Septic system owners here in Central Florida know they have to pay attention to what they flush and put down the drain. Small things can cause big problems. Such as doing several loads of laundry all in the same day, running the garbage disposal too often, and flushing things down the toilet that should be flushed.
Here are a few septic problems to watch out for and some easy solutions
Clogged Areas
There are several places where your septic system can clog up. Any one of them will adversely affect the entire system. Just like a back-up on I-4, everything screeches to a halt, until that one vehicle moves out of the way.
There are several things that can cause a clog, flushable wipes, feminine products, powdered detergent, and even food scraps. To avoid a clog, only flush toilet paper and waste, use gel detergents in the dishwasher and washing machine, and toss food scraps in the garbage or compost.
Jim Bunsey, chief operating officer of the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District warns, “Flushable wipes are not truly flushable. They might go down the drain, but they do not break up like regular toilet paper.”
Using Too Much Water
Your septic tank can only hold so much water at one time. Doing lots of laundry, washing dishes, and showers, all at one time can wreak havoc on the septic system. Too much water in the tank can force solids to the top, causing backups, clogs, and drain field issues. The solution is not to use a lot of water in one day. Which means spreading the laundry over a couple of days and just being mindful of how much water you are using.
A good rule of thumb, if you don’t think the water is draining out of the septic tank, don’t put more in!
Imbalance Of Microbes
It is more important than ever in our post covid days, to understand how cleaning products are affecting the good bacteria in the septic tank. Antibacterial soaps, laundry detergents, and household cleaners are all designed to kill bacteria and germs, though great for cleaning your home, not so good for your septic system.
These cleaners keep doing their job long after you put them down the drain, killing the necessary bacteria in the septic tank responsible for breaking down solid waste, paper, fats and grease into liquid form. A drop in the tank’s bacteria level will cause a host of problems from an emergency in your bathroom to the drain field not working.
A recent article in The New York Times, ‘Americans Coping With the Coronavirus Are Clogging Toilets’ said, “clogged sewer lines are more than just a headache for residents cooped up in their homes during a pandemic. Spills flow into lakes, rivers and oceans, where they can harm public health and the environment.”
If you’re having a problem with your septic system, whether residential or commercial, don’t hesitate to contact Orlando Septic Services. We are here to help you with all your waste management needs!
