Septic System Do's And Don'ts

A septic system in Poughkeepsie will work quietly for decades if it is treated well, and fail early if it is not. The rules are short. Our team put them together from the guidance published by the EPA, the New York State Department of Health and Dutchess County, with the local soil and climate in mind. For septic pumping or a problem with your system, call (845) 345-8063.

Do

• Have the tank pumped on a schedule. The state health department says every two to three years; the EPA says every three to five. See How Often Should You Pump A Septic Tank?
• Have the system inspected at least every three years, and about once a year if it has a pump, floats or other mechanical parts.
• Know where the tank, the lids and the drain field are, and keep a sketch with your pumping records.
• Spread laundry across the week and fix running toilets and dripping taps. The EPA puts average indoor use at about 70 gallons per person per day, and all of it goes to the field.
• Use high-efficiency fixtures; a newer toilet uses 1.6 gallons or less per flush where older models use 3.5 to 5.
• Have an effluent filter cleaned when the tank is serviced.

Our team is fully committed to reliable septic tank pumping in Poughkeepsie.

Don't

• Don't flush anything except human waste and toilet paper. The EPA's never-flush list includes cooking grease, wipes, feminine hygiene products, dental floss, diapers, cigarette butts, coffee grounds, cat litter, paper towels and household chemicals.
• Don't rely on a garbage disposal. The state health department says grinders substantially increase the solids in the tank and the absorption field.
• Don't pour toxic materials into the system; Dutchess County's guidance says the same.
• Don't leave water running or put large quantities of water into the system at once.
• Don't use septic additives in place of pumping. The EPA says additives containing bacteria or chemicals are not recommended.
• Don't open or lean into the tank yourself. The gases inside are dangerous.

We will ensure that your septic service in Poughkeepsie is handled by professionals.

Protecting the drain field

The drain field is the part of the system that cannot be pumped clean, so protect it. Do not park or drive on it; compacted soil drains poorly and, in a Poughkeepsie winter with January lows around 19 degrees, lets frost reach the pipes. Keep roof drains, sump pump discharges and surface runoff directed away from it, especially in spring, when the water table in some Dutchess County soils rises to within a few feet of the surface. Plant grass over it, not trees or shrubs, whose roots damage the pipes. Do not build a shed, patio or pool over it. We are committed to making drain field service in Poughkeepsie simple and reliable.

Before you dig, build or add on

Check where the system is before any project in the yard. In Dutchess County, repairs to an existing single-family septic system are registered with the Department of Behavioral and Community Health on its SAN36 forms, and a change of use such as added bedrooms calls for a New York licensed Professional Engineer. A septic system is designed for a set number of bedrooms, so an addition can mean a larger system. The department's Environmental Services Division can tell you what is on file for your property. Common trouble signs are covered in Common Septic Problems in Poughkeepsie. Our team is focused on high-quality septic service across Poughkeepsie, Hyde Park, Wappingers Falls and Beacon.