Septic Repairs vs Septic Replacement

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, “One in five U.S. homes have septic systems. Yours may be one of them. If your septic system is not properly maintained you may be risking your family’s health, hurting the environment, and flushing thousands of dollars down the drain.”

As a homeowner you are responsible for maintaining your septic system. Maintaining your septic system safeguards your investment in your home. Septic Systems should be periodically inspected, and septic tanks should be pump out every few years. If correctly designed, assembled and maintained, septic systems will provide long-term, effective treatment of household wastewater. If a septic system is not carefully maintained, it may need to be replaced or repaired, costing thousands of dollars. A malfunctioning system can contaminate groundwater that might be a source of drinking water. It is also important that when selling a home, the septic system must be in good working order.

Major septic repairs and replacement can be stressful, messy, and expensive. However, small septic repairs are common and necessary for preventing major issues. You may have heard that septic systems have a lifespan. Like any piece of equipment, eventually it will run its course and need replacing. However, you might not know that there are things you can do to extend the lifespan of your septic system. Proper maintenance is one of the best things you can do, including addressing any problems that come up as soon as they arise. Sticking to a regular pumping schedule is important too. You can also ask a septic services company to conduct annual inspections, especially when your system is getting older, so that you can be aware of any problems and the condition of your system at all times.

Knowing the location of your septic system is important for managing maintenance, septic repairs, and protecting the whole septic system. Keep all the information about your system in the same place. These records should include copies of all permits and information about the system, a map or drawing of the system, and detailed records and receipts of all maintenance, pumping, inspection or previous septic repair.

It is also very important to know how to identify septic issues. A malfunctioning or failed septic system is a nuisance for you. It is also a public health hazard. Repairing or replacing a problem system will protect your family, friends and drinking water. Signs of problems include slowly draining sinks and toilets, plumbing backups, and gurgling in the plumbing. In the yard look for damp soil or ponding over the system, grass growing faster and greener, and sewage odor near the system.