If you’ve recently moved from the city to the country, you may be unfamiliar with septic tanks. Septics are common in rural areas and take the place of city sewer systems. Fortunately, septic tanks are easy to care for, and here are four ways to avoid problems.

1. Have Your Septic Pumped on Schedule

Septic tanks need to be pumped every 3-5 years depending on family size. The more people living in the home, the more frequent your tank should be pumped. Be sure to schedule your pumping and septic tank maintenance Orlando FL ahead of time and you’ll avoid serious issues.

2. Keep Your Drains Clear

A septic tank is extremely efficient, but you must keep your drains clear if you want to keep it running smoothly. Never wash food down your drain or flush anything other than paper down the toilet. Septic systems can become clogged very easily which contributes to most problems.

3. Ease Up on Water Usage

If you have a lot of laundry, space it out over a few days instead of doing it all at once. When a septic system is overwhelmed with water, it doesn’t give solids a chance to settle and clogs occur. Try doing less laundry each week and also avoid excessively long showers.

4. Don’t Use Chemicals

Adding chemicals to a septic tank may sound like a great idea, but it’s actually the worst thing you can do. Inside a septic tank, there are many different types of bacteria that work hard to break down solids. When you add chemicals to your tank, it kills this bacteria making a clog likely.

If you’ve never lived in a home with a septic tank, there are rules to follow. By having your tank pumped on schedule and keeping drains clear, you’ll see how easy a septic is to maintain.