It is estimated that many American families use over 300 gallons of water a day in their homes, but do you know what happens to the wastewater after it leaves your home? Many people take it for granted that anything you put down the drain just disappears, but if you have a septic system, then it all ends up in your septic tank.
It’s important to understand how your septic system works and why sending solids and chemicals down the drain can impact it. This impact may lead to the need for frequent septic tank services… which no one wants.
It is estimated that many American families use over 300 gallons of water a day in their homes, but do you know what happens to the wastewater after it leaves your home? Many people take it for granted that anything you put down the drain just disappears, but if you have a septic system, then it all ends up in your septic tank.
Where does this waste water come from?
It’s important to understand how your septic system works and why sending solids and chemicals down the drain can impact it. This impact may lead to the need for frequent septic tank services… which no one wants.
One advantage of a septic system is that unlike a municipal water treatment plant, it does not use harsh chemicals that can affect the environment to treat wastewater. Instead, a septic system relies on naturally occurring bacteria and other microbes to treat and clean water before it becomes groundwater and goes back into nature.
This treatment can be very effective, but you need to be aware that some solids are more difficult than others for the bacteria to break down. Some chemicals can evem impact the delicate balance in your septic tank, leading to the need for septic tank treatments in order to restore balance.
Why? These materials thicken over time, making it harder for the present bacteria to break them down thoroughly.
They may also get stuck within the pipes and walls of the septic tank, as well as on the moving parts within it. This build up can cause backups, blockages or overflow.
Another danger? Oil and grease may keep the moving parts within the system from operating smoothly.
Rubber does not break down within the system, so flushing condoms is dangerous for the system. Even though disposable diapers and tampons are marked “biodegradable,” this doesn’t make them a good item to flush.
Yes, they do eventually break down within the tanks, but it can take a long time to do so – so these items remain present for long periods of time, and can cause other issues.
Two of these additional potential issues? These items, which are large and solid, can clog the pipes or even get wrapped around the septic system’s motor. This may lead to a broken part or the need for septic tank treatment.
At a cost of upwards of $5,000, is this expense worth it, or should you just be more careful not to flush these items?
Most of these items can be safely disposed of in household trash, but for things that cannot be immediately thrown away, there are other options, too.
Keeping these five items out of your septic tank are just a few simple ways to keep the system working properly for a long time. Other ways to keep your septic system healthy include:
Letting them build up too much can lead to back-ups and sludge entering the drain field. Exactly how often you should have this septic tank treatment will depend on the size of your tank and how many people are using it on a daily basis. Visit Septic Tank Treatments to learn more about septic tank maintenance and the products that are useful for keeping it running properly.
This is a lot of information to take in, but luckily for homeowners like you, there are professionals that can help to answer additional questions as well as recommend products and services. If you have any questions please chat us and we’ll be happy to help.