Garbage disposals became a popular way of easily getting rid of leftover food particles and waste since their invention in 1927. Garbage disposals are devices installed under a kitchen sink between the sink’s drain and trap that shreds food into tiny pieces so that they will pass through a house’s plumbing. While most homeowners that have a septic system do not have a garbage disposal system, there are still about twenty five percent of homes that do. There are some conflicting reports on the safety of these two systems working together, but the majority consensus is that they are not ideally suited for one another.
A garbage disposal is not recommended to use in conjunction with a septic system because everything that leaves a house through the drains enter into the septic tank. While a septic tank is designed to continually break down the waste inside the tank, garbage disposals send a higher quantity of waste into the tank than a house without one. The more solids that are put into a septic tank, the more frequently septic tank pumping will be required to keep it functioning properly.
Typically, a septic tank only needs to be pumped every three to five years. However, a septic tank that must also handle the added waste of a garbage disposal system must be pumped every year for it to function properly. Septic tanks are designed to handle human waste and toilet paper. Everything else that enters will require more money and maintenance to keep the septic system working as it should.
Posted on behalf of Metro Septic and Plumbing
