It is a great time to perform a yearly check up on your septic system, which includes cleaning out your filter.
The effluent filter is a significant part of your septic system. As of January 2007, risers on the outlet portion of your septic tank and effluent filters are now mandatory requirements of the Building Code.
To clean out your filter, you should have both access hatches in your septic tank open and a garden hose ready. Simply lift the filter out of the secondary chamber (2nd hatch) and hold it over the primary chamber (1st hatch) while hosing it off. It is not necessary to clean every speck of dirt off of the filter, as some of it is healthy bacteria; you simply want to ensure that you remove any potential blockages. By performing this maintenance in the spring and fall, you can increase the longevity of your system and avoid potential backups.