Hi everyone. We've had our house with septic for about ten years, pump it every few years and have never had problems. But lately I've been reading that pumping alone isn't really maintenance, and that things like filters, risers and drain field checks matter too. Our system is a standard gravity one, nothing fancy. I'm trying to figure out if I'm missing something important. What does real septic system maintenance look like, and is it worth paying for a regular service plan?
You're on the right track, pumping is the main part but not the whole thing. A friend of mine near Lake Stevens set up regular septic system maintenance with Septic Solutions LLC after his drain field started acting up, and it's been worth it for him. Besides pumping, they check the baffles and effluent filter, look at the distribution box and walk the drain field for soggy spots or smells. They also keep records of each visit, which helps a lot if you ever sell the house. For a standard gravity system, the visits are quick and not that expensive. If you don't have an effluent filter, ask about adding one, it's a cheap way to protect the drain field. And keep grease and wipes out of the drains, that's half the battle.
