Nothing is more dangerous to your septic system than putting in things that don’t belong there.
Certainly some items are worse than others. Putting the wrong thing down drains or flushing them down the toilet can be costly and time consuming to repair. It can back up your pipes, causing clogs and eroding the tank to the point where you will have to call in professionals to pump it out.
If it goes on too long you could end up paying thousands of dollars for a new septic tank!
To keep this from happening to you, here are the 3 worst things to put in your septic system:
- Grease. Your mom always told you never to pour grease down the drain and she was right! Grease won’t break down the way water and waste will and you will end up clogging up your drain which means nothing will be able to get through. Clogged pipes lead to the septic system backing up and this can cause serious damage to your septic system. Be smart and pour your grease in a can to solidify and throw away. It’s also a good idea to wipe your pans clean with a paper towel to make sure you don’t let any grease get down the drain.
- Anything other than waste and toilet paper into your toilet. You would be surprised by the types of things people toss down the toilet. A good rule of thumb- a toilet isn’t a garbage can! Never ever thrown away cat litter, coffee grounds, sanitary napkins, tampons, diapers, baby wipes, cigarette butts, or anything similar down the toilet. It will not properly break down and you will end up with a serious clog and back- ups. This will cause more damage to your septic system than you can imagine.
- Hazardous chemicals. Any heavy chemicals such as bleach, motor oil, poisonous chemicals (even those for rats and bugs) are big no-no’s for your septic tank. If you toss these down the drain you will be killing off all the good bacteria that help to break down waste and keep your system running the way it should. You’ll also be contaminating your soil and that is a hazard for everyone! Dispose of these chemicals properly and use environmentally safe cleaning products for your sinks and bathrooms.