Bathroom Cleaning and Septic Systems

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Bathroom Cleaning and Septic Systems

It’s always good to be aware of the products that go down your drains and the impact it can have on your septic system’s efficiency, performance, and reliability. Septic systems are designed to break down approved materials such as human waste and toilet paper, but many traditional cleaning products have the potential to damage. Here are a few natural products that are effective cleaners and won’t interfere with your septic system:

1. Epsom Salt

Mixing one cup of Epsom salt, a half-cup of baking soda, and a quarter cup of septic safe dish soap is an excellent toilet cleaning paste! Simply apply the paste to the inside of the toilet bowl and let it sit for 3 minutes. Use circular motions to lightly scrub with a cotton cloth until hard water stains and grime are gone. Finally, rinse away with warm water.

Bonus: Epsom salt contains magnesium which will encourage healthy plants around your septic drain field!

2. Vinegar

Combine one part white vinegar to one part water in a spray bottle for a completely natural cleaner! For especially tough grime, get some baking soda and sprinkle it over the area first, then spray the solution. The stain will loosen from the fizzing reaction. To add a fresh scent add a few drops of an essential oil!

3.  Products Labeled “Septic Safe”

Some people do prefer to use store-bought cleaners. As long as the product is labeled as meeting the “EPA’s Safer Choice Standard” it should be okay for your septic system. But these products should be free of phosphates, non-toxic, and should not be chlorine-based.

Three-Year Maintenance: Inspection vs. Full Pumping Service

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Have you received notice from your county that your three years are up?  Perhaps you’ve heard about companies advertising 3-year county maintenance inspections for a fraction of the cost of pumping…  There are only a few very specific situations where this would apply.  The statewide law that requires 3-year maintenance on septic systems states that the septic tank must be “less than 1/3 full of combined sludge and scum volume” in order to allow for an inspection only without pumping.  For the vast majority of our customers, this criteria is not met and so a full pumping service is performed to check the full health of the system.

Generally, a house must be vacant for the majority of those three years in order to meet this criteria, or perhaps the system is sitting unused and is currently not hooked up to any plumbing.  Any regular usage to the system will fill the septic tank with sludge and scum waste over 1/3 of the tank capacity and would therefore require pumping.  We also have seen a great benefit to emptying the tanks completely: it allows us to get a good look at the tank and entire system, ensuring all components are in place, in good condition, and doing what they should be doing.  We also clean the filter if your system has one – something not all inspectors do!  Failing to do this can result in back-up issues.

We are able to perform these inspections for the 3-year county maintenance requirement and defer the pumping when it applies.  We understand the intrigue of wanting to get by with an inspection only – give us a call to discuss if this is something that would apply to your septic system!

How to Conserve Water

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  • Leaky faucets should be repaired. A single leaky faucet can use up to 4,000 gallons of unneeded water every month.
  • If looking for a new shower head, toilet, washing machine,  or dishwasher, seek models that conserve water usage.
  • Only run the dishwasher and washing machine when there are FULL loads.
  • A toilet displacement device, like a weighted water jug, can save up to 7 gallons of water every flush.
  • When shaving or brushing your teeth, turn the water off if you’re not currently using it.
  • Instead of continually running the faucet to wash fruits and veggies, clean them in a large bowl of water. This could save up to 15 gallons of water!
  • Install water aerators to reduce water up to 60% while still maintaining a strong flow.

Winter Septic Tips

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  • Keep snowplows away from your tank and drainfield. The plows can compact soil or dig up the area around your system and cause damage.
  • When the temperatures drop, you may be concerned about your tank freezing. Avoid adding anti-freeze or any other chemicals that could harm the balance of bacteria in the tank. If your septic is used regularly throughout winter months, it will in most cases create enough heat to stay thawed. If we have a winter with very little snow cover to act as an insulator, it is wise to throw loose hay/straw or insulation around manhole covers and even on  the drainfield area or mound. Insulated covers are also available to protect against freezing.
  • If you are away for long amounts of time in the winter, make sure your caretaker is aware of where the septic system is located in case of emergency.
  • Keep house roof vents clear of ice and snow to allow odors and gasses to escape.

What type of toilet paper should I choose?

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The softer the toilet paper the more chemicals were used to make it soft. These chemicals can be harmful to your system’s biological activity, just like anti-bacterial soaps and other harsh chemicals are. Pick a brand of toilet paper that is in-between for softness. Look for a brand that is “Septic Safe”. These brands are normally made with fewer chemicals and are better for your septic system. As a reminder, overuse of any paper can lead to blockage in your septic. NEVER flush wipes, even if they are labeled “flushable.”

Should I clean my mound?

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Did you know that an important part of keeping your mound or at-grade system operating properly is jetting & treating the laterals in the actual mound itself? This will help keep things flowing properly throughout the mound. Let us explain! When the pump in the pump chamber engages, it discharges graywater from the pump chamber down the force-main into the mound. The mound itself generally has 1 – 4 laterals with holes drilled in them where the graywater is then dispersed properly. In time, these laterals become plugged up with sludge, scale and/or debris. Giving these laterals a good cleaning along with a high dose of bacteria about every 6 years or so, keeps water equally dispersing throughout the lateral(s), in turn adding life to your mound system; not to mention the savings from reduced wear and electrical use on pumps. When there is blockage in a lateral not only is it hard on your pump, but it can lead to discharge of sewage to the surface if left untreated. Our cleaning process is done with a high-pressure water jetter that feeds its way through the laterals cleaning the laterals thoroughly from one end to the other.  Contact us today to schedule your jetting!

Bath Bombs

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In recent years, bath bombs have become a popular product to add essential oils, scent, bubbles, and color to bathwater.  But how do the ingredients in these bath bombs affect your plumbing and septic system?

Frequent use of bath bombs can potentially cause issues by plugging the lines themselves.  There are often solid particles in bath bombs, which include lavender buds and flower petals or glitter and confetti.  None of these items will dissolve.  So, for example, if some of these items get hung up in your lines, toilet paper could then catch on them and begin to plug the lines.  The fats & oils in bath bombs can also solidify as they cool in the pipes and create a blockage.

Even if these ingredients make it through the plumbing lines without causing any issues, they can still accumulate in the septic tank itself and clog the filter.  We therefore recommend using this product only occasionally, and always following up with a monthly bacteria additive for your septic system.

 

 

Based on the article “Another Product That Could Harm Septic Systems” by Sara Heger, Ph.D., Pumper Magazine.

Can Cat Waste Be Flushed?

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While this is perhaps a common question in more urban areas, cat-owners may wonder this in rural areas as well.  There are even products out there that claim to “toilet train” your cat!

Environmental, waste disposal, and water & sewer professionals agree that flushing pet waste is not a smart idea.  An animal’s digestion and biology are of course different than a human’s, so the waste is different.  The extra usage could potentially overburden a septic system unnecessarily.  An even greater risk occurs for city-dwellers, as municipal treatment technology can’t eliminate all parasites that are carried by cats.

In an effort to keep our water safe for everyone and to keep waste-treatment systems working properly, it is recommended that cat waste not be flushed.

 

Based on the article “Cat Waste: To Flush or Not to Flush” in Pumper Magazine.

 

Your Septic System and Iron Filtration Systems

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If you have a high iron content in your water at home, you most likely have some sort of treatment or filtration system.  While you rightly want to address this issue, don’t forget how it affects your septic system.  These filtration systems discharge into the septic tank and suppress the good bacteria your system needs, as well as causing poor separation of the solids in the tank.  This means more frequent pumping is a requirement to keep any major issues at bay.  Using a monthly bacteria additive for the septic system is also a necessity!  Give us a call if you have one of these filtration systems and would like to know how to protect your septic system.

The Danger of Flushing Wipes

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Disposable wipes have gained popularity in recent years, and sanitizing wipes are found in every household now during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Please remember that these wipes can do extreme harm to the plumbing and septic system.  The sanitizing wipes that you use to clean should never be flushed!  They are resilient and do not break down, causing plugged lines, filters, drainfields, and high levels in septic tanks.  Our technicians have found wipes wrapped around pumps, causing them to malfunction, often leading to a hefty bill to fix the problem.

Even the so-called “flushable” wipes can cause similar problems.  Besides the material of the wipe itself, the lotions and chemicals on these wipes are not beneficial to a septic system.  These wipes should simply be placed in the garbage once used.

A good rule to live by: the only things that should be flushed are human waste and toilet paper!