Your septic system was designed for your house based upon the square footage, number of bedrooms, and how many people are expected to live in it. If you built and designed your home, you should be all set, but if you bought your home with an existing septic system, it may not meet your needs even if it meets health department standards.

What that means for many homeowners is a septic system that is just a little too small to handle the demands of their household. But that doesn’t necessarily mean replacing the septic system, at least not right away. If you are finding your septic system is undersized, there are things you can do to get through.

Understanding septic systems

The typical septic system for a three-bedroom house of about 2,000 square feet would include a 1000 gallon tank and leach field, but a growing family with growing water demands, including additional water-consuming appliances, can quickly outgrow this system. Unfortunately, the consequences of ignoring a septic system that is not up to the task can be significant.

A septic tank that is undersized can overflow if too much liquid waste and gray water enters it too quickly. The result can be solids getting into the leach field, sewage backups in the home, and stress on the pipes, leading to leaks, and ultimately failure of the tank and the leach field.

What’s a homeowner to do? Start by adjusting.

• Reduce the flow of waste into your tank by installing low-flow toilets, showerheads, and faucets in your home. Also space out use of water-consuming appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers to limit how much gray water enters the tank at any given time.
• Discuss an appropriate pumping schedule with your septic service provider. Septic systems typically are pumped out every two or three years, so your undersized system may operate better if pumped out annually.
• You may be able to increase your tank capacity by installing a larger tank for your existing system or by adding a second smaller tank to work in tandem with your existing tank. Your septic system expert can help you determine if your existing system can accommodate this addition.

New septic system installation in Canton, Ohio

Sometimes the best option for a homeowner is to replace an undersized septic system, especially if increased pumping has become costly. At Len’s Excavating, Septic and Landscape, experts are available to help determine the correct size system for your home and household needs and provide complete installation and testing.

If you believe your septic system may be undersized, or if your existing system needs repairs, contact Len’s Excavating or click here for more information about quality septic services from Len’s.