Do's and Don'ts of Septic Tank Use

Your septic system is one of the most important systems for your home. Livingbywater.ca is an excellent source for information on septic tank issues. Here is what they say to do and not to do in order to have a properly functioning system.

"Septic systems thrive on human waste, but some things give them a stomach ache.

Do

Use basket strainers in all your sinks to catch hair – a big problem for septic systems and guaranteed to shorten the life of your field!
Look for liquid detergents or concentrated detergents that don’t have phosphates in them.
Use a dry well for backflushing water softeners, instead of releasing it into your system.
Use a lint filter on your washing machine; lint is a major source of solids that clog drainfields, especially from the fibres from synthetic clothing which clog the pores of the soil and do not break down as natural fibres do. A stainless steel filter is available through http://www.septicprotector.com/

Don’t

Do not flush facial tissue, paper towels, coffee grounds, tea leaves, fats or grease, cigarette butts, filters, sanitary napkins, newspaper, disposable diapers, condoms, metal or metal items. All of these items can clog your tank and field.
Don’t use a garburetor. It adds solids which can be flushed into your drainfield.
Avoid disinfectants like bleach which kill beneficial bacteria in your tank.

Never

Never use caustic toilet bowl cleaners and drain cleaners which are very toxic to the beneficial bacteria in your tank. This results in sewage passing through without proper treatment.
Never pour chemicals like paint, solvents, thinners, nail polish remover, kerosene, antifreeze, gas, or oil down drains; these can seep into ground water and poison our drinking supply." source: www.livingbywater.ca/septic

The opinions expressed on this page are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Coldwell Banker S.W.E. Heritage Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage