If you have a septic system, you need to make sure to take steps to avoid damaging it or making it work less effectively. Especially important is choosing septic-safe products and avoiding putting any cleaner or other product that contains harsh chemicals into your plumbing.
An Overview of How Septic Systems Treat Waste
A septic system uses bacteria to break down waste so that the wastewater is treated as it moves through the system. The bacteria feed on the human waste and toilet paper inside the septic tank. Most septic tanks have two separate chambers. The first chamber is where the waste from the building’s plumbing enters the septic system, and most of the solid materials remain in this chamber. The partially treated wastewater then gets pushed into the second chamber where bacteria continue feeding on any remaining waste in the water. Finally, the mostly treated wastewater drains out into the leach field and gets fully treated by bacteria in the soil.
How Cleaning Products and Chemicals Can Impact a Septic System
For a septic system to work properly, it needs a healthy colony of bacteria in the tank. Certain types of cleaning products and other chemicals can kill off much of the bacteria. Bleach and disinfectants can be especially problematic since they have powerful anti-bacterial properties. That means much of the bacteria will get destroyed, and it then takes quite a while for the chemicals to get flushed out so that the remaining bacteria can again start reproducing to the point where the colony finally recovers.
If you don’t have a healthy bacteria colony inside your septic tank, all of the solid waste won’t break down nearly as quickly or as thoroughly. The bacteria normally breaks down toilet paper and waste fairly rapidly and turns everything into a thick sludge that settles at the bottom of the tank. If the solids don’t get broken down fast enough due to a lack of bacteria, the septic tank will fill up faster since the solid waste takes up far more space compared to when it gets turned into sludge. You’ll need to have your septic tank pumped out more frequently if you continually dump cleaning products and chemicals down your drains and toilets. If you don’t get the tank pumped out often enough, it can get so full that the waste begins backing up and possibly flowing out of certain drains in your home.
An even worse issue is that you can end up with solid materials getting flushed out into the leach field and clogging it up. This creates a much greater chance of your septic backing up, and it can also damage the leach field to the point where the only option to get your septic working again is to dig up and replace the leach field pipes.
How to Know Which Chemicals Are Safe for Septic Tanks
Your best bet for protecting the bacteria in your septic tank and ensuring your septic system continues working properly is using all-natural cleaning products whenever possible. Vinegar and lemon juice are also effective options for cleaning some parts of your home that can work just as well as many chemical cleaners. That said, not all chemicals will end up harming the bacteria in your septic tank. You can find some chemical cleaning products labeled as septic-safe.
The only issue is that there aren’t any regulations as to what types of products and chemicals manufacturers can label as septic-safe, all-natural or green. In fact, so-called “greenwashing” where manufacturers make false claims about the environmental impact of their products is rampant. That’s why it’s a good idea to look for products certified as septic safe or less harmful to the environment by some third-party organization. For instance, you can usually be fairly certain that any product with the EPA’s Ecolabel or Safer Choice designation is safe to use in your septic system. The same is true for products that are labeled as fully biodegradable.
As the most trusted septic service in the Salina area, you can trust Salina Septic Service with all of your septic system pumping, maintenance, repair, and installation needs. We have years of experience and will do whatever it takes to ensure your septic system works properly and lasts for years to come. Whether you need to have your tank pumped or require any other service, contact our expert team today.
