A New Year's To-Do List For Your Septic Tank

The new year is the perfect time to tackle household chores that are often overlooked—including taking care of your septic system. Whether you've been procrastinating or simply don’t know where to start, here’s your actionable New Year’s to-do list to help your septic tank stay in top condition.

Start with a Professional Check-Up Before anything else, get your septic system checked by a professional. Think of it like a wellness check for your home. A certified septic technician will assess the condition of your tank, pipes, and drain field, identifying small issues that could snowball into big problems.

From tree roots invading your pipes to cracks that might lead to leaks, getting an expert opinion early can save you from expensive repairs. Make this a regular part of your home’s health routine.

Give It a Good Pump

Nobody likes dealing with messy septic tank issues, and the easiest way to avoid those is by scheduling a tank pumping. When your tank gets too full, waste backs up into your pipes, creating expensive messes in your yard—and worse, your home.

Depending on the size of your tank and household usage, you should have it pumped every 3 to 5 years. Starting the year with a fresh, clean tank can help you avoid costly repairs down the road.

Take Care of Your Drain Field

Your septic system’s drain field does heavy lifting, so it deserves your attention. If your drain field gets overloaded, it can cause water to back up, which leads to waste seeping into your yard. Not a pleasant thought, right? Keep your drain field in top shape by ensuring that the soil doesn’t become oversaturated.

Be mindful of water use—spread out laundry loads throughout the week and check that your fixtures are working efficiently. Also, avoid parking over the drain field. Heavy vehicles or equipment can compact the soil, disrupting the system’s natural filtration.

Keep What Goes Down the Drain in Check

Here’s the hard truth: not everything should be flushed down your toilet or sink. This year, take control of what ends up in your septic system. Grease, wipes, and chemicals all clog up your septic pipes and disrupt the bacteria that help break down waste. Keep the following out of your septic tank:

● Wipes (even those that say “flushable”)

● Paper towels, tissues, or sanitary products

● Oils and grease

● Harsh chemicals and cleaners.

With just a few simple habit changes, you'll keep your septic system running like a dream.

Keep Your Eyes Peeled for Warning Signs

Early detection is everything. Slow drains, gurgling noises, foul odors near your septic tank, or wet spots on your lawn are your system’s way of sending up red flags. The sooner you spot these signs, the sooner you can act. Don’t wait for a nasty backup to remind you—addressing issues early can save you a headache.

At Arkie Rogers Septic Services, we are here to keep your septic system in top condition all year long. Call us today at 207-892-9126 to schedule your inspection, pumping, and more. Let's make sure your system stays healthy in 2025!

Signs Your Septic System Needs Attention

 

Your septic system is an essential component of your home’s plumbing system. When functioning properly, it silently manages waste, keeping your property safe and sanitary. But when things go wrong, the consequences can be unpleasant and costly. Identifying the early signs of septic system issues can save you from expensive repairs and potential health hazards.

 

Here are a few signs that your septic system needs attention.

Slow Drains and Backups

When water begins to drain slowly from your sinks, showers, or toilets, it’s a sign that something may be amiss with your septic system. This issue often starts subtly, with drains taking longer than usual to clear.

 

Slow drains are usually a symptom of a clog or blockage in the pipes leading to the septic tank. The buildup of waste can obstruct the normal flow of wastewater, causing it to linger in your pipes longer.

Lush, Green Grass over the Septic Field

While a green lawn is usually a sign of healthy grass, an overly lush and vibrant patch directly above your septic field can indicate a problem. This is because the grass in this area may be getting extra nutrients from sewage leaking from the septic system.

 

When your septic system is functioning correctly, it contains and processes waste without allowing it to seep into the surrounding soil. However, if there’s a leak or the system is overburdened, the excess moisture and nutrients can escape, fertilizing the grass above.

Standing Water or Wet Spots

Unexplained puddles or wet spots in your yard, especially near the septic tank or drain field, often signal a problem. These moist areas may indicate that your septic tank is overflowing or the drain field cannot absorb wastewater properly. When your septic system works properly, it processes and distributes waste efficiently without impacting your yard.

 

However, when something goes wrong, you may notice areas of your yard that are consistently damp or waterlogged, regardless of the weather. These wet spots can lead to unpleasant odors, attract pests, and make parts of your yard unusable. More importantly, they signal that your septic system is not properly managing waste, which could lead to more severe issues.

Gurgling Sounds in Pipes

Strange noises from your pipes can be unsettling, especially when unsure what’s causing them. Gurgling sounds in your pipes, particularly after flushing a toilet or running water, can indicate that your septic system is struggling to keep up. These noises often occur when there’s a blockage in the pipes or when the septic tank is full.

 

The gurgling sounds are caused by air bubbles created by waste not moving through the system as it should. While the occasional gurgle might not seem like a big deal, you should not ignore consistent noises. They’re often an early warning sign that your system needs maintenance or repairs.

Sewage Backup

If raw sewage starts backing up into your drains, toilets, or sinks, it indicates that your system is blocked. This can occur for several reasons, including a full septic tank, a major pipe blockage, or a drain field failure. Not only is a sewage backup extremely unpleasant and unsanitary, but it can also cause significant damage to your property, including water damage, mold growth, and contamination of your home’s interior.

 

 

 

If you notice any warning signs, it’s time to take action. At Arkie Rogers Septic Service, Inc., we help you resolve any issues with your septic system. Call us at 207-892-9126 today to schedule a comprehensive inspection and ensure your septic system is in top condition.

Arkie Rogers - Keeping A Sense Of Community

Arkie Rogers has been serving the Windham, Sebago Lake area for over 50 years.

 

People do business where they feel welcome and get the best value for their money. Businesses like Arkie Rogers, that have been in operation for a long period of time have invested much of their life savings in their business and have an interest in the long-term health of their community. Local businesses play a vital role in the community, creating what we call the trickle-down effect. Local businesses hire local contractors, local accountants, local consultants, local advertising, local attorneys, local florists, and even employ local people. When you do business with a local company you are creating a prosperous community in which you live. Local retailers can sell products that are generated by local people, such as a local restaurant or store selling a local breweries beer, or a local farmer’s produce, or a local florist’s flowers.  Get the picture? Businesses in the same community can benefit from each other as well as local people.

 

The success of local business really depends on people that patronize that business. Sometimes our perception of a local business is not always accurate when we continually hear corporate chains blast daily media ads. Smaller businesses can’t always compete with larger national companies with huge advertising budgets and must count on word of mouth, local search and social media to promote their companies. Local patrons are so important to smaller companies and it is great that local consumers are looking for the products and services they buy to be closer to home than ever before. Consumers are becoming more focused on quality, convenience, and dependability, therefore shopping local.

 

We encourage consumers to not always be consumed with looking for a bargain, more important is that you consider quality, dependability, honesty, and supporting your local community when making a buying decision. If you need service ask yourself, will the business be available next week, next month or even next year? Doing business locally can be more convenient, cost-effective, and attractive, give your local businesses an opportunity to serve you.

 

Supporting a local business matters!

 

 

How To Help Prevent Septic System Failure

Read these tips to learn how you can help prevent septic system failure.

Septic systems are usually effective for an average of 15 to 25 years even if you do regular maintenance. Regular maintenance to your septic system can prolong pre-mature system failure. Be sure to consult with a professional Septic Service Company like Arkie Rogers to save time and money on maintaining your septic system.

If you want to help reduce the chances of septic tank failure you should have an inspection done to check for signs of sludge buildup and be sure the baffles are working. Of-course regular tank pumping is necessary, usually 2-3 years. Tank pumping is different for every family and is dependent on the number of people living in the home and number of months the home is occupied. Never put grease in the drain and preferably do not use a garbage disposal for disposal of your food. Your toilets and sinks should be cleaned with environmental-friendly products and avoid toxic cleaning products. Another great way to prolong the life of your septic system is to conserve water by using low flow toilets, washers, shower heads and install water saving devices.

Always keep the site of the septic system and leach fields clear of shrubs, trees, driveways and do not park vehicles on top of them.

Helpful Tips On How To Care For Your Septic System

The most common question is how often does my septic system need to be pumped?

How often your septic tank needs to be pumped depends on how many people live in your house.  On average if you have a 1,000-gallon tank and 8 people live in your house then it should be pumped every year. But on average pumping should be every 3 to 5 years.

How do I know when my septic tank needs to be pumped?

If you find areas of pooling water on your lawn after a heavy rain or a big puddle around the drain field of your septic system this is a sign that your septic tank may need to be pumped. Another sign that your septic system needs pumping might be if, all-of-a-sudden, the drains in your home start draining slow. If you start to notice an odor, then your septic system could need pumping. Your lawn could become overly healthy, green if there is a backup of your septic system.

How do I know if my septic tank is failing?

Your septic tank could have problems if the toilets, sinks, drains are backing up or draining very slowly. If there is a gurgling sound in the plumbing, you could have septic problems. Smell, standing water or wet near the septic tank or drain field means you could have septic problems. Bright green grass over the tank or drain field could also mean septic problems. If there are high levels of nitrates or coliform bacteria in well water your septic system could need attention.

How often should my septic system be inspected?

It is recommended that your septic system be checked annually. It is best to catch any early onset of a septic system problem. Like anything, catching a small problem is cheaper to fix than waiting until after it has become a bigger problem.

Tips on disposal of waste.

Your drain is not a trash can! To help the life of your septic system keep these tips in mind:

Never flush anything except human waste and toilet paper. Everything that goes down your drain goes into your septic system and affects how well your system works and lasts.

This means do not flush cooking grease, cigarette butts, diapers, wipes, feminine hygiene products, condoms, dental floss, coffee grinds, paper towels, cat litter, or any type of chemicals pharmaceuticals. Avoid chemical drain openers, instead use a drain snake and hot water.