No one likes to think about their septic system until it’s giving them problems. Perhaps you are hoping to sell your home, or the county is planning an inspection. Suddenly, there are unexpected problems, additional costs and perhaps delays. It all seems so random, but the fact is, most septic headaches can be prevented with regular maintenance.
What Routine Maintenance Is Really Like
Septic maintenance need not be complicated. All you must do is schedule a service call with a professional to have your tank pumped every three to five years, maintain service records and pay attention to signs of trouble. If you have sluggish drains, or your toilet is making gurgling sounds, for example, that’s your system raising a red flag. These may seem insignificant at first, but they are often early signs of larger problems.
Inspections Don’t Have to Be Scary
People dread septic inspections for two reasons. They believe that septic inspectors will find something that’s wrong, and they have no idea how much it will cost to have it fixed. Sometimes, inspectors do find problems. But they are not there to catch you being lax about everything. They’re there to make certain your system is secure and operational.
If your system hasn’t been pumped in a decade, or your drain field is flooded and smelling terrible, that is going to be a problem. But if you’ve been maintaining your system along the way and fixing things as they break down, the inspection may be smooth sailing. Inspectors can tell whether a system has been well-maintained or neglected.
It’s Cheaper Than You Think
Others neglect maintenance because they believe it’s too costly. Ironically, these same people can end up paying thousands to find fixes or replacements. A basic pumping service may cost a few hundred dollars, but a new septic system can run tens of thousands. And if a bad inspection holds up the sale of your home or leads to additional county paperwork, there’s even more stress.
Maintenance isn’t only more affordable, but it also puts you at ease. It makes each inspection feel slightly less gut-wrenching because you know, without a doubt, that you did your absolute best to keep things running properly.
Protect Your Yard, Wallet and Peace of Mind
It’s always easier to ignore whatever you can’t see, especially if something is hidden beneath the ground. However, as your septic system is crucial for your daily comfort, ignoring it until something smells off or backs up into the house is a choice that never works out. On the other hand, maintaining it frequently helps you keep your home cleaner, your costs lower and your stress at bay. Nobody wants a surprise during inspection season. A bit of effort all year long can go a long way toward preventing the sort of mess that would otherwise leave you scrambling.
If your septic tank could talk, it wouldn’t ask for much, just a bit of attention every now and again. Give it that, and it will return the favor by keeping your plumbing system functioning optimally. If you have not scheduled a septic system inspection, call Straight Flush Septic, and we will do our utmost to make sure the plumbing in your Winston-Salem, NC home is in top shape.
