The septic system is arguably one of the most important systems in your home, and just like any other system, your septic tank will require regular maintenance to ensure it is in pristine working condition. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, a qualified professional should inspect your septic tank every three years. However, some factors could warrant more frequent inspections.

Investing in a septic tank maintenance contract will ensure your septic tank is always maintained. It will also allow you to receive services whenever you want without worrying about making out-of-pocket payments; typically, your contract requires you to make a one-off payment that covers you for a given period. Another notable benefit of having a maintenance contract is that in case of an emergency, your contractor will prioritize serving you who has a contract over a client without a contract. If you are not convinced yet, here are a few more reasons to invest in a maintenance contract.

1. Reliability

Even though you adhere to the recommended routine septic maintenance schedules, your tank is bound to break down. At one point, you may be forced to contact your local plumber for emergency plumbing. Having a septic maintenance contract will ensure you have access to professional plumbers who will be readily available to serve you during your emergency. Getting the same emergency services might be more difficult and expensive if you haven’t invested in a septic tank maintenance contract.

What signs indicate your septic tank needs an emergency service? The truth is, it’s not always easy to determine when your septic tank needs an emergency service, however, there are a few signs that are a clear indication you need to get in touch with your contractor. Such signs include slow drains, foul odors, water pooling, septic alarm going off, sewage backing up, and high nitrate concentration. You must immediately contact a professional if you notice any of these signs. The good thing is emergency services are available around the clock, and because you already have a septic tank maintenance contract, you don’t have to wait for operating hours to get help.

2. Scheduling

According to DHEC, you should schedule a septic maintenance check every three to five years; of course, the frequency could change depending on the number of people using the tank and the size of the tank. A septic tank maintenance contract outlines the services you will receive, the frequency, and the quality of work done. This, in turn, gives you peace of mind when scheduling any maintenance plumbing services since the contract already states when routine maintenance should occur, you won’t have to remind your contractor.

This gives you an opportunity to enjoy scheduled maintenance services without being required to call your service provider to remind them. The truth is, it’s easy to overlook your septic tank maintenance, especially when everything is working smoothly. A septic tank maintenance contract will help ensure you’re always on schedule, mitigating potential problems. The best part of having a septic tank maintenance contract is that routine maintenance will help reduce the chances of your septic tank breaking, ensuring the system is in perfect working condition at all times.

3. Preventive Care

The septic system is one of the critical systems within a home. Overlooking the maintenance of this system could result in costly and devastating problems in the long run. A septic tank maintenance contract ensures you are up to date with your maintenance, allowing you to identify and mitigate problems before they escalate.

Other than ensuring you’re up to date with your routine maintenance, a contract will allow a contractor to recommend upgrades that’ll help lengthen the life of your septic tank. For example, installing efficient appliances in your toilets that use less water, washing clothes properly, and investing in shower heads that use less water. It’s also important to ensure you understand what shouldn’t go down your drains; for example, feminine hygiene products, cigarette butts, dental floss, and grease could result in clogged pumps.

4. Saves Time and Money

If you decide to DIY your septic tank maintenance services, be prepared to set aside a significant amount of time to see the project through to the end. Remember, you aren’t professionally trained to handle such services. As much as you may have an idea of what needs to be fixed, you’ll have to spend so much time learning how to fix the problem. The worst part is that it will not only mess up your personal schedule, but your solution to the problem likely won’t be durable.

Contracting a plumbing company is the smarter option as it will allow you to concentrate on other pressing issues. A septic tank maintenance contract will also help you save money. If you decide to go the DIY route, you must buy or rent some equipment to help get the job done. The equipment you acquire may strain you more financially than when you use a septic tank maintenance contract for your services. The contract will ensure you get reasonably fair prices for your maintenance services and may also help cover any additional costs that could arise due to damage to your property.

5. Raises the Value of Your Home

One of the key considerations for anyone hoping to buy a property is the state of the septic tank. As a property owner, having a septic tank maintenance contract will help to ensure your tank is in proper working condition during the sale of the property. A well-maintained septic tank will be a great selling point and will also give you more bargaining power when trying to get the best deal on your property. According to Erik Christian Johnson, most homeowners in most states must have schedule professional septic services before selling a property.

These inspections will help identify problems that are not visible to the eyes and mitigate them before they escalate. When such septic tank problems are left unresolved, it could result in expensive repairs in the long run. Inspections will help address all issues before the sale to avoid future disagreements or legal concerns with the buyer.

6. Mitigate Environmental Damage

According to Mr. Rooter Plumbing, a poorly maintained septic tank can potentially harm the local environment. Typically, wastewater from different households is dispersed below the ground’s surface. It can contaminate drinking water and groundwater from rivers, wells, streams, lakes, and ponds when not adequately treated. The contaminated water negatively affects the ecosystem as it could result in the death of fish, wildlife, and even plants.

In most cases, the septic tank is located in the yard. If the septic tank starts to malfunction due to poor maintenance, the wastewater from the toilet, bathroom, and kitchen sinks may become too much for the tank to handle. As a result, the wastewater may start to back up to your yard, resulting in additional costs in lawn maintenance. Ensuring you have a septic tank maintenance contract is not only a personal responsibility, but it’s also important in ensuring environmental responsibility.

7. It’s Safer and Healthier

Septic tanks are typically breeding grounds for bacteria. An ill-maintained septic tank will expose you to bacteria, methane gas, hydrogen sulfide, and high levels of phosphorus and nitrogen in the household wastewater. This exposure will increase the risk of respiratory infections as well as other health complications. Having a septic tank maintenance contract ensures you get professionals to handle all maintenance tasks.

These professionals have undergone the right training to equip them with the skills necessary when handling wastewater to avoid direct contact with the skin. They also have the right gear and equipment to ensure protection and safety when cleaning the septic tank. Hiring professionals will help you avoid health complications. They can also better advise you on the best DIY septic tank maintenance tips if you decide to take on the project on your own.

When the wastewater in a septic tank is insufficiently treated, groundwater may get contaminated resulting in expensive damages. For example, if you get your drinking water from a well in your yard, contaminants from the ill-treated sewage may contaminate the well water, making it unsafe for consumption. You’ll incur additional costs in well pump services to ensure the well water is safe to drink.

8. Allows Proper Waste Disposal

Investing in a septic tank maintenance contract will help ensure proper waste disposal, which will not only help to extend your tank’s longevity but also help create a healthier and more sustainable environment. Improper waste disposal will result in environmental pollution and pose a health hazard to all living organisms. It’s, therefore, important to understand how the septic tank works and all the dos and don’ts when disposing of waste.

The general rule to use when disposing of waste in your septic tank is to never dispose of any non-biodegradable items or chemicals in the septic tanks. This includes paper towels that are advertised as flushable. Such waste could result in clogs and kill the bacteria needed to break down solid waste.

9. It’s a Complex Task

As earlier noted, due to a lack of technical know-how and the complexities involved when maintaining a septic tank, it’s not advisable to DYI these tasks. A contract will help you get qualified professionals with the skills and experience needed to properly maintain your tank. You may not get an accurate picture of a problem on the surface level. For example, a problem such as a blocked sewer line may appear to be an easy, quick fix on the surface. However, more severe underlying issues could have caused the blockage.

It’s, therefore, recommended to seek help from a professional plumbing contractor to ensure the root cause of the problem is mitigated. Sometimes when a sewer line is blocked, it could result from wear and tear of the septic pumps. Attempting to fix such a problem on your own could create an even bigger one. Therefore, to ensure you get a durable solution for your damaged septic system, hiring professionals to replace any damaged pumps is important.

10. To Protect Your Property

A septic tank maintenance contract ensures you get qualified professionals who use the right approaches to protect your property. When hiring local plumbing services, it’s important to ensure you get a contractor who can get the job done effectively and efficiently. One great way to ensure you hire the ‘right’ contractor is by consulting company website reviews.

The reviews from previous clients will help inform your decision on whether to hire a particular contractor. They’ll also give important information such as the contractor’s professionalism, the time it takes them to complete a task and the quality of work you can expect. If you can get past customers’ contacts, note them down so you can reach out to them later and ask as many questions as possible about their first-hand experience. You want to have all the facts before hiring plumbing companies. A qualified contractor will thoroughly inspect your tank for damages including cracks on your lawn that could potentially jeopardize the structural stability of your property.

11. Reduced Odor

Have you ever walked past a yard that had a sewage-like smell? Well, this is one of the indicators of a poorly maintained septic tank. A well-maintained septic tank should easily pass the smell test. Of course, you can’t expect to eliminate the odor completely. However, your contractor should ensure the smell from your tank is minimal or unnoticed.

It’s also important to note that factors such as high temperatures and rainfall may increase the noticeability of the odor. Luckily, having a septic tank maintenance contract ensures access to contractors 24 hours around the clock. Therefore, you can contact your contractor for an emergency service if the smell becomes too intense.

Even with proper maintenance, your septic tank will not last forever; at some point, you may have to invest in a new tank. If you decide to install a septic tank made of concrete material, the tank will serve you for over 50 years, however, if your system includes pumps, you will need to replace the pumps after every 10 to 20 years. At the end of the day, a septic tank maintenance contract will give you access to round-the-clock services from qualified contractors.