Do you have a septic tank system in your home? If so, you likely know how important it is to maintain and pump your tank regularly. If your pump gets clogged or too full, waste could come back up your drains. You could also flood your drain field, which could lead to a costly system replacement. Proper maintenance starts in your house. By keeping harmful items out of your septic system, you can go a long way towards avoiding serious problems. Here are four items that you should avoid putting into your system at all cost:

Flushable wipes. These moist tissues are becoming an increasingly popular item in bathrooms. If you have young kids, flushable wipes are a must-have item. Many adults use them as a sanitary item, though, even if they don't have kids. While the package may say that they're flushable, it's still best to avoid flushing them if you have a septic system. The problem is that the wipes can take an extremely long time to break down. The more wipes you flush, the more likely it is that the wipes will form a ball that will clog your system. You can avoid this whole problem by simply throwing them in the trash.

Condoms. A condom may seem like a harmless thing to flush because they're not very big. However, they can cause a big problem. Condoms don't break down at all, so they'll stay in solid form in your tank until they drain out into your field. The bigger problem, though, is that condoms can expand. Solids and liquids can fill the condom, causing it to blow up like a balloon. Then the condom takes up more space, possibly clogging the entire system.

Prescription medication. Flushing prescription medication may seem like the safe thing to do because it gets the medication out of your house so children can't get to it. It's also not a big threat to your system's functionality. Medication doesn't take up much space and solid forms usually break down. The problem is that even if pills break down, the medication is still in your tank. When it empties into the drain field, that medication will be in the soil. Any wildlife around your home could be poisoned or made ill by eating plants or grass from that area. Instead, ask your pharmacy if they can safely dispose of it.

Grease. Grease may seem safe to pour down a drain because it's liquid. However, it doesn't stay liquid. As it cools, it congeals in your pipes and in the inside of the tank. That congealed form takes up space and can eventually clog your entire system. Instead, get some safe containers to dump the grease in and then dispose of it at your local landfill. They usually have a variety of methods for disposing of grease and other forms of liquid waste.

For more information on what you should and shouldn't put in your system, talk to a septic tank pumping service like Richmond Sanitary Service Inc. They can provide guidance on how best to maintain your system.