Your septic tank is a necessary part of your home. Without it, you'd have raw sewage running out and into your yard without anywhere to go. If your tank is full, it's going to overflow and backup into your home. Maintaining your septic tank properly is one way to keep your tank from backing up into your home, as well as preventing other problems with your system. Read on for ways to maintain your septic tank.

Use Only Septic Safe Items In Your Drains

If you have a septic tank, you're going to have a sensitive system. You need to use items in your drains that are safe for septic tanks and that are made for sensitive systems as well. Don't use thick 2-ply toilet paper in your system that cannot breakdown. You should use one-ply toilet paper only, or RV toilet paper that breaks down easily and won't clog up your septic tank system. You should also only us cleaners that are safe for septic systems and also only use soaps that are not going to clog your system either. Bar soaps can be hard on your system, but you can use body wash that can breakdown easier than bar soap.

Don't Use Harsh Chemicals

Harsh chemicals such as drain cleaners can be hard on your system, as they can breakdown the good bacteria in your septic tank that helps to eat up the solid waste in your system. If you don't have any good bacteria, your solids are going to build up and before you know it you'll have a full tank. Use cleaners that help preserve the good bacteria in your system. If you do have a clog, you should use a plunger or a drain snake to clean out the clog.

Check Your Septic Tank Often

Take a walk out in your leach field often and inspect your tank to see how full it actually is. If your leach field is flooding, or you smell odors such as your septic tank is leaking, you should consult a septic tank inspection company to take a look at your system to be sure you don't have a problem on your hands.

If you aren't maintaining your septic tank, you could have a problem such as a backup in your home, or a flood in your yard. Either way, it could be a disaster. Visit a professional septic tank company website, like http://sullivanseptic.net, to help you with your septic tank maintenance, or to have it inspected.