How to Keep Your Septic System Running Smoothly

Don’t allow heavy vehicles or machinery (cars, bulldozers, boats, RVs) to park or drive on top of your septic tank or drainfield; the weight can damage the underground structures.

Don’t ever try to open the lid of your septic tank (or the cap to an access riser) yourself. Doing so could expose you to dangerous sewer gases like hydrogen sulfide and methane. Only a qualified (and well-equipped) professional should open the tank, inspect it, and pump it. Again, this is not a DIY situation.

Don’t put additives in your septic system, despite what you may have heard or read—even “natural” biological additives like baking soda, vinegar, and active yeast. They can damage or kill the naturally occurring anaerobic bacteria that break down waste, and this can result in untreated sewage being expelled from your system.