If you are a homeowner with a septic tank, you likely enjoy the independence of managing your own utility. However, that independence comes with a critical responsibility: maintaining a delicate, living underground ecosystem.

Unlike a municipal city sewer system that routes waste to a massive, industrial treatment plant, your property relies entirely on a localized balance of biology and engineering. When that balance breaks, the consequences are messy, stressful, and entirely preventable.

The easiest way to protect your property and avoid thousands of dollars in emergency structural repairs is simple: stop treating your toilets like trash cans.
Before you press down that handle, make sure none of these Top Septic Offenders are going down with the water.

If there is a public enemy number one for septic systems, it is the modern wet wipe. Despite what the packaging claims, “flushable” wipes do not dissolve like standard toilet paper.

While they might clear your toilet bowl with ease, they remain completely intact as they travel down your lateral lines. Once inside your tank, they float, snag on pipe joints, and bind together with other solids. This creates a dense, impenetrable mass that can entirely back up your home’s plumbing or choke your tank’s inlet baffle.

Tampons, sanitary pads, and plastic applicators should never enter a septic system. By design, these products are engineered to absorb liquid and expand significantly.

When introduced to a septic tank, they do not break down. Instead, they remain buoyant, quickly taking up valuable space in your tank’s scum layer or lodging themselves directly inside your main drain line, causing high-stress plumbing emergencies.

It can be tempting to rinse warm cooking grease down the kitchen sink, but doing so acts as a ticking time bomb for your plumbing.

While grease is a liquid when hot, it rapidly cools and solidifies into a rock-hard substance the moment it hits your pipes and cool tank water. This solid fat smothers the natural, beneficial bacteria your tank requires to digest organic waste. Furthermore, excessive grease floats to the top, rapidly thickening the scum layer and potentially escaping into your drainfield, which can ruin your soil’s soil-absorption capacity permanently.

Your septic tank is not a sterile environment, it is a living bioreactor powered by trillions of good bacteria that actively digest solid waste.

• Dumping harsh chemical agents down the drain acts like a bomb to that biological ecosystem. Keep these toxic substances entirely out of your system:
• Chemical drain openers (which can also corrode your pipes)
• Excessive chlorine bleach
• Oil-based paints, thinners, and solvents
• Chemical pesticides or automotive fluids

If you kill off the bacteria population, solid waste will build up rapidly, causing your system to fail and overflow far ahead of its normal schedule.

An ounce of prevention is worth thousands of dollars in avoidable structural repairs. The simplest way to enforce these rules is to place a designated trash can next to every toilet and sink in your home so guests and family members always have a safe alternative.

Regular maintenance is the key to expanding the lifespan of your septic system. If you notice any of these red flags, your system is already sending an SOS:

• Slow-draining sinks, tubs, or toilets throughout the house
• Gurgling sounds originating from your pipes
• Grown, unusually vibrant green grass directly over your drainfield
• Pooling water or damp, spongy soil in your yard
• Foul, sulfur-like odors around your tank area

Don’t wait for a catastrophic backup to take action. Contact the team at Herring Septic Service today to schedule your next professional inspection, maintenance check, or routine tank pump-out!

The golden rule of septic care is straightforward: if it is not human waste or standard toilet paper, it does not belong in the bowl. Keep a close eye out for these everyday household items that frequently sneak into the system:

• Paper towels and facial tissues: These are woven tightly to stay strong when wet and will not dissolve in a septic tank.
• Dental floss: This non-biodegradable string turns into a literal net inside your tank, wrapping around moving parts like effluent pumps and binding other solids together.
• Cat litter: Even varieties marketed as “septic-safe” rely on clay or organic materials that clump together and settle like concrete at the bottom of your tank.
• Coffee grounds and cigarette butts: These do not decompose and rapidly fill up the sludge layer at the bottom of the tank, reducing its overall capacity.

In this article we will provide you with tips to keep your septic system in good working condition and essential information regarding septic systems.

Whether you are a new homeowner with a septic system or you’ve had one for years, it is important to understand how it works and how to properly maintain it.

• A septic system is an underground wastewater treatment system commonly used in rural and suburban areas.
• It consists of a septic tank and a drainfield (also known as leach field or absorption field).
• The septic tank is designed to separate solid waste from wastewater, allowing bacteria to break down the solids.
• The treated wastewater then flows into the drainfield, where it is further treated by the soil before entering the groundwater.

For more details visit our home page and read the section Understanding a Septic System

• Regular maintenance is crucial to ensure your septic system functions properly and lasts for many years.
• Have your septic tank pumped every 3-5 years or as recommended by a professional. This prevents solids from building up and clogging the system.
• Avoid flushing non-biodegradable items such as wipes, feminine products, or paper towels, as they can cause blockages and damage your system.
• Be mindful of what goes down the drains and toilets. Avoid pouring grease, oils, chemicals, or excessive amounts of cleaning products into the system, as they can disrupt the natural treatment process.

• Familiarize yourself with the signs of a failing septic system to address problems promptly. These signs may include slow draining sinks or toilets, gurgling sounds, foul odors, or standing water around the drain field.
• If you notice any of these signs, it is crucial to contact a professional septic system service provider to assess and repair the issue.

• Be cautious when landscaping around your septic system. Avoid planting trees or shrubs with deep roots near the drainfield, as they can penetrate the system and cause damage.
• Ensure proper grading and drainage to prevent excess water from accumulating around the septic tank or drainfield.

• Schedule regular septic inspections by a professional septic system service provider to detect any issues early on.
• A professional can assess the condition of your septic system, identify potential problems, and provide recommendations for maintenance or repairs.

Remember, a well-maintained septic system can save you money, time, and frustration.  We hope you will use these tips to keep your septic system in good working condition.

At Herring Septic Service, we are not just a septic tank pumping company, we are a full service septic system company. That means we can handle anything from tank pumping, to drain filed installation and repairs, to septic maintenance and inspections. We like to keep our clients informed of the work we do on their system. Read some of our Google reviews below from existing clients.

We’ve debunked the top five most common septic system myths surrounding septic system care and maintenance. Have you ever heard questionable tips and tricks when it comes to taking care of your septic system? We’ll help you stay informed and explain the truth about how to keep your system in tip-top shape.

Say goodbye to pumping your septic tank every few years! This alluring promise is what companies selling septic additives want you to believe. They claim that their secret blend of microbes and enzymes can completely digest sewage, making the need for pumping a thing of the past. But is this too good to be true? Let’s explore the no-pump myth and separate fact from fiction.

Do you find the idea of using an additive in your septic tank tempting? It’s worth considering the risks involved and understanding that these formulas are usually based on hope rather than science. Ignoring the importance of proper pump-outs can lead to the accumulation of indestructible sludge in your tank, which can eventually cause substantial problems. (See image below)

Have you ever wondered what happens to all the amazingly nasty stuff that accumulates at the bottom of a septic tank? Well, get this – additive manufacturer’s would have you believe there’s an additive that can actually break down everything from hair to nail clippings to straight up fat.

We’d tell you they are wrong, and those additives can actually do more harm than good. Regular pump outs are the only way to be sure to rid your tank of the indigestible solids that could eventually clog your system.

Don’t get bogged down with septic tank issues – keep it flowing smoothly with regular pumping! Did you know that having your tank emptied every couple of years is not only the most efficient, but also the most wallet-friendly way to maintain your septic system? Don’t let a backed-up system mess with your lifestyle – give your septic tank the care it needs! This image is a great example of a septic system that has not been properly maintained and as you can see we had to use an excavator to scoop our the sludge.

Did you know that there’s often hope for a clogged septic system even when it seems like the only solution is replacement? With proper maintenance, many systems can be fully restored and avoid the costly and disruptive process installing a new septic tank and system. So before pulling out the bulldozer and calling in the construction crew, consider giving your septic system a little TLC – it could save you a bundle and keep your property looking beautiful too. We can help. Clogs in septic systems can be caused by a variety of factors. Three of the most common culprits include sewage solids that can’t be broken down, slimy biomat growths, and pesky tree roots. The good news is that these issues can often be resolved without having to replace the system. So, if you’re experiencing septic system trouble, don’t fret! There are solutions out there to keep your system running smoothly.

We often can use a process called jetting. This is like pressure washing for your septic system. Jetting is one of the processes that can help keep your system running smoothly.

Unfortunately, the job we did in this image the clog was so bad, the pipes had to be replaced.

It really matters what you put down a drain. Coffee grounds are a NO-NO. They do not break down in the septic system and can seep into the leaching bed. Chemicals such as bleach, disinfectants, solvents, and drain cleaner can kill and diminish beneficial microbes. Eventually, these microbes will replenish themselves over time. So be aware of what you are putting down your drains and flushing down your toilet.

Contrary to popular belief, dead mice don’t contain any special microbes that do the trick. Instead, every flush introduces a fresh batch of beneficial microbes to the system. This myth has been debunked. A dead mouse doesn’t provide your septic system any benefits.

A properly maintained septic system can last decades. On the other hand, we’ve seen septic systems that have only lasted from 5 to 7 years. This is because of lack of proper maintenance. Proper maintenance is having your tank pumped regularly, avoiding putting chemicals and poison down the drain and keeping your leaching bed free mowed, free of debris and roots.

There are many myths about septic systems, these are some of the most common we hear. Like we’ve stated before, maintaining a septic system will ensure your system will function properly for many years.

Call us today with any questions, to have your septic system repaired, or to have your tank pumped. (229) 356-1786