Your septic system is a sensitive piece of hardware. You may laugh at this thought because of its main use of taking away your waste and pushing it into a sewer. However, it can actually be very easy to damage and harm its effective lifespan of the entire system. One quick way to destroy your septic system is to flush down things that aren’t supposed to be flushed.
What You Should Never Flush Down Your Toilet
Using the toilet and subsequently your septic system is a daily task we all have to do. This daily task usually involves flushing down waste down the toilet or cleaning it on a regular basis. However, flushing the wrong things down the toilet can easily ruin the entire system. This is why we’ve put together a list of things that you should avoid flushing down your toilet if at all possible.
Toilet Paper and Other Wiping Products
One of the first things that comes to mind when you hear the words “toilet” and “flush” will be that roll of toilet paper nearby. However, did you know that flushing down toilet paper can become a big problem? Toilet paper and similar products like baby wipes were never designed to quickly degrade in water. Excessive toilet paper and other paper products in the system can easily clog the septic system.
Acids Like Vinegar and Muriatic Acid and Bases Like Bleach
Did you know that your septic tank is a carefully designed eco-system? The bacteria in your tank are responsible for making sure that the system is working well. They help dissolve waste that enters the system and makes it easier for effluent to flow out of the system. However, pouring acids or bases in the system will kill off these good bacteria. So think twice about flushing them down your toilet
Non-Biodegradable Objects Like Pill Bottles and Plastic
Needless to say, non-biodegradable objects are a big problem for your septic system. Flushing these down is far worse than flushing wipes or toilet paper down. Not only will they be near impossible for your system to break down, they will also block vital pipes and outputs in your system.
Grease and Other Oils
If there is anything that can cause a number of problems in your system on multiple fronts, then grease and oils are that problem. Warm oil and grease start off in a semiliquid form, however, they start solidifying as soon as they start cooling. They can then start sticking to the pipes and blocking off inputs and outputs. It also causes an imbalance in the bacteria in your system.
Dirt, Dust and Soil
Dirt, dust and soil should never be flushed down a toilet for a number of good reasons. However, the biggest one is that it actually severely reduces the lifespan of your tank. Dirt and dust will start sticking to surfaces and wearing it down while also reducing the overall capacity of your tank. So instead of flushing dirt down your bowl, just use a trash bin.