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The common guidance for a typical household is every three to five years, but the real interval depends on tank size, how many people live in the house, and how much water and solids go down the drain. A small tank serving a full house fills far faster than a large tank serving two people. If you don't know when yours was last done, that's usually reason enough to have it checked.

Slow drains throughout the house, gurgling from toilets or tubs, sewage odors indoors or near the tank, and standing water or unusually lush, spongy grass over the tank or leach field. Backups at multiple fixtures at once point to the main line or the tank rather than one clogged fixture. Any of these is worth a call before it gets worse.

Standard homeowners policies generally do not cover a septic system that fails from age, wear, or lack of maintenance. Sudden accidental damage is sometimes covered, and some insurers sell separate endorsements for service lines or underground equipment. It depends entirely on your policy, so check with your own insurer — we can't speak to your coverage.

Wipes (including ones labeled flushable), paper towels, feminine products, cat litter, cooking grease, coffee grounds, paint, and harsh chemicals or large volumes of bleach. Wipes and grease are the two biggest causes of avoidable clogs. Garbage disposals add a lot of solids too, which shortens the time between pump-outs.

The D-box sits between the tank and the leach field and splits the outgoing effluent evenly among the field's trenches. If it settles out of level, cracks, or fills with solids, the flow can concentrate in one trench and overload it while the rest of the field goes unused. It's a small component that protects the most expensive part of the system.

If your tank lids are buried under the lawn, a riser brings the opening up to grade so future pumping and inspections don't require digging each time. It's a common add-on once a tank has been located and uncovered, and it saves time and yard damage on every visit afterward.

No — free project estimates are offered. Describe the situation and the property and we'll come back to you with a number for your specific system.

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Nate's Septic works in New Ipswich, NH and surrounding towns. If you're not sure whether you're in range, call and ask.