Do’s 

Do locate your septic system where it can be serviced easily. In picking a location, ask yourself: Will a truck be able to get into this space to drain the tank?

Do check with local authorities to make sure you are meeting all zoning requirements before installing your system.

Do keep a record of your system, tracking inspections, repairs and any other services over the years. It’s a good practice, and if you want to sell your home it

could well affect the price if you can show the system has been well cared for.

Do read labels of everything that will find its way into the system. If it looks as if it could disrupt the natural anaerobic digestion that takes place in the tank, it probably will. Don’t risk it. There are plenty of safe household cleansing products on the market. Use them instead.

Do keep an eye out for signs that your septic system Is not working properly, such as a soggy or flooded field or muddy water around your tank, indicating cracks or clogs somewhere in the system.

Do watch over and restrict the amount of water than goes into the septic system. You save on your water bills and you avoid the risk of overloading the system.

Do find and develop a relationship with a reliable local company to service your system. Finding the right service provider will pay off over time, saving you from having to make costly repairs because of neglect.

Don’t’s

Don’t plant anything but grass and perhaps some flowers on your septic field and make sure roots from nearby trees are not invading your field. Roots can wreck the piping beneath.

Don’t park cars on your septic field or put anything heavy on it, like a work shed. You could damage the pipes below. Why risk it? 

Don’t allow rain runoff to flow into your septic field. You’ll overwhelm the natural percolation process, possibly allowing untreated effluent to seep into the groundwater.

Do not allow items that ought to go in the trash or be composted to end up in the septic system, and that means everything from food scraps to dental floss and sanitary napkins.

Do not add additives to your septic system to enhance the processing of wastes.  They can do more harm than good. You’re better off pumping out the tank if you want to improve performance.