Truly Green Septic Services

Safety – Can a Septic Tank Spontaneously Combust?

This question is addressed in an article that appeared in the December 2016 issue of Pumper magazine, an industry publication.  Click here to read this very informative article.

Don’t Use the Toilet as a Garbage Disposal

One of the most important things to remember about your septic system is this:
“If you haven’t, wouldn’t or couldn’t eat it – don’t throw it into the septic tank.”
It will not break down properly and could cause your system to fail.  In the image below, the
long thing inside the red area is a rag that was apparently flushed.  It got tangled around the
pump, and the pump had to be replaced.  Very costly, and could have easily been prevented.

Another thing to keep in mind nowadays are all the so-called convenience products that
market themselves as “flushable”.  All sorts of handy-wipes and now the newest thing is
those pop-off toilet wand pads.  Don’t flush them!  They will clog your septic system and
end up costing you a lot of money in repairs.  Even municipal sewage treatment plants
are having issues with these.  Here’s an article that appeared in The Washington Post.

Here’s an example that illustrates how some of these so-called flushable products don’t
break down and contribute to septic system failure.

What you see inside that red circle are paper products that didn’t break down properly. They can clog your septic system and eventually cause a back-up into the house.

Here’s a list of things we recommend you do and not do to keep your septic system running efficiently.  American Septic Service, a Truly Green Septic company with over 45 years of experience in the septic business, can answer any of your questions when it comes to keeping your system from failing.  Call us at (845) 895-2501 or toll-free at (866) 999-1766.

Do’s

• The contents of the septic tank should be pumped every two to three years or when
  the total depth of sludge and scum exceeds one-third of the liquid depth of the tank.
  If the tank is not cleaned periodically, the solids are carried into the absorption field,
  or leach field as it’s more commonly referred to.  Rapid clogging occurs; premature
  failure follows and finally, the leach field must be replaced.  Pumping your septic tank
  is less expensive than replacing your leach field.
• Detergents, kitchen waste, laundry waste and household chemicals in normal amounts
  do not affect the proper operation of household sewage treatment systems.  However,
  excessive quantities can be harmful.
• Avoid the disposal of cigarette butts, disposable diapers, sanitary napkins, handi-wipes,
  pop-off toilet wand scrubbers, plastics, trash, etc., into your household sewage system.
  Despite what they claim, these items are not readily decomposed.
• Septic tank additives are not recommended.  Additives are unnecessary to the proper
  operation of household systems and may cause the sludge and scum in the septic tank
  to be discharged into the leach field, resulting in premature failure.  Some additives
  may actually pollute your groundwater.
• Avoid garbage grinders. Garbage grinders substantially increase the accumulation of
  solids in the septic tank, as well as the solids entering the leach fields and pits.  Their
  disadvantages far outweigh the convenience they provide and are not recommended
  for households with their own sewage treatment systems.  If used, the septic tank size
  should be increased.
• Connecting your laundry waste to a separate waste system (dry well or seepage pit),
  while not normally necessary, will reduce the load on the regular system and permit
  the survival of a marginal system.
• All roof, cellar and footing drainage, and surface water must be excluded from the
  system. Drainage water can be discharged to the ground surface without treatment.
  Make sure it drains away from your sewage treatment system.  Roof downspouts
  should not drain toward the leach field.
• Backwash from water softeners contains salt that can damage your leach field.  You
  should discharge this waste to a separate system or to the ground surface, away from
  your well and valuable vegetation.
• Don’t plant trees around your leach field.  Roots from trees in the immediate area
  of the absorption lines may clog the system.
• Keep swimming pools (above or in-ground) away from the leach field.

Don’ts
A few things (not a complete list) that should never go into the septic tank and leach fields.

• Footing drains, ground water and sump pumps
• Gutter or floor drains
• Non-biodegradable products – chemicals and solids (tampons, cigarette butts,
  condoms, hair, bandages, rags, strings, coffee grounds or cereals).
• Paper towels and handi wipes – no matter what the box or manufacturer claims!
• No anti-bacterial soaps – biodegradable soaps only!  Do not use what are called
  “biocompatible soaps”.
• Heavy dose and long-term use of Mr. Bubbles/Dow’s spray toilet cleaner or any
  other excessively strong cleaner.
• Water conditioning backwashes/discharge from water softeners, purifiers,
  sanitizers or conditioners
• Dehumidifiers and air conditioner discharges
• Chlorine and chemicals in excess
  (1 part chlorine 5 parts of water is a good spray bacteria cleaner)
• Hot tubs and jacuzzi discharges
• Excessive laundry – loads should be spaced out.  While it might be convenient to do so,
  dedicating an entire day to doing laundry will put a severe strain on your septic system.
• Water from leaking fixtures including sneaky leaky toilets.  Remember to dye test the
  toilet often to check for leaks in the septic system
• Dirt and inert products.  Muddy clothes, fruits and vegetables should be dusted off
  before washing them.
• Chemicals from x-ray equipment, even if diluted because they will re-condense in the
  disposal system and eventually pollute the underground environment which is illegal!
• Disposable baby wipes, diapers, hand and facial wipes – NO MATTER WHAT THE
  MANUFACTURER SAYS!  Don’t put them in.  Dispose of them in a garbage can.
• Hard toilet paper – use only soft toilet paper, they are closer to breaking down
• Dead fish or small animals – REMEMBER, it’s a septic tank, not a cemetery.
• Garbage disposal units discharge.  If you must have one, it should run through a
  separate tank first.  This is called a trash tank.  Once installed, it should discharge
  into the septic tank or a separate leaching system and not directly to the existing
  leaching system
• Hair conditioners with heavy oils – if you use them, we need to know so we can do
  something to compensate with added or different bacteria (none if they are not
  bio-degradable).
• Latex, plastic or metallic objects.

REMEMBER:
If you haven’t, wouldn’t or couldn’t eat it – Don’t throw it into the septic tank!

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Here are some things (not a complete list), that should never go into the septic tank
and leaching fields!

1. Footing drain and ground water and sump pumps.
2. Gutter or floor drains.
3. Non-biodegradable products – chemicals and solids (tampons, cigarette butts,
   condoms, or other similar items, hair, bandages, rags, strings, coffee grounds
   or cereals).
4. Paper towels and handy wipes – no matter what the box or manufacturer says!
5. No anti-bacterial soaps – Biodegradable soaps only!  Do not use what are called
   “biocompatible soaps”.
6. Heavy dose and long-term use of Mr. Bubbles/Dow’s spray toilet cleaner or any
   other excessively strong cleaner.
7. Water conditioning backwash/discharge from water softener, purifier, sanitizer
   or conditioners.
8. Dehumidifiers and air conditioner discharges.
9. Chlorine and chemicals in excess (1 part chlorine to 5 parts of water is a good
   spray bacteria cleaner).
10. Hot tubs and jacuzzi discharges.
11. Excessive laundry – loads should be spaced out (one day of doing all laundry
    is a No-No!).
12. Water from leaking fixtures including sneaky leaky toilets.  Remember to dye
    test the toilet often to check for leaks in septic system.
13. Dirt and inert products.  Muddy clothes and vegetables should be dusted off
    before washing.  This is common sense in maintaining all types of septic systems.
14. Chemicals from x-ray equipment discharges even if diluted, because they will
    re-condense in disposal system and pollute the underground environment
    which is illegal!
15. Disposable baby wipes, diapers, hand and facial wipes – NO MATTER WHAT THE
    MANUFACTURER SAYS, don’t put them in.  Dispose of them in a garbage can.
16. Hard toilet paper – use only soft toilet paper, they are closer to breaking down.
17. Dead fish or small animals – REMEMBER, it’s a septic tank, not a cemetery.
18. Garbage disposal units discharge.  If you must have one, then it must run
    through a separate tank first.  This is called a trash tank.  After it is installed,
    it should discharge into the septic tank or a separate leaching system and not
    directly to the existing leaching system.
19. Hair conditioners with heavy oils – if you use them, we need to know so we can
    do something to compensate with added or different bacteria (none if they are
    not bio-degradable).
20. Latex, plastic or metallic objects.
21. If you haven’t, wouldn’t or couldn’t eat it – Don’t throw it in septic tank system!)