If you are new to having a home with a septic tank system, you may be wondering which things you should never flush to keep your system and the environment safe. Of course, you want to avoid septic repair, but you also want to be sure you are not doing something that will contaminate the same groundwater that enters your home’s well and those in your neighborhood. This list will help dispel the confusion. Share it with your family as well as extended guests to your home who might also be unfamiliar with septic systems.
- Harsh Chemicals/Antibacterial Products – Many of today’s personal care and cleaning products are quite bad for septic systems. They kill the important bacteria that is there to break down organic compounds. This can lead to septic repair, excessive pump-outs, and even septic failure.
- Personal Care Items – There are a number of things many households use that should not be flushed, including cotton swabs, condoms, medications, needles, tampons, wipes, facial tissue, cigarettes, diapers, and paper towels. None of these are effectively biodegradable and can cause blockages.
- Roof Runoff/Excessive Water – Oddly enough, flushing excessively in conjunction with high water usages and misdirected rainwater can all contribute to problems that can result in septic repair. It is best to stagger water usage throughout the day and week, such as doing a load of laundry each day instead of all in one day. Too much water overtaxes a system and can result in wastewater being flushed through the system before it has been appropriately treated. It can then overwhelm the drain field.
If you have questions about what to keep out of your septic system, call us at Lee Kirk & Sons Septic. If you suspect there are things in your septic tank that really shouldn’t be there, let us know and we’ll get it pumped out and cleaned so you can start fresh and avoid future septic repair.