One of the most commonly asked questions we get here at cloggedsepticsystem.com is in reference to those homeowners who live in more densely populated suburban or urban areas. Septic systems are not widely used. Instead towns and cities tend to have sewer systems and wastewater treatment plants. But as homeowners, we have little recourse when problems begin, and believe me they happen. We have to decide whether or not it makes sense to treat our individual homes or rely on local government to ensure proper treatment.
I know when you put it like that, it seems as though it is a no brainer. And to a certain extent it is. But each home is a bit different and therefore needs certain consideration before jumping to conclusions.
To start off, let us look at the basic question. If we do nothing, and problems occur; backed up plumbing, foul odor, slowing draining tubs, etc., it is our responsibility to pay for the damage caused. The city is not going to step up and help you pay for cleaning and repairs, we can all agree on that. However, we “should” be able to rely on them to deliver the sewer system treatment based upon the area consumption, etc. In order to help you decide, we have formulated a few things for you to consider.
The first thing we always start off with is a simple question. What is it that led you to searching the internet and ultimately finding this article? Was it a general interest in clogged septic or sewer systems? Or, is your home exhibiting a few symptoms that triggered your sudden interest? This can be as simple as a clogged drain, a slow draining bathtub. It may even be foul scents coming from the drain or disposal area. There are too many symptoms to sit here all day and list. What is important is that you have identified it as having to do with your system. Read the 5 mistakes homeowners make with their septic system.
If your home has no symptoms and you have no reason to believe that you are experiencing even the smallest of problems, then you do not need to read on, or treat the home. For those of you, however, that are not here to quench a thirst for sewer system rhetoric and you actually believe you might need a fix, here is some direction you can take.
First and foremost, when it comes to treating your home using a septic treatment and using a sewer treatment are essentially the same thing. The minor differences really don’t mean that much, at least as it pertains to your home. You do not need to consider the size of the overall sewer system. You need only to ensure even treatment throughout your home, your plumbing. Here are some guidelines to make sure you wind up with an effective treatment that can give you peace of mind, and alleviate concerns of scams.
Do not purchase a liquid treatment, or shock. This is a waste of time and money, they are simply not for you. What you want is a granular treatment of some sorts. We recommend starting with a light or medium septic “Shock” treatment. This dosage will rapidly eliminate any existing problems and jump start the on-going maintenance program. The best companies will offer you options that fit your budget and some will even bill and ship your treatment to you monthly. This is nice cause it keeps your initial purchase price down, and serves as a reminder to treat the system. We recommend using at least one monthly treatment as a “drain cleaner” and follow the steps to administering treatment in each sink in the home. This will ensure even treatment of your entire system and set all of your concerns to rest.