such as grease rise to the top and form a scum
layer. Solids that do not decompose remain in the tank. If the solids are not
removed by periodic pumping (every 3-5 years) they will accumulate and
eventually overflow into the drain field, which can cause extensive damage.
As a Broker, I always recommend my Buyers consider being
present when the septic tank of the home they are purchasing is being inspected
and pumped. Typically the company providing the service will explain the
process and answer questions which can be very educational.
A FEW tips provided by Flohawks. The “DO’s”: Inspect your system once each year – through generally
septic tanks need to be pumped every three to five years; practice water
conservation; call a Certified Septic Technical for help when there are
problems. The “DON’Ts”: No vehicles or
heavy traffic over the drainfield; use grass over the drainfield, not
impermeable materials; don’t use drain cleaners, floor cleaners, paint solvents
and other bacteria destroying liquids; don’t use a garbage disposal – it adds
more solids and grease; and
most importantly, “NEVER enter any septic tank”. I’m
including this because it’s on FloHawk’s brochure, but it makes me grin to
think that we really need to spell – this – out….
Bottom line: There is nothing to be afraid of. Just arm yourself with as much information as possible, consult a professional and don't use Charmin toilet tissue (my own observation!)