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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.

We’ve explained how deep-rooted plants can damage a septic tank from the outside, but plenty of things can ruin it from the inside, too. For example, flushing bulky items (like paper towels, diapers, and wipes) can clog your septic tank. Cooking oil, grease, and household chemicals can also harm your system. And since a new septic system costs between $3,460 and $11,450, it’s worth following these guidelines.

Yes—septic tank systems are superior to cesspools in every conceivable way. If you’re not able to connect your home to a greater sewage network, a septic tank system and a drain field are great for responsibly disposing of waste. It’s also cheaper to pump a septic tank, easier to find a local septic tank professional than those who work with cesspools, and better for the environment.

Although cesspits may be necessary depending on your main sewage system access or nearby soil quality, they carry a few drawbacks. Cesspools require regular emptying and have relatively high maintenance and pumping costs. Certain areas also disallow the use of cesspools and may require you to cover the cost of existing cesspools to be converted into septic tanks.