Maintaining a Septic System
In Massachusetts, if you are not connected to town or city sewer, you have to have a working septic system on your property. If the home you are buying is not on a municipal sewer system but has private sewerage, the system must undergo testing and certification that it is working properly under the guidelines of Title V.
A typical septic system consists of three main components; a septic tank, a distribution box, and a leaching field. Your septic system treats your home’s wastewater by temporarily holding it in the septic tank. In the tank, waste solids separate from the water. The solids are decomposed by bacteria and later removed when you have the tank professionally pumped. A properly functioning septic system does not pollute the groundwater.
Owning a septic system means getting on a schedule of checkups and clean-outs. Pumping a septic tank usually costs $180 to $250, depending on how many gallons the tank holds.
You may not need your septic pumped every year but pump it often. How often it needs to be pumped depends on several factors: tank size, size of household, volume of solids in the wastewater and how much you use the garbage disposal. Always use a licensed septic pumper and hauler to pump your tank.
In my personal case, when I had two teenage daughters living at home, taking the typical 45 minute shower and additional laundry, I had it done annually. When they moved out, we went to an every other year cycle without any problems.
Make sure to keep a maintenance record on your septic system. Make note of things like the date the system was serviced, who serviced it, what work was done, and a description of the system's health.
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