The importance of maintaining a high level of performance from your sewage treatment system cannot be stressed enough. If your drainage lines are connected to a main sewer, then you don't have to worry too much. However, you need to take special care if you have a septic tank installed below your house/office. How do you go about septic tank maintenance? Gainesville residents leave this task up to experienced companies who have been around for more than a decade! A septic tank is the most effective way of dealing with waste management and disposal. They usually last for 20-30 years depending upon the service it receives. A good sewage treatment system either uses a combination of bacteria and chemicals to get rid of the waste or releases the waste into the ground (through a leech field). In order for the septic tank to do this, one need to be aware of a few servicing tips. * Overload: A septic tank is meant to dispose of waste and nothing else. Try your level best to divert other drain pipes away from the sewage treatment system. * Faulty lids and ports: The inlet drains should be regularly checked for leaks. The same goes for the various ports and lids. If water seeps into your tank on a regular basis it can cause a hydraulic overload. * Pumping: A septic tank needs to be pumped on a regular basis to reduce the building up of unwanted substances. Over a period of time, if your tank has an excess of solid waste then sludge could leak into the drainfield. * Harmful products: Avoid disposing non biodegradable products into your septic tank. This will choke the entire system and cause it to break down at some point of time. Most of the points mentioned here form a major part of a reliable company's service plan. State licensed repair personnel and installers are your best bet when your septic tank is giving trouble. A trustworthy company will only employ such individuals. While searching online for a reputable company try to find one which is affiliated to the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Such a company will provide quick and efficient service. Worried about your septic tank maintenance? Gainesville has a handful of top rated companies. Some have even won Customers' Choice Awards three years in a row! Their customer service number is reachable at any time of the day!