A well-maintained septic system can be guaranteed to last for decades without any issues. That is why it is essential for the homeowners to take good care of it properly. However, with a lack of knowledge, several people tend to damage their system unconsciously. In some situations, homeowners accidentally ruin their septic system by doing reckless actions and unaware of its cause.
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Taking precautions doesn’t cost much compared to expensive repair fees that you’ll face once your septic system has been damaged. To avoid that, ensure that you are well-informed about the proper guidelines to tend your septic system.
Suppose you want to start taking proper care of your septic system. Here some of the things that you need to stop doing. Listed below are the things that can ruin your septic system:
Flushing and Draining Objects
This is the most common thing that can ruin your water treatment machine. You need to remember that draining objects into the system can cause severe complications and might need a major repair to the system. As stated at https://septictank.com, only organic solids such as stools are the only solid that can go through the septic system without creating further complications. With that, any object – whether you flush it down the toilet, dump it in the garbage disposal or drain it down the sink, tub, or bath, all of it that goes down the drain ends up in the septic tank. What goes down the drain has an impact on how well the septic tank operates. Here are some examples of objects that can totally damage your septic system:
Toilet Paper
Although these things may appear flushable, they don’t really break down in the septic tank. When the toilet paper makes their way into the tank, they cling to the concrete and make it very difficult for the machine to work properly.
Once the problem surfaces, it’s hard for the septic company to pump out the system. Soggy remnants of paper towels may cause the pump to jam and eventually result in costly repairs.
To avoid these complications, it is advisable to seek professional assistance for regular maintenance. Hiring experienced septic tank pumping Indianapolis experts if you are in the area is a wise decision to ensure that your septic system is well-taken care of. Not only will they remove any solid objects but also clean and maintain the entire system to ensure its proper functioning.
Food
Putting some sort of food in a septic tank might lead to the build-up in your pipes. Once these foods tend to break down, they form a thick sludge inside the tank, which can lead to backups. Make sure not to flush or drain your leftovers to avoid damage to your system.
Trash
Don’t use the sinks and toilets like garbage cans. Few people like to throw their cigarette butts into the toilet, as well as medication packets, dental flosses, and even condoms. Solid waste will not decompose and will fill the septic tank twice as fast as wastewater. Dump your trash in the proper bin to avoid paying money for pumping out.
Fabrics
This is obviously for small children in your home. Kids definitely do not understand how toilets function. That is why you need to make sure they are always supervised when using the sinks and toilet. Don’t let them wash any clothes or small fabrics down the toilet. The clothes will not degrade, and your septic tank will probably be blocked. This includes toys, crayons, coins, and other objects that the young children usually play with.
Adding Chemicals Into Septic System
Several chemical additives are available for purchase that claims to eliminate the solids inside your tank, reducing the need for pumping. These products are unnecessary, as septic systems are equipped to operate without outside support. In the worst-case scenario, they can ruin your system as some of these additives contain stuff like sulfuric acid that can corrode your septic system.
In addition to that, chemicals used for cleaning toilets and sinks are also dangerous for the septic system. There is nothing wrong with frequent cleaning and applying such chemicals into a toilet bowl placed in little quantities per flush, but excessive amounts are not advised. As a ‘living system,’ the volume of bacteria occurring inside the storage system will decrease, which may lead to the inefficient treatment of water. When this happens, the amount of solid waste will increase, and it may result in more regular visits from septic service providers.
Draining Grease and Oily Liquids
Although it might seem convenient to pour these items down the drain when cleaning pots and pans, they do a lot more harm than good. The balance of the septic system is fragile, and while there may be any oil and grease that cannot be stopped, the excess of this entering the septic system of the household is likely to create complications over time.
When the oil and grease are still hot from cooking, they’re liquids, but it becomes solid once it cools down. Not only can these fats create clogs in your drains, but they can also create clogs in your septic system. These clogs can prevent the wastewater from going into your septic tank, or they can keep it from getting out of it as well. Either way, oil, and grease are harmful to the septic system. When you’re cooking, the right thing to do is let the grease cool off and scrape it into the trash.
Planting Trees Above The Drain Field
Drain fields are the location in your yard where your septic system discharges effluent to the soil for filtration and dispersal. This is a very natural and safe wastewater treatment solution produced by your septic tank. However, if you decide to plant a tree above it, it will be more likely to complicate your septic system further.
The drain field would be absolutely handicapped by clogging the system with the tree roots as the tree roots will break through the pipes and expand straight into the direction of your drain pipes. Moreover, this would obstruct the flow of drainage and inhibit the overall performance of the system.
To top it all, the things that are listed above can severely damage your septic system without you knowing. Instead of obliviously doing those things, you need to start keeping away from it so that you can also avoid the expensive cost and trouble that it will bring. Every homeowner should be well-informed about the things that can ruin their septic, as well as the proper way to maintain the system. It is because the more users know about the system and how it can operate smoothly, the less likely they are to encounter problems including braking, clogging, or backups at home.
