Septic system maintenance
General guidance on keeping an aerobic system running well: what gets inspected, and what you can do at home between visits.
Why maintenance matters
An aerobic system has mechanical parts: an aerator, a pump and spray heads, plus treatment components that clean the water before it goes back to your yard. Parts that run every day need regular attention, and small problems are easier to deal with when they are caught early.
Periodic inspections keep that attention on a schedule. If you have a new system or want to know how often inspections happen, start with the aerobic maintenance questions in our FAQ. For ongoing coverage, see our Maintenance Contracts page.
What a maintenance visit checks
- The aerator
- It supplies the air your system's treatment depends on, so it is checked to make sure it is working.
- The pump and spray heads
- The pump moves treated water out, and the spray heads put it on the ground. Both are looked over.
- Treatment components
- The parts that treat the water are inspected as part of the periodic visit.
- Effluent quality
- The water leaving the system is checked, which tells you whether the treatment is doing its job.
Homeowner care tips
- Mind what you flushOnly toilet paper and human waste belong in the toilet. Wipes, feminine products and other trash can clog parts and upset the treatment process.
- Keep pool chlorine tablets outSwimming pool chlorine tablets are a concern for septic disinfection. Use only the disinfectant your system is made for. The chlorine tablet question is answered in our FAQ.
- Don't drive or build over itKeep vehicles and structures off any part of the system.
- Keep inspections on scheduleRoutine visits are easier to keep up with under a maintenance contract.
Common questions
- How often is an aerobic system inspected?
- Under a maintenance contract, inspections follow a set schedule. The details are in the FAQ.
- What about maintenance on a new system?
- A new aerobic system has its own initial service arrangement. Our FAQ explains how it works.
- Where do I find ongoing coverage?
- See Maintenance Contracts.
Questions about your system?
Call Brighteyes Septic in Dayton at (936) 258-3080, or send a request online.