THE SCOOP ON POOP or THE CARE AND FEEDING OF THE SEPTIC TANK
Often when people buy second homes or relocate to the island, they discover private septic tanks for the very first time. If you came here from an inland municipality, which most of us did, you never had to deal with septic tank maintenance and had no clue how to begin.
I frequently stand beside an open septic tank with a buyer who has never seen one before and now is hearing that his soon to be new home has septic tank issues. The septic inspection has revealed problems and we’re there to get the "scoop." Fortunately, most remedies are relatively inexpensive and we have some good companies in our area to deal with them. Often having the tank pumped is all that is necessary. The cost for that is usually less than $200. A septic tank inspection is an important part of the due diligence process when buying a home.
To help avoid future problems start now doing the things that will give you more years of maintenance free septic service.
If you have a septic tank, it is recommended that you NOT have a garbage disposal. However, if you do have one, be very selective in what you put in the disposal. Never put bones, grease, egg shells or coffee grounds in the garbage disposal or any drain leading to the septic tank. Never put handiwipes (even though they may say they are “flush-able”) or feminine care products in the disposal or toilet.
If you’ve never had your septic tank pumped out or if you can’t remember the last time, you should consider calling a reputable septic tank company to check it out and recommend a regular schedule for pumping. Different septic tanks, the amount of usage and other factors will determine what that schedule should be. Just like every other component of your home, your septic tank requires care and maintenance.
Don’t let the septic tank issue scare you. Get educated, do the right things to add life to your system, find out who the experts are and enjoy life on the island.
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