Septic Maintenance Checklist
Simple habits that reduce system stress, prevent avoidable issues, and help providers diagnose problems faster.
Weekly / monthly habits
- Spread laundry loads across multiple days (avoid water spikes).
- Fix leaky fixtures quickly to prevent constant load on the system.
- Keep grease/solids out of drains (prevents avoidable buildup).
- Watch for early signs: slow drains, gurgling, odors.
Do / Don’t
Do
- Know where your tank and drain field are located.
- Keep vehicles off the drain field (avoid soil compaction).
- Track pump/inspection dates.
- Reduce water use if symptoms start.
Don’t
- Don’t flush wipes or non-dissolving materials.
- Don’t rely on chemicals to fix recurring symptoms.
- Don’t ignore yard saturation after storms near the lake.
- Don’t “test” symptoms by running lots of water.
Record template
Copy/paste this into Notes:
Last pump: ____
Last inspection: ____
Notes/symptoms: ____