Most people don’t think twice about what they’re putting down the drain, but not paying attention to what substances you’re flushing could lead to some serious damage to your septic system. Here are three of the worst.

Grease

We don’t really think about the greases, fats, and oils that we consume daily. We eat them, and then proceed to throw them in the kitchen sink, and then down the drain. And while our bodies have a tremendous mechanism for breaking down these lipids, your plumbing system does not. While water and waste products are easily broken down within the pipes, unfortunately, grease and oil aren’t. Putting these substances down the drain can lead to clogging, which in turn leads to your septic system getting backed up. To avoid damage to your system, make sure to either use lots of dish soap, or just wipe off your pots/plates and dispose in the trash normally.

Trash

It’s easy to misinterpret your toilet bowl as a trash can, but in actuality, flushing anything other than waste and toilet paper down the toilet can be detrimental to your septic system. Just like how grease and fats don’t break down in the sink pipes, your garbage won’t break down here either. So to avoid damage to your system, try to stay away from flushing items like plastic, diapers, feminine products, baby wipes, or cigarettes at all costs.

Similarly, try to limit the use of the garbage disposal. What you’re putting in the garbage disposal, and subsequently the septic system, is garbage after all. If your garbage disposal doesn’t grind up waste finely, then you could be slowing down the decomposing process of your system. So try to only use it if necessary.   

Chemicals

Sometimes you can’t avoid using chemical products like bleach or detergent. Nevertheless, using too much of these products, or using the “non-septic-friendly” versions of these products could have serious consequences on your septic system. Your septic tank relies on beneficial bacteria to help break down waste. By using products specifically designed to kill bacteria, you’re destroying one of the most important aspects of your system.

Also, never put hazardous chemicals like paint thinner, gasoline, or antifreeze down the drain at all. Not only will these substances kill all of the bacteria you need to keep your system running efficiently, but they also have a chance to permanently poison the surrounding soil.  

If you’re worried about what might be going down your drain, look into our septic system protection plans today.