Knowing what can and can't go down your drains with a septic system is tricky. Many people are on the verge of doing a deep clean in their bathroom and then stop to think, "What cleaning products are not safe for septic systems?"
Many products claim to be "drain-safe" or "septic-safe." In reality, those same chemicals and cleaners are actually detrimental to your septic system's health. They can cause all sorts of harm, like damaging piping, clogging the drainage system, and even killing the beneficial bacteria in the tank.
Confused about what you can flush? We've got you covered. Here, Scorpion Septic Services will take you through the do's and don'ts of what can go down your drains. There are a ton of things to think about when it comes to keeping your septic tank in working order, so keep reading to find out more!
First Things First: A Septic System Overview
If you're not connected to a municipal waste drainage system, chances are that you have a septic system installed on your property.
A septic system consists of drains and pipes, a septic tank, a distribution box, and a drainage field. It's a self-contained system, meaning there aren't any public workers coming around to service your tank and drains. Whatever happens to any of these parts is on you to fix, and replacing them can cost a pretty penny.
Every piece of your system serves a specific purpose. However, what it all boils down to is that many parts can be affected by blockages and breakdowns in your system. Flushing the wrong thing can affect any one piece, throwing the whole system into whack.
The Things That CAN Go Down Your Drain
Aside from human waste, spoiler alert: not many things can go down your drains. That includes your toilet, sink, or any other drains around your house. Here are some things that CAN.
Human Waste
Septic systems are literally designed to handle human waste. They contain beneficial bacteria that help break down your waste within the tank, filtering and dispersing it into the soil via the drainage field. As a result, you can be sure that your septic system can deal with whatever take-out you ate last night.
Blockages from human waste generally occur when the system itself is already overloaded. Using a plunger might get the job done, but a severe blockage might indicate an underlying issue that needs to be addressed professionally.
Septic-Safe Products
Generally, the only things safe to flush down your drain into your septic system are grey water and toilet paper. However, you might be thinking, "Wait, many of my cleaning products say 'septic-safe.' What does septic safe mean?"
Septic safe is really just a marketing term used by chemical companies to sell products to people who don't know what can and can't go down their drains. While some of them may actually be safe for your system, many are not.
As a result, you have to do your research on each individual product that you want to put down your drain. For example, a truly septic-safe bleach alternative is a mix of baking soda, vinegar, and hydrogen peroxide.
Toilet paper is another septic-safe product. Most brands are manufactured using septic-safe materials, making it easy to pick a brand of toilet paper compared to other products.
Grey Water
Grey water, a catch-all term that encompasses most types of dirty water, is truly the only liquid that should be going down your drain. That includes water from your toilet waste, dirty dish water, septic-safe cleaning products, and dirty water from daily usage.
The Things That CANNOT Go Down Your Drain
On the flipside, the list of things that can't go down your drain is much longer than the list of things that can. This is especially true if you have older pipes; they can't handle much, especially thicker paper products like wet wipes.
Here's a list of things to watch out for that definitely can't go down your drain and into your septic system:
- Grease, fat, oils - Byproducts from cooking like vegetable oil, animal fat, and grease can congeal in your pipes, making it very hard for water to bypass into the septic tank.
- Antibacterial chemicals and cleaners - Things like bleach, ammonia, paint, pesticides, and other harsh chemicals kill bacteria, harming the delicate ecosystem thriving in your septic tank.
- Non-biodegradable products - Things like baby wipes, paper towels, condoms, tampons, dental floss, and cigarette butts definitely can't go down your drain. They'll cause a clog and be nearly impossible to remove without professional help.
- Coffee grounds, eggshells, and other solid food products - While a little food debris here and there isn't so bad for your septic system, solid food like eggshells and coffee grounds can build up in your pipes over time, reducing flow and making it harder for the system to operate.
While you might think any of the above items are fine to flush every now and then, think again. Even a small amount of non-septic safe materials can cause big problems that you might not be aware of until it's too late. If you've been putting any of the above down your drain, pay keen attention to signs your septic system may be on its last life.
Septic-safe bathroom cleaners are few and far between, so check the label for antibacterial properties before you decide to use one!
Contact Scorpion Septic Today!
Ready for a septic system specialist to come take a look at your tank?
Whether you just want an insider perspective on what you can flush down your drain safely or you're looking to upgrade your whole septic system, Scorpion Septic can help you with whatever you need.
Give us a call now and receive a qualified free quote from one of our experts!