Septic systems make homes sanitary by efficiently removing wastewater. Your home has either a septic tank with a leach field or is connected to municipal sewage services. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, more than 20% of U.S. households have individual septic systems. Whether you have an individual system for your home or are connected to municipal septic services, common mistakes could cause it to malfunction. Here are the top mistakes that homeowners make with their septic systems.

Flushing the Wrong Items

Possibly the most common mistake that people make is trying to flush items that should not be flushed. Baby wipes and cotton swabs are two common examples. Baby wipes don't break up when wet, and cotton swabs can get caught and catch other items that plug the plumbing or sewage line. Kitty litter is another substance that people commonly flush, but it can clog pipes and septic lines. Clumping litter in particular is bad for septic systems and never should be flushed.

Putting the Wrong Things in the Garbage Disposal

You have to be careful about what you put into the garbage disposal. Some items, like eggshells and coffee grounds, collect inside the disposal and clog them. Grease will also build up inside the plumbing and septic line and cause partial or complete blockage. Potentially worse items are bleach and other cleaning products that kill bacteria. Septic systems rely on certain types of bacteria that break down waste and make it easier for the waste to enter a septic tank or be processed at a municipal waste facility, but not if the cleaning products kill the beneficial bacteria.

Not Maintaining the Septic Tank or Drain Field

Septic tanks and drain fields are easy to forget about until something goes wrong and you have to hire septic services to fix a sewage backup. If you have a septic tank, then you should have it pumped every other year or so to ensure it doesn't fill up and possibly overflow, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Your drain field also should be inspected and maintained to prevent clogging and sewage backups. Tree roots are especially harmful to sewage systems because the roots will penetrate cracks and small openings to get to the waste inside the system.

You can call or visit us to learn more about how our septic services can help keep your system in optimal condition and fix any problems that might arise. We want to ensure your septic tank is well maintained all year long. Reach out to our team at Anytime Septic Solutions today!