Do not put cigarette butts, paper towels, sanitary tampons, condoms, disposable diapers, anything plastic or similar non-biodegradables into a septic tank system. Avoid washing food scraps, coffee grinds, and other food items down the drain. Avoid using a garburator to dispose of kitchen wastes.
Never put oil, gasoline, paint thinners, solvents, photographic chemicals, weed or insect killers down the drain. They can poison your septic system and possibly threaten water supplies for your whole neighbourhood. Even latex paint is unhealthy for your septic system.
Paint – Latex and oil-based paint can upset the delicate balance of bacteria in a septic tank system. They not only affect the bacteria but cannot be broken down within the tank. Pesticides – Pesticides can damage not only the bacteria within a septic tank system but also people who are close to them.
DON'T wash or flush medicines or hazardous chemicals like paint, paint thinner and bleach into the system. They kill the bacteria needed to decompose wastes in the septic tank and drain field. DO use substitutes for household hazardous waste. DO learn the location of your septic tank and drain field.
Don't Put Anything Non-Biodegradable in Your Septic System
Cigarette butts. Disposable diapers. Paper towels.
Adding a septic system bacteria additive once a month restores the good worker bacteria and enzymes to counteract the effects of household disinfectants. Waste & Grease Eco-Friendly Digestant makes it easy to maintain a clean and sanitized home environment as well as a healthy bacteria population in your septic tank.
Frequently Asked Questions About Septic Tanks
Water from your shower goes into the septic tank, so an overfull septic tank could lead to sewage backups.
Aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in your septic tank “eat” the solid waste, leaving behind wastewater. Because anaerobic bacteria don't need oxygen, they are most common in the septic tank, whereas aerobic bacteria are more common in the drain field.
Your septic tank naturally contains good bacteria, and you won't really need to do much to put good bacteria in the septic tank. You can use additives like active yeast, rotten tomatoes, or store-bought septic enzymes or chemicals if you'd like, but typically, the system will produce beneficial bacteria on its own.
Naturally occurring bacteria inside your septic tank work to dissolve and consume the solid waste. This is the good bacteria you need to help keep your septic tank system working properly. The liquid in your tank then drains through small holes in the pipes into your drain field.
Have your system inspected (in general) every three years by a licensed contractor and have the tank pumped, when necessary, generally every three to five years.
The chlorine component in bleach is what harms your septic system. Therefore, look for chlorine-free cleaners. Many chlorine-free products use formulas that release hydrogen peroxide instead of chlorine. Other bleach alternatives include baking soda, tea tree oil, lemon juice, and vinegar.
Septic tanks are dangerous as they contain a variety of sewer gases which can be highly toxic when inhaled and result in various complications, including death.
Although a properly functioning septic tank should handle the shower water just fine, it will start struggling when you use the shower for an extensive period. For instance, washing the laundry for a long time or taking long showers will only hasten the damage to your septic tank.
Identifying Signs of a Full Septic Tank
Slow Drainage: If your sinks, showers, and toilets are draining more slowly than usual. Unpleasant Odors: Foul odors around your property, particularly near the drain field.
The average cost to pump a septic tank is about $395, but prices can vary widely, from $294 to $514. Several factors can influence the final price, including: Size of the tank: Larger tanks require more time and effort to pump, which can raise costs.
On average, it takes anywhere from three to five years for waste to fully decompose in a septic tank. The decomposition time for waste in a septic tank can vary based on several factors, including the tank's size, the number of occupants in the household, and the types of waste introduced.
Grease, Fat & Oil
Grease and oil don't break down like water and waste. Pouring grease down the drain into your septic tank will only end in a clog, making it difficult for anything to pass through safely. You could also risk a sewer line clog resulting in sewage backup which will wreak havoc on your system.
To reiterate, running a washing machine with a septic drainage system isn't the issue. It's how much water you push through to the tank and soakaway that's the big concern.
Enzymes go to work on the scum, and bacteria goes to work on the sludge. The microbes eat the waste and convert large portions of it into liquids and gases. This process allows the septic tank to push the now-treated wastewater out to the drainfield.
In general, a septic tank should be inspected every 1 to 3 years and pumped every 3 to 5 years.
When flushed, hair tangles with other waste and sticks to the inner walls of your pipes, creating blockages that are difficult to remove. Over time, this can lead to severe backups, costly septic system repair, and even damage to the delicate beneficial bacteria in your septic tanks.