The plumbing system in your home is intimately linked with your septic system, and smart homeowners pay carefully attention to both for optimum performance and efficiency. Replacing or repairing a damaged septic system is an expensive and complicated undertaking, whereas managing your plumbing can be simple and straightforward when you know how the two work together.
A Path Well Travelled
Your wastewater travels through drainpipes, away from the various plumbing fixtures, sinks and showers and into the initial stages of your septic. The health and performance of that septic system depends heavily on quantity, size and capacity that flows through those drainpipes.
Consider everything you flush, rinse or wash down the drains of your home. Are you using heavy-duty toilet paper, or flushing paper towel and other bulky items down the toilet? These end up in your septic tank, obstructing the natural path of wastes and upsetting a delicate balance. Always use bathroom products labeled septic-friendly. These brands of toilet paper tend to be manufactured from natural materials that break down quickly, avoiding or reducing incidents of clogging.
Families with young children know that random items end up in the toilet, and often get flushed through the system. Avoid this whenever possible, and be prepared to empty the septic tank more often while the kids are young. Septic removal contractors discover all sorts of items in their work, but it's best to reduce those random flushes when you can.
Laundry Concerns
Wastewater from the washing machine also ends up in the septic system. Consider the type of laundry detergent you're using, and make wise choices in order to maintain peak conditions in your tank.
Bleach may disrupt the balance of bacteria in your septic tank. The presence of bacteria helps to breakdown solids and keeps the process of degradation moving forward. An abundance of bleach destroys or diminishes those bacteria, causing that process to stall. Your tank will fill up quickly, resulting in higher maintenance costs and rapid deterioration of the tank and components.
Have a close look at the amount of phosphates in your laundry detergent. Experts disagree on the recommended amount of phosphates in your laundry, but you can watch for telltale signs that your system has reached the limit. Phosphates naturally occur in septic systems, and when the decomposed water passes through the leech field phosphates are also released into the soils. High levels of phosphate trigger excessive growth, often forming algae around the area. This condition can negatively affect the groundwater and soil, resulting in widespread problems and dangers.
Garbage Disposals and Kitchen Plumbing
Your plumbing system extends beyond the bathroom and laundry room. The kitchen sink and dishwasher handle a significant amount of water and waste, contributing to the workload of your septic system. Designing your kitchen plumbing for optimum septic system performance requires having a long-term view.
Garbage disposals are convenient, and busy families enjoy the various benefits of these handy kitchen features. But garbage disposals also place a heavy load on your septic tank, often resulting in frequent emptying and premature failure of the system. Your better to dispose of kitchen scraps in the traditional way, saving your septic tank from excessive wear and tear.
Pouring cooking oil and greases down the kitchen sink may also harm your septic system. These heavy liquids tend to clog the inlet points, and take much longer to degrade. Excessive oils can also cause problems with the emptying process. Place this type of cooking waste in the green bin or composter, where applicable.
General Plumbing Operation
When your plumbing system springs a leak it sends excessive water throughout your home. Just as this causes a problem inside, leaving the water running in your sink, bath or toilet will cause problems in your septic system. Have all leaks looked after immediately and avoid leaving any taps, faucets or toilets running.
Your septic system should have an alarm to signal when the tanks are approaching the overflow mark. This can happen within a few hours with a constantly running toilet, and requires an emergency pumping to get the system back to normal operation conditions. Practice water conservation where possible, since your system is designed to operate efficiently with a reasonable amount of water usage.
Avoid flushing any solvents or harmful chemicals down the drain. As with sewer systems, harmful chemicals create havoc and present a host of dangers to the environment. Dispose of paints, stains and any inorganic solutions at your local waste disposal site, and avoid flushing large quantities of herbicides and pesticides down your drain. These may harm the bacteria in your system or spread to the surrounding landscape; both result in serious issues.
Have your septic tank emptied every 2 to 5 years, depending on the number of bathrooms in your home, as well as the number of residents living there. More water usage means more frequent emptying, but book your septic maintenance visit at least once every five years in any case. This frequency works well with the existing balance and helps to avoid clogging, damage and emergency repairs.
Some companies offer septic cleaning solutions or products that claim to aid in the breakdown of solids or reduce phosphate levels. Although some homeowners have success with these products, they cannot take the place of regular maintenance and wise use of your plumbing system. Save your money and take good care of the natural balance and design of your septic system - this ensures optimum performance.
Take care of your plumbing by keeping drains unclogged and using biodegradable toilet paper. Avoid flushing heavier paper products and inorganic materials down the toilet, and reconsider installing that garbage disposal or using laundry detergents high in phosphates. Design a plumbing system that is septic system-friendly and you'll enjoy worry-free performance from this simple wastewater system.
Posted by: dianaSuggested Reading For You
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