When it comes to disposing wastes from your home, a septic system can offer the same level of efficiency and effectiveness as a sewer system. However, there are certain rules that apply to septic tank owners that don’t apply to those on a public sewer line. The most notable distinction is what you flush down your toilets and drains. There are items that can get clog your plumbing pipes and disrupt the overall health of your septic tank.
It is imperative that you educate the residents of your household as well as your guests about the rules for flushing. If not, you may render your septic system useless and end up with a costly septic repair.
To extend the life of your septic tank, NEVER flush the following:
- 1. Fat, Oils and Grease
- You may know not to send fat, oils and grease (FOGs) down your kitchen sink, but that doesn’t mean you can get rid of it by flushing it down the toilet. FOGs can linger in your pipes and block the holes that allow your system to properly drain wastewater. Your septic tank simply cannot handle the breakdown of these materials, so it is best to keep fats, oils and grease far away from your septic tank.
- 2. Cotton Swabs
- Contrary to what you may think, cotton swabs are not biodegradable, and they will not disintegrate in your septic tank after you flush them. Instead, they stay there until they are manually cleaned out, which puts your system at a major risk for clogging and backup.
- 3. Tampons and Other Feminine Hygiene Products
- This is a common mistake for many septic tank owners, especially if they have frequent visitors or parties in their home without informing their guests about the rules for flushing feminine hygiene products. You can expect your septic tank to need pumping much more often if you flush tampons down your toilet, as these items can take up entirely too much space in your tank.
- 4. Kitty Litter
- You may be disgusted at the thought of handling used kitty litter or throwing it away in your garbage. However, don’t let that steer you to dumping it down the toilet instead. The animal waste in kitty litter can easily breakdown, but the litter product themselves can clump when the get wet and wreak havoc inside your septic system.
- 5. Paper Towels and Baby Wipes
- Paper towels and baby wipes may seem similar to toilet paper, but the slight difference in thickness and biodegradability becomes a major issue for your septic tank. In fact, you should try to purchase toilet paper that is marked “septic safe” to put minimal strain on your septic tank.
At Metro Septic, we are here to help you extend the life of your septic tank. This includes educating our customers on what they should and should not flush. It may seem like “no big deal,” but it can really cost you in terms of repair and extra maintenance if flushing rules are ignored.