A septic tank is the only way to dispose of waste when you don't have access to a municipal sewer system.

Septic systems can be valuable assets, or they can become a homeowner's worst nightmare. The key to keeping your septic system working is to keep the system healthy.

Here are three simple things that you can do to help preserve the health of your septic system in the future.

1. Conserve Water

Watching the amount of water that is used in your home can do more than just bolster the environment. Water conservation is also an important tool you can use to help better maintain the health of your septic system.

Having too much water inside your septic tank poses a number of problems. The excess water can cause blockages or lead to septic overflows. Using excessive amounts of water in your home will also cause your septic tank to fill up faster than it should. You will need to schedule more frequent pump-outs to keep your septic tank working properly if you aren't wise with your water consumption.

Think about installing low-flow fixtures and potentially re-routing the water waste from your dishwasher or washing machine to your garden instead of your septic system. Conserving water will help your septic system function efficiently and reduce your monthly water bills.

2. Use Septic-Safe Cleaners

Once waste enters into your septic tank, it is separated into three distinct layers. The top layer is a scum layer, which is all the waste that is less dense than water. Effluent makes up the middle layer in a septic tank. Effluent is essentially liquid waste that is filtered through the tank and into the drainfield for disposal. All solid wastes sink to the bottom of the septic tank, making up the third layer.

You can liken your septic tank to a cafeteria for bacteria. Bacteria work to decompose the solid wastes that are inside your septic tank. Doing anything to upset the balance of bacteria in your tank can cause serious performance problems.

The household cleaners that you use should all be septic-safe. This means that they contain no bleach, chlorine, or other antibacterial agents. Using the wrong cleaning products could kill off the helpful bacteria in your septic tank, causing the tank to overfill.

3. Schedule Routine Pump-Outs

You should never wait until you start to experience problems with your septic system to schedule a pump-out. Your septic professional can help you evaluate your septic system to determine how often the tank should be cleaned out to maintain maximum performance.

Many factors will come into play when establishing a pump-out schedule. These factors include the size of your home, the number of plumbing fixtures in your home, the size of your septic tank, and the number of people in your family.

Since each septic system is unique, there is no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to how often you should clean out your tank. Experts suggest that you try to schedule a pump-out at least once every three to five years.

Letting your tank get too full could cause solid waste to leak into your drainfield. Solid waste can clog up the perforated pipes in the drainfield, eliminating any filtration ability the drainfield has to treat effluent waste.

It costs a whole lot more to replace a clogged drainfield than it does to pump out your septic tank, so work with your septic technician to create a pump-out schedule that you will stick to over time.

Problems with your septic system can be frustrating. You can prevent a lot of the inconveniences caused by a malfunctioning septic system by taking action now to maintain the health of your septic system.