
Don't dispose of household hazardous waste in sinks or toilets.The more water a household conserves, the less water enters the septic system. Leaky toilets can waste as much as 200 gallons each day. Dripping faucets can waste about 2,000 gallons of water each year. The average indoor water use for the typical single-family home is almost 70 gallons per person per day. The weight can damage the pipes and tank, and your system may not drain properly under compacted soil. Keep vehicles and livestock off your septic system.Do not apply manure or fertilizers over the drainfield.Roots from nearby trees and shrubs might clog and damage the system. Plant only grass over and near your septic system.Keep household items, such as dental floss, feminine hygiene products, condoms, diapers, and cat litter, out of the system.Keep surface water away from the drainfield.Keep gutters and basement sump pumps from draining near your septic system's drainfield.InterNACHI's Estimated Life Expectancy Chart Inspecting for Defects in Older Buildings Abandoned wells, cesspools, and septic tanks were commonly used before homes and buildings were connected to public sewer and water systems.built before 1962 were not constructed with three-slot (grounded) receptacles. Homes built before the 1970s may not have been equipped with GFCI protection, which guards against overloads, short circuits, and ground faults.Knob-and-tube (K&T) wiring was used from about 1880 to the 1940s.From about 1965 to 1973, single-strand aluminum wiring was sometimes used.Buried oil tanks were often abandoned and forgotten after homes switched to newer fuel sources.Older homes may suffer thermal losses from single-pane windows, insufficient or compressed insulation, leaking ductwork, and inefficient heaters and other appliances.Asbestos insulation, which can increase the chances of developing lung cancer and mesothelioma, was used in homes between 19.

Lead pipes, too, were used in homes up until the late 1940s, and they may allow lead to leach into drinking water.Homes constructed prior to 1978 may contain lead paint.
