Easy Septic Tips: What Not to Flush

A septic system will function without problems as long as you take care of it. To keep yours in worry-free condition, here are a few septic tips about what not to flush.

Chemicals
An important part of a septic system is the bacteria that live in the tank. These hard-working microbes help digest solids and break them down so they don’t fill up the tank and clog the pipes to the leach field. Chemicals such as cleaning products can kill these helpful bugs, though, so it’s important to choose products that are septic tank friendly.

A good way to check if a cleaning product will be safe for your tank is to take a look at the warning label on the bottle.

“Danger” means it will kill microbes. Avoid using these products as much as possible; it’s best not to use them at all.
“Warning” means it should be safe as long as you limit their use.
“Caution” means there should be little effect on your system.
Prescription drugs can be very damaging to septic tank microbes. Never flush prescription medications, especially antibiotics.

Solids
The bacteria in the tank aren’t able to digest all solids. They primarily take care of human waste and toilet paper. Don’t treat your toilet like a trash can. Flushing the wrong things will fill up your tank and can cause blockages in pipes. Keep these things out of your toilet on this list of what not to flush:

• cigarette butts
• oil
• flushable wipes
• coffee grounds
• dental floss
• paper towels
• cat litter
• condoms
• feminine hygiene products
• Too Much Water
  • Don’t worry; you’re allowed to flush water. But if you add too much water to your tank, it can overwhelm the bacteria and overfill the tank. This can cause clogged pipes in the leach field, because the solids aren’t able to settle, and can lead to leaks and even sewage backing up into the house. If your toilet is running all the time, be sure to fix it before it causes problems. A low-flow toilet is a good idea.

For more important septic tips, check out https://www.kaiser-battistone.com/residential/services/preventive-septic-care/

At Kaiser-Battistone, our experienced technicians are ready to determine just the right maintenance plan for you. Please contact us.