What are the signs that a septic tank is not working properly?

In peak condition, a septic tank should only discharge clean water to the soakaway area which will normally drain away to the local water table. If this area shows signs of excessive vegetative growth or is waterlogged and may have a noticable bad odour with visual signs of solid waste, it is a sign that the septic tank is discharging solid waste matter to the soakaway area and is therefore in need of treatment. If the solid deposits and odours are excessive, it may be necessary to have the tank pumped out before starting SepClean treatment which will then minimise the situation in the future.

Are there any substances that I should avoid introducing to the septic tank system?

Excessive harsh detergents and bleaches can slow or stop the action of the natural digestive enzymes in the tank. this will lead eventually to solid waste overflowing and bad odours. You should also avoid putting poisons, motor oil, spirits, thinners, grease, solvents, strong acids or alkalis and paper based products which do not dissolve easily such as disposable nappies, sanitary towels etc. The use of cleaning chemicals which are septic tank compatible will help here such as superClean and BioBleach.

How often do I need to pump my septic tank?

The answer to this depends on the volume of use and the types of waste introduced into the system. The tank will require pumping much less frequently if the microbiological digestive enzyme action within the tank is maintained at peak efficiency. SepClean is designed to add millions of new live enzymes to assist this action. A typical tank may need pumping every 3 – 5 years but we are aware of examples which have pumping cycles far in excess of this.

Are waste disposal units harmful to the septic tank?

Excessive introduction of difficult to break down solids may affect the efficiency of the septic tank. Reasonable judgement should be used when introducing solid waste in this way.