Septic System Maintenance is crucial for a number of reasons spanning from protecting your homes value, to avoiding unnecessary repair / replacement costs in the future. In this article, I am going to cover a few reasons as to why maintaining your septic system is so important; not only for you, but for those around you as well.

Reason #1  - Save Money

Did you know that the average cost to replace a septic system is around $20,000. The average cost to repair a septic system is $8,000. While the average yearly maintenance costs around $500. By sticking to a maintenance plan created by a professional, you can avoid those massive costs of repairing or even replacing your septic system. Regular maintenance can be things such as: cleaning the effluent filter in your septic tank, ensuring your float switches are working, testing the high water level alarm and checking for any blockages in your pipes. By adding these essential septic system maintenance items, you can prolong the life of your system by a number of years.

Reason #2 - Protect Your Homes Value

This may be a reason that people do not think of often, but it holds very true. If you are going to sell your home, I would say almost each person looking to purchase your home is going to want a septic inspection performed. If you system has been left for years with no maintenance, it is going to be reflected in the inspection report and may even be recommended for a replacement system due to lack of maintenance. As mentioned above, a septic system replacement is on average $20,000, which would be negotiated off the price of your home if has failed. Further more, by retaining the value of your home, it is essential to have a maintenance plan specific for your system and sticking to it year after year.

Reason #3 - Protect the Environment Around You

This reason may just be the most important of all. Failed septic systems can have catastrophic effects on the surrounding environments. Effluent that has risen to the surface can travel to nearby water sources such as streams, lakes and oceans. Effluent that has not been treated correctly can also enter drinking wells, exposing health hazards to you and your community who utilizes that source of water. Professionals can detect and repair systems that are showing signs of failure or have already failed and are now posing a health risk to the surrounding areas.

This list of reasons why maintaining your septic system is of importance is not exhaustive, as there are many more valid reasons to keep maintaining your system. One that sticks with most people is the cost of a new system or a massive repair. Spend the few hundred dollars each year on a regular maintenance and replace your system when needed.