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There are a few signs that indicate a failing drain field. For instance, if your septic tank starts requiring more pumping than normal, your drain field might be failing. Other signs to watch for include poor drainage after rain, standing water or sewage over the septic system, a strong septic smell outside, new and healthy grass growing over the drain field, and plumbing backups in your sinks, bathtubs, or toilets.

The easiest thing you can do to prolong the life of your septic system is to adopt septic-safe practices. This includes not flushing non-biodegradable items, chemicals, or excessive grease down drains and scheduling regular septic tank pumping to prevent buildup. It’s also important to fix plumbing leaks promptly and to practice water conservation to avoid overloading the system. To maintain your drain field, avoid heavy vehicle traffic and plant shallow-rooted vegetation in the area. Most importantly, invest in routine inspections and maintenance to detect and address issues early.

Most well pump pressure switches have a factory setting of 30 to 50 PSI. There’s some flexibility with this if you’d like a lower or higher water pressure, but remember that it should sit 2 to 3 PSI above your well tank’s general pressure setting.

The inside of your pressure switch cover will usually indicate minimum and maximum settings—going below and above the numbers might damage your well pump.

Never use Drano on blocked toilets. You can end up with a ghastly leak because the chemicals eat away at the glue that holds pipes together just as effectively as they do with clogs. Drano is known for being particularly rough on toilets, which is why some plumbers actually dislike the product.