A septic system is designed to carefully and safely manage household waste and wastewater. However, that doesn’t mean you should treat your drains like a garbage disposal because the performance of your septic system depends heavily on what goes down your drains. Regular maintenance, including professional Septic Pumping in Rio Rancho, can help keep your system efficient, but it’s still better to understand things that should never enter your septic tank.
Many septic system problems can be traced back to everyday waste disposal mistakes. Throwing things such as feminine hygiene products, cigarette butts, hair, wet wipes, nappies, etc., can block your tank and lead to issues such as blocked drains, killing the beneficial bacteria that help solids in the tank break down, and forcing the tank to overflow. Knowing these items will help you avoid septic issues such as sewage back-ups, clogs, and overloaded septic tanks, as well as ensure that your septic system continues to function properly for many years.
In this blog, you will learn about waste that can potentially damage your septic system by simply being thrown down the drain over time.
Common Items That Can Damage Your Septic System
Many common household items can cause significant damage to your septic system when they’re disposed of improperly. Here are some of the most common things you should never throw or flush down your toilets or drains.
Non-Biodegradable Plastic & Rubber Items - Do not flush any non-biodegradable rubber or plastic objects, such as hair ties or plastic wraps, down the toilet because they will not dissolve in water and can quickly wrap around other waste within the pipes to block them.
Cigarette filters, Dental floss, & Hair - You should never flush a cigarette butt, floss, or hair down the toilet because those materials can collect in the pipes of your drainage system and act as a net, trapping and collecting other materials, which causes clogged pipes and sewage backups in your home, needing more frequent Septic Pumping.
Disposable Diapers - You should never flush diapers down the toilet, as they are super absorbent and are made from non-biodegradable materials. Once you flush them down the toilet, they soak up even more liquid from your septic tank, which causes them to swell in size. These diapers will stay in your system and eventually cause it to become full, clogging your drain pipes and causing sewage backups in your house.
Feminine Hygiene Products and Wipes - Because pads and tampons are not designed to handle liquid, they will not break down in water and can cause clogs when they travel through your sewer. Wipes that say they are "flushable" are still made with non-biodegradable materials and will cause a blockage in your drain or sewer as they go through your septic system.
Used Cooking Oil & Grease - Never pour any kind of cooking oil or grease down the toilet. Once the liquid is cooled, it will harden and create sticky, stubborn blockages in your pipes, which will eventually trap other types of waste, causing a sewer backup and damage to your property.
Prescription Drugs - Flushing or throwing medication down the toilet is not recommended because it can easily bypass normal sewer treatment facilities. This means dangerous chemicals can enter your drinking water supply and harm the aquatic life in the nearby water bodies.
Final Thoughts
The easiest method for protecting your septic system from damage is to create better septic habits, such as not flushing any kind of waste down either your sink or toilets that is either non-biodegradable or contains chemicals that can be harmful to the environment. Improper waste disposal habits can cause septic problems needing expensive repairs and cause system failure.
Don’t wait for backups, odors, and drainage issues. Form good septic habits and schedule regular Septic Pumping in Rio Rancho with 505 Portable Restrooms to extend the life of your septic system.
“Content Copied From”: https://medium.com/@restrooms505/how-improper-waste-disposal-can-harm-your-septic-system-bc0865633d7e
