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What Shouldn't Go Into Your Septic System

  • By Admin
  • 20 Jul, 2023

What shouldn't go into your septic system? Even though a septic tank and the rest of the system are far from fragile, some things should never go down the disposal or into the toilet. Take a look at the common household items that can clog or damage your septic system and what you can do to keep your home's drains in top shape.

Why Can't Everything Go Down the Drain of a Septic System?
A septic system is a powerful drain that can remove household waste easily and effectively. But this doesn't mean you can feed everything from paper towels to your leftover dinner down your home's drains. Even though septic systems are designed to remove waste products through the tank and drainfield, they aren't made to handle everything you could possibly flush or wash down a sink drain.

If you put the wrong types of items into your system, it's possible that you could clog the pipes or damage the tank. This slows the system down and could cause serious backups in your home. Not only are backups irritating, they can damage plumbing fixtures, flood your home's interior (and damage walls, flooring, furniture, appliances, or almost anything else), or cause offensive odors throughout your house.

What Shouldn't You Flush in a Septic System?

Human waste products and toilet paper are the only things that should go into your toilet and down the toilet's drain. Even though you will need to flush toilet paper, some of these products will not work well with a septic system. Choose a product that easily comes apart. While fluffy multi-ply sheets are soft and luxurious, they're also more likely to clog your home's system.

Never substitute so-called flushable or septic-safe wipes for toilet paper. These products are often advertised as acceptable alternatives that can go through septic systems. But these thick wipes may clog or damage your system. Likewise, never flush baby wipes, makeup wipes, or household cleaning product wipes.

Other items not to flush include dental floss, diapers, cat litter, paper towels, feminine hygiene products, and chemicals (including paint thinners, gasoline, oil, pesticides, or hazardous cleaners).

What Shouldn't You Put Down the Drains of a Septic System?

Like toilets, septic system sink drains can't handle paper towels, cat litter, wipes, or chemicals. They also may clog if you try to wash coffee grounds, oil, grease, or large food debris down the drain. Beyond clogs, some of these items can throw the bacterial balance of your home's septic system off balance. This reduces its ability to safely remove waste.

Can You Use Drain Cleaners for a Septic System?

It's tempting to empty a bottle of drain cleaner into the toilet or a sink to remove a clog. But the types of chemicals used in commercial drain cleaners should never go into your septic system. These can destroy pipes or change the bacterial balance that makes your septic system effective.

What Should You Do If Your Septic System Has a Clog?

If you shouldn't use a commercially available drain cleaning chemical, how can you clear clogs from your septic system? Homeowners should never attempt to repair a septic system or remove a serious clog by themselves. These systems are complex and require a highly skilled and experienced professional to repair.

Instead of plunging, snaking, or using a chemical to remove a clog, call a septic system contractor. The contractor can inspect the system, find the source of the problem, recommend a treatment plan, and repair the damage.

Does your home's septic system have a clog or backup? Do you need professional tank maintenance? Contact Allen Turner Septic Tank Service for more information on services and your options.

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Are you experiencing a sewage backup, slow drainage, or a pungent smell around the drain field? Perhaps the grass around your septic drain field is more lush and green than the rest of the yard. If you've noticed any of these signs, you might need to pump your septic tank.

To avoid hazardous and expensive septic system failures, pump your septic tank regularly. For homeowners, a septic tank pump job should happen every three to five years. However, this time frame will depend on the tank size and the number of occupants in the household.

From cost savings to better health, septic tank pump-outs offer numerous benefits. This guide enlightens you on the benefits of septic tank pumping.

Prevent Damage

Failure to pump the septic tank can result in mechanical and physical damage to the system. For instance, the waste could overwhelm and crack the outlet and inlet pipes if the excess sludge is not removed. Also, the excess waste could block the septic system and cause sewage back-ups in your sinks, toilets, and bathtubs. You will pay so much more to fix these issues than you'd have paid to empty the tank.

Regular pump-outs will prevent overfill, clogs, and blockages in the septic system. Also, the pump jobs will not only improve your system's overall efficiency but will also help to avoid extensive system damage.

Protect Your Family

The level of care you provide to your septic tank will correspond to the health of your household and surrounding environment. A brimming septic tank creates a health hazard to your household, neighbors, and even animals. For instance, sewage backup in your home or groundwater contamination can cause bacterial or viral diseases like typhoid, cholera, and rotavirus.

Also, if the septic tank is full, gas will build up in the chamber to produce dangerous fumes with ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon monoxide. The pungent smells produced aren't only unpleasant but also hazardous. These fumes can be poisonous even in small concentrations to cause shortness of breath, eye irritation, and worsened asthma symptoms. In high concentrations, the fumes can cause organ damage and even death.

To keep your loved ones and neighbors safe, make sure to pump your septic tank at the right time. If you're not sure, contact a septic tank contractor who will conduct an inspection and advise whether you need to get the septic tank pumped.

Protect Your Property

An overfilled or clogged septic tank can wreak havoc in your home. If the wastewater and sludge flood your yard or house, you can incur costly property damages. To avoid these issues and protect your property, empty your septic tank regularly.

Save Money

Overfull septic tanks can easily lead to system malfunctions or failure. In such cases, some septic system components may be faulty and require repair or replacement. If the damage is extensive, the whole system may need a replacement and cost you thousands of dollars.

Also, since an overfilled septic tank will cause damage to other structures such as your landscaping and home, the repair costs might be astronomical. And don't forget the medical expenses if you or your family member falls sick due to the health hazard presented by an overflowing septic system.

Avoid all these expenses through regular pump jobs of your septic tank. While septic tank pump-out will cost you money, you avoid a lot of issues to save in the long run. Also, you only need to empty your septic tank once every few years. Proper maintenance is key for optimal functioning and avoiding costly damages to your septic system.

Regular septic pumps can help prevent damage, prolong the system's lifespan, and improve performance. If you need any septic system services, Allen Turner Septic Tank Service can help.

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