Your septic tank is a sensitive tool and system that needs to be taken care of to function properly. To take care of your septic tank, you need to mind what you're flushing down your plumbing. Caring for your septic tank will increase its life length and will keep you from having to deal with plumbing issues that a malfunctioning septic tank can cause. To care for your septic tank properly, there are a few things you should think about.

Kitchen sink

One of the most important things to think about is what you let down the kitchen sink. Food waste can be flushed down the pipes as long as there are no unnatural materials mixed with it, such as plastic or aluminium. This might, however, lead to you having to remove solids from your septic tank more often than what you originally would. What you should be careful with, however, is to flush too much grease down the sink. Grease, fats, and oils that get flushed down the sink can cause the bacterial breakdown in the septic tank to fail or not function as intended. To spare your septic tank from these materials, you should get a bucket to keep in your kitchen where you let grease run off plates and kitchen supplies before you're washing the dishes.

Clogs

If you're pipes get clogged, this can also affect your septic tank negatively depending on what methods you use to get rid of it. Ammonia, chlorine, and other clog solvers can end up in the septic tank and completely ruin the bacterial breakdown that is going on inside the tank. This will mean that you have to pump the tank out and start over with new bacteria. Consult a plumber if you get a clog somewhere in your plumbing.

Pumping

Pumping your septic tank is something that needs to be done before it can overflow. That's why you need to keep an eye on the levels of fluids inside the tank. When you do need to pump it, and you're the owner of a septic tank with a built in tank pump, make sure that you also clean the tank out afterwards. You need to flush it out with water. Don't use any detergents and don't remove all the solids that have gathered in the bottom of the tank to keep the bacteria thriving. Be extra careful the next few days after the tank pump has done its business, as the things you flush down the septic tank will build the basis for a completely new system. For more information, visit http://www.slaterpumpsmelbourne.com.au.