Protecting a Septic System During Home Renovations

A home renovation project can have undesirable effects on your septic system. However, you can avoid those effects if you know how the septic system works. That way, you can avoid the things that can interfere with its operations. Below are precautions to protect your septic system during renovations.

Don't Flush Things Down the Toilet
A typical renovation project produces considerable debris, but you should not dispose of it down the toilet. Human waste is the only thing that you should flush down the toilet. The septic system design works best on human waste, which it breaks down for safe disposal. Other materials won't degrade in the system. Some waste can even hamper your septic system's performance.

For example, a renovation project might produce inorganic waste, such as:

• Plastic fibers
• Metal slivers
• Glass particles

The bacteria in your septic system won't break down any of this waste. The inorganic waste will accumulate in fill up your septic tank fast.

A renovation project can also produce chemical waste, such as:

• Solvents
• Paint
• Sealants

For one, these chemicals are also not biodegradable. Some of these chemicals might coalesce and block your drain and septic system. The chemicals can also kill the bacteria in your septic system - the septic system needs the bacteria to break down waste.

Maintain Septic Clearances

Your septic system should stay sufficiently far from other structures and trees around your home. In fact, building codes even specify how far the septic system should be from other structures, such as swimming pools, water wells, and building foundations.

You create these risks if you build a structure over or too close to your septic system:

• Septic waste might contaminate nearby water structures, such as wells and swilling pools.
• Septic technicians might struggle to access some parts of the system, such as tanks or lines, if they are under or too close to other structures.
• The other structures, plus the footprint related to their access, can compact the drainfield soil.

For example, septic technicians might struggle to repair or pump your tank if you build a patio over it. Maintain the septic clearance even after the renovation project.

Watch Where You Excavate

Take care so that you don't damage your septic system if your renovation project involves excavation. For example, you might damage the septic tank, septic pipes, or septic pump if you dig over their locations. You might also degrade the septic drainfield if you excavate it. The excavation might remove the porous materials like gravel that it needs to absorb waste.

Don't Operate Heavy Machinery Over the Septic System

Expect heavy machinery to operate in or around your home during the renovation project. For example:

• You may need vehicles to deliver materials to your home
• Graders may help you flatten the ground for your pavement
• Vehicles may bring workers to your home

Ensure this heavy machinery doesn't drive over your septic system. Otherwise, they might:

• Crush the septic drain lines and trigger blockages that might be difficult to diagnose and fix
• Compact the soil over the septic drainfield and interfere with its absorption efficiency
• Damage the septic tank cover and increase the risk of injuries to your household members or visitors
• Damage the septic tank, depending on its material

Ensure you and your workers know where the septic tank, drainfield, tank, and other accessories are. That way, you can avoid them throughout the process.

Don't forget that you may need to upgrade your system if you add some bedrooms to your house. Additional bedrooms mean more people, which translates to more waste. Southern Sanitary Systems Inc can help you service your septic system and minimize the effects of renovation on the system. Contact us for a consultation on all your septic system needs.