If you have a septic system and it’s working fine, it’s very easy to forget about the things you throw down your kitchen or bathroom sink. Busy lives make it difficult to remember what you should and should not be throwing down the drain. In order to maintain a healthy septic system, there are several things you should try to avoid putting down your drain to keep everything working the way it should. This simple guide will explain the what and why of things to avoid so you can steer clear of costly septic clogs and repairs.
Things You Should Never Put Down the Drain
Even though it might be tempting to toss certain items down your drain, this list gives you examples of what you should never dump, and why:
- Bleach: A common household cleaner, bleach can kill the “good bacteria” in your septic tank, causing it to clog. When this happens, you’ll end up paying to have the tank pumped. Avoid using cleaners that contain bleach or ammonia whenever possible.
- Oil: Most people use cooking oil for a verity of reasons, but these oils can clog your septic system and create a thick, nasty sludge. This also pertains to products like mayonnaise and certain salad dressings that contain oil. Keep any oil in a sealed Mason jar or other container and dispose of it properly.
- Butter, grease, and fat: Just like cooking oil, ingredients like butter and grease will create a thick layer of gunk in your tank. Leftover grease and fats should never be dumped down the drain since they can cause serious issues with your grease trap. When these items melt, they can actually block water from flowing over time.
- Eggshells: Eggshells seem delicate, but when you dump them in the sink, they can be difficult to break down. Your grinding apparatus will have to work harder to keep up with the process of grinding the shells down, which can cause it to malfunction.
- Flour: Flour is probably not something you’re worried about but throwing flour down the sink can actually turn it into a thick paste when it mixes with water.
- Pasta: When you cook pasta, it expands because it absorbs the water from the pot. The same principle applies when you dump it down the drain, except that now it’s causing a blockage in your plumbing and septic tank. Toss your uneaten pasta in the trash can instead.
When you avoid dumping these items down the drain, you stand a much better chance of enjoying a healthy, functioning plumbing and septic system for a long time to come.
If you live in the Greenville or Anderson areas and need help with septic system installation, maintenance or repair, remember to call Palmetto Pumpers at 864-385-3933 and schedule an appointment today.
