Repairing problems with your septic tank can be expensive business so households with a septic system installed should to doing everything they can to ensure that it continues to work properly and efficiently. Good maintenance habits such as limiting the amount of water you use and regular septic tank pumping are common practices that most homeowners are aware of, but another key issue when it comes to taking care of your septic system is avoiding the use of chemicals.
Many household-cleaning products used to clean sinks and toilets contain strong chemicals, which make their way down the pipes and into the septic system. Your septic system contains a delicate balance of bacteria and microbes that break down the solid waste inside the septic tank and treat the effluent in the soil around the leach field. Cleaning agents, bleach and detergents all affect the treatment process that is happening all of the time within the tank and in the leach field and too many chemicals will eventually begin to cause problems with your septic system.
Clog removal chemicals are similar if not worse because the chemicals are particularly robust. Also, since they are poured directly down the drain the septic tank receives a large concentration of these harmful chemicals at one time. Chemical clog removers can also be harmful to people as if the clog is not successfully removed you are left with a sink full of toxic chemicals, which will also begin to damage the piping if allowed to sit their for a significant period of time. For the sake of your septic system the next time you have a clog, use alternate methods such as plunging rather than resorting to chemicals.
