Office Hours

Mon - Fri 8 AM to 5 PM

2920 Heller St

Oak Harbor, WA 98277

Do’s & Dont’s Septic Services

Know Your Septic!

Your septic system is your own personal wastewater treatment plant that collects and disperses all household wastewater generated from places like bathrooms, kitchen drains and laundry.
An important part of your septic system is in the septic tank, where all the solids and liquids that flow out of your house, lland into your septic tank. These solids break down over time due to types of bacteria and other microorganisms. These little guys work hard to keep your system healthy and it is important to keep them in mind when things go down your drain.

Do:

  • Properly dispose of fats, grease and oils (FOG) in the trash
  • Monitor water usage – the more water efficient the better!
  • Have your system inspected annually
    Keep cars and plants away from your septic tanks, they can cause cracks and leaks!
  • Have it pumped every 3-5 years
  • Repair leaky plumbing – this can lead to extra unnecessary water in your tank and can overwhelm your septic system

Don’t:

  • Flush Paper Towels
  • Dispose of diapers or feminine products
  • Flush Wipes
  • Fats, Oils or Grease – FOG
  • Use Epsom Salts or harsh chemicals – these kill the bacteria!
  • Drive over your drainfield, this can damage your drain field and cause the effluent to back up into the tanks and eventually your house!
  • Of course the list of things not to put down your drains are endless
    Just remember all the little microbes working to break down all of your #2!

A good rule of thumb is that any excessive use of toilet paper or a large occupancy of the home which puts a large load on your system will most often result in more frequent pumping and septic services than what is normally expected.

Rental type properties such as Air BnB’s that have very large groups of people for extended periods of time can be known to need frequent pumping and septic services, some of them as soon as every 3 – 6 months, depending on the design of the septic system.

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