It cannot be over-emphasized – what you put down your drains has a huge impact on your septic system. For people who have always lived in homes with city sewer connections, getting used to the limitations of a septic system can be difficult. However, if you aren’t diligent about keeping certain items out of your septic tank, you may be in for a very expensive repair or septic replacement in the future. Here are the top four items you should never allow down your drain and into your septic system:
- Fats or grease. Any kind of fat, oils or grease from food needs to be put in the garbage, not down your drain. This is true for almost any home, since these items cause clogs in plumbing, but even more important in homes with a septic system.
- Chemicals. Any chemicals like solvents, harsh cleaners, paint, pesticides or fuel need to be kept out of your septic tank. They can destroy the friendly bacteria which break down solid waste, disturbing the delicate balance that makes your septic system work properly.
- Hard foods. Any hard food items should be considered poor candidates for disposal down the drain, even with a garbage disposal. This includes items like coffee grounds, egg shells or nutshells. Also, avoid fibrous and hard to break down produce peelings or trimmings.
- Paper and plastic products. Keeping paper out of your septic system can prevent major problems. The most common paper culprits are excess toilet paper, paper towels and feminine hygiene products. In addition, any plastic items like wrappers, birth control devices and even cigarette filters need to be kept out of the toilet.
It’s important to educate your entire family about what cannot be flushed or dumped down the drain in your home. At a minimum, you can reduce the frequency of septic tank pumping and you may avoid waking up one day to a backed-up septic system, which will require an emergency call to your local septic service contractor.
Posted on behalf of Metro Septic and Plumbing
