Emergency Septic Tank Services
Septic tanks are made to break down toilet paper and human waste, but what happens if something else finds its way down the drain?
Flushing items not meant for the toilet can result in blockages, sewage backups and environmental issues. Correctly disposing of products and maintaining your septic system can help prevent unexpected problems.
What Not to Flush in a Septic System
Avoid unnecessary costs and repairs by flushing only the things that toilets are designed to handle. Here are some of the worst items to flush down the toilet:
Paper Products
Unlike toilet paper, products like diapers, feminine products, wet wipes, and tissues cannot be broken down in a septic tank. Instead, they get caught somewhere in the pipes and tank. Some products are labeled as “flushable," but they can still cause clogs or damage your septic system.
Food Waste
Even if solid and fatty foods go down the drain, they will not successfully decompose in the septic tank. Starchy foods, such as rice and oatmeal, will become larger in the pipes and the tank as they absorb water. Small food products like coffee grounds and eggshells can cause big problems. To protect your septic system, compost leftover food and throw hardened cooking grease in the trash.
Medications
Pills, capsules and liquid medicine can clog your drain and corrode your system over time. Medicines and pharmaceuticals impact the septic tank's bacterial balance, making it harder for the system to effectively break down waste. Another consequence of flushing these products is that they can seep into groundwater, which may harm the environment and its inhabitants.
Trash
Do not flush dental floss, contact lenses, plastic packaging, cigarette butts, Band-Aids, napkins, glass shards or any other trash down your toilet. These products can clog a septic tank and pose environmental threats, such as adding microplastics to the groundwater. These products should be put in the garbage or recycling bin, not down a drain.
Cat Waste and Litter
Cat waste carries different microbes than human waste, which the septic tank is not designed to properly break down. Imbalanced bacteria and parasites, such as toxoplasma, are difficult to clean from the water at treatment plants. Cats should do their business in their litter box. Speaking of which, cat litter hardens when it gets wet, making it handy to scoop into a garbage bin but hazardous to pipes.
What's the Worst Thing for a Septic Tank?
Excess solids, nonbiodegradable items and chemicals are the worst things for a septic tank. You can only safely flush human waste and toilet paper.
Schedule a Service From Bolton Septic
Since 1967, Bolton Septic has served residential and commercial properties in Michigan. Routine cleaning and proper maintenance can maximize your septic system's lifespan. We also provide emergency support. Book a service today!
