Tips from The Plumbing Experts: Caring for Septic Risers

The Plumbing Experts in Greenville, SC is your go-to company for all things septic, plumbing, and commercial plumbing. We’ve installed, pumped, repaired and replaced many septic systems around Anderson and Easley and are here to provide tips to keep your system running smoothly for years to come.

Septic Risers

When you look out to your front or backyard, do you ever see green or blue caps at the surface? Those are likely the lids to your septic tank. While most septic tanks these days have risers due to requirements, you might not see the caps to your tank because the septic system is underground, which is a sign that your system could be 10+ years old. But what do these risers do? Septic tank risers are designed to help contractors and homeowners locate the septic tank in case of repair or pumping and they provide a gap to filter out any unwanted material that could be leaking into your septic.

Septic risers have come a long way in the past decade. While older risers were made of concrete or clay, making them more susceptible to leaks, current risers are made of hard fiberglass and are sealed with rubber and screws. Occasionally, you want to check that your risers are in good condition to make sure there are no leaks or groundwater getting into your septic. It’s common for risers to have small leaks or cracks after a frost or if you run your lawnmower over them too many times. With that in mind, we recommend pulling the cap off your riser and running hose water on the grass surrounding your riser to check for leaks. If it leaks, you should call a septic plumber.

Cleaning Your Risers

Not only should you check your septic riser for leaks, but you should take the cap off and look for a filter in your riser once a year for cleaning. Most risers are 12-24” in height and have a filter between the septic system and the cap. This filter is designed to catch anything that could be falling or leaking into your system. To ensure you aren’t catching any debris or acidic water in your septic, we advise Anderson, Easley and Greenville homeowners to spray your filter once per year with clean water (no soap!) to wash away any material and then place the filter back into the riser and seal your lid.

Call the Plumbing Experts in Greenville

Are you unsure whether your septic system has been pumped recently? Do you need help locating your filter or placing a new filter in your system? Contact The Plumbing Experts for all your septic rank repair needs. We’re standing by ready to help you today!