2) Keep it Green - Avoid chemicals that are unfriendly to crucial septic tank bacteria. Many products are available which contain less harmful ingredients that are gentler on your system. Septic systems work best when bacteria life thrives so watch out when using potent chemicals.
3) Check for leaks - A small leak inside your home can destroy a leach field in 6 months. Find and fix leaky toilets etc. promptly.
4) Limit laundry - When doing laundry at home, be sure to do full loads and avoid smaller loads with just a few articles of clothing. Many laundry machines use up to 60 gallons of water per cycle! Even some of todays low consumption units can use up to 35 gallons.
5) Have your Baffles Inspected - Baffles prevent solids from drifting out to your drain field. Broken baffles are easy to repair and are critical to your systems performance. Missing or broken baffles can lead to failed lateral lines within a short period of time.
6) Pump Out Your System Regularly - Most septic tanks require a pump out every few years. Be sure to at least have your entire septic system inspected every two years for sludge levels.
7) Avoid Chemicals - Scale back your use of bleach, solvents and other chemicals that adversely affect bacteria. A healthy septic system needs plenty of bacteria to function properly and lessening your use of harsh chemicals helps balance things out. Bacteria based septic tank treatments will thank you for avoiding these nasty colony killers.
8) Get Rid of Roots - Remove trees with roots capable of infiltrating into your leach bed or lateral lines. Tree roots can shift internal piping and cause severe damage or breakage. Avoid planting anything on your drain field.
9) Grease and Fats - Do not pour grease and fats down your kitchen sink, rather, discard of such material in trash receptacles or any other method allowed in your local area.
10) Shock Your System into Recovery - Adding heavy amounts of healthy bacteria can help restore your failing drain lines by eating away at sludge that is hindering flow. Use a commercial grade product such as Cassion Bio or NT-Max septic tank treatment and follow instructions for continued maintenance.