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There are several signs that can indicate your leach lines are broken, failing, or in need of repair, including puddles of water or a marshy consistency to the ground above or around the pipes, slow drainage or plumbing backups inside your home, and noticeable odors or gurgling sounds coming from your leach field. Keeping your septic system properly maintained, including having your septic tank pumped at regular intervals, can help ensure your leach lines stay in good working order for a long time.

Your septic tank naturally contains the beneficial bacteria it needs to function, so you typically don't need to add more. However, if you wish to replenish the bacteria, you can use natural methods. For example, you can add three overripe tomatoes to your garbage disposal or flush 1/4 ounce of active yeast down the toilet every three months. While store-bought septic enzymes and chemicals are available, many experts consider them unnecessary and potentially harmful. The most effective way to maintain a healthy bacteria population is to avoid using chemical drain cleaners, which can kill the good bacteria in your system.

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. 

It depends on several factors, such as the equipment used and the company. However, it takes about 20 to 30 minutes to pump an average-size septic tank of 1,000 gallons. A larger tank that is over 1,500 gallons can take up to an hour to pump as long as there are no complications.