If you're like most homeowners, you likely want to do everything you can to keep your newly installed septic system in great shape so you don't have to worry about making costly repairs in the future. Following are a few easy things you can do to keep that septic system in tip-top shape:

Maintain a Few Household Rules

It's important to make sure that your entire household works together to keep your septic system in good shape. For example if the wrong things are flushed down the toilet or washed down the drain, it could clog your system up as time goes on and result in damage that requires expensive repairs. Following are a few rules you can introduce into your household that should help ensure that your new septic system stays in great shape throughout the coming years:

• Only use the garbage disposal when necessary, making sure to remove large pieces of food from the drain beforehand.

• Never flush any paper towels, cotton balls, paper, tampons, or more than a fistful of toilet paper down the toilet at any given time.

• Never remove drain guards when a sink is being used, even if just to brush teeth or get a glass of water to ensure no more debris ends up going down the drains than is necessary.

Post the rules you decide to introduce and maintain on your kitchen or bathroom wall until everyone in the household gets used to following them.

Minimize Water Wastage

Every time water goes down a drain or a toilet is flushed, wear and tear is put on both your plumbing and septic systems. So the less water your household uses, the less wear and tear you'll put on your systems overall which will help reduce the chance of needing repairs in the future. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to minimize the amount of water your household uses overall. Following are a few options to consider:

• Install low-flow aerators and shower heads on all your faucets.

• Limit shower times.

• Schedule washing machine usage.

Hold a family meeting to discuss all of your options and decide as a group which ones to implement into your daily routines.

Invest in Professional Maintenance

One of the most important things you can do to keep your new septic system in optimal shape throughout the coming years is to have it professional maintained on a regular basis. Having an expert inspect and tune-up your septic system once a year will help ensure that everything continually performs properly so you don't have to worry about a detrimental break down or leach field spillage as the system ages. And during each maintenance visit, your service provider will have an opportunity to catch any small problems that be present so they can be corrected before they turn into serious issues.

Talk to a company like LP Murray to learn more.