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Caring for your septic tank is easy when you know what it takes to keep it running smoothly. Here are a few examples of what NOT to flush to help keep your septic tank happy.

“One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is putting things into a septic system that can cause clogs, damage pipes, and change the balance of the good bacteria needed to keep the system running smoothly,” says Audrey Monell, president of Forrest Anderson Plumbing and AC, in the Phoenix area. She’s also a septic tank owner herself.

In order to avoid an emergency septic tank cleaning or emergency septic tank pumping, remembering the following items on the DO NOT FLUSH list will help ensure optimal septic tank function, saving you money, time and stress!

1. Paper towels, wipes or rags.

While they seem ‘flushable’, the are made of compounds which will not break down in your septic tank. Once they enter your septic tank, they adhere to the walls of the septic tank making them extremely taxing on your system to function properly.

2. Drain Cleaner.

While it is tempting to clear up a slow running drain or other junk blocking your sink or shower drains, refrain! The harsh chemicals found in drain cleaners can destroy your septic tank ecosystem and the septic tank itself.

The chemicals can elicit corrosion on pipes and tank of your septic system which obviously can lead to other, bigger problems. Secondly, the chemicals cause the good bacteria (the ones doing all the hard work!) to die off, and because the good bacteria is responsible for breaking down the waste inside your septic tank, that is a very good reason to NOT flush/use drain cleaners!

If you must use a drain cleaner, simply opt for a natural product and be certain it’s septic safe.

3. Toys.

Kids can sometimes have a strong interest (read: obsession) with toilet flushing. We admit, it is pretty cool. However, sometimes this interest includes testing by flushing items down the toilet. While we love hands on learning, we suggest you help your child find an alternative!

Toys or other large objects stuck in pipes can block the flow of waste, which can lead to a significant septic tank back up. For this reason, if you have curious kids, it may be prudent to invest in a toilet seat lock 🙂

4. Anything Nonbiodegradable.

This category could be the most important of all, as items falling under this category will never break down and almost always cause septic tank back ups or septic tank clogs.

Items under this category include anything from cigarette butts to general trash to feminine hygiene products and so forth. It’s important to know that just because an item can be flushed, certainly doesn’t mean it should be flushed.

Fun fact: disposable diapers can take hundreds of years to actually break down. If you’re in the habit of flushing diapers, consider this is your warning!

Make a switch to biodegradable products to help keep your septic tank and our planet healthy and/or refrain from flushing anything not biodegradable.

5. Food.

It won’t matter if it’s a vegetable, fruit or potato chips. Any kind of food in your septic tank will cause a thick sludge to form and lead to a septic tank backup. All of the buildup caused by food in a septic tank never results in a good way.

Try composting your food waste or simply toss out in a trash can. Your septic system is no place for any food waste!

6. Paint or Paint Thinner.

Similar to the drain cleaner, or any type of chemical, products like this will kill any and all good bacteria present in your septic tank system and can also leak into waterways.

It’s easy to assume liquid type products wouldn’t cause much harm if flushed, but the opposite is true. Much of the US population depends on groundwater as a source for their drinking water and it’s very easily contaminated by just a few cans of paint or thinner.

Not only does chemical waste wreck havoc on your septic system, but it poisons the drinking water of many others. Find a hazardous drop-off site or donate any left over materials. Just don’t flush!

7. Water.

Believe it or not, too much water in your septic system can cause your septic tank to fill up too fast and when that happens, your septic tank won’t operate properly.

While you’ve already heard these tips for conserving water, it’s worth a reminder: take short showers, wait to run your washing machine and dishwasher until they’re totally full, and be sure to routinely check for leaking toilets or dripping faucets around the house that could be filling up your septic tank without you realizing it.

“Wastewater that gets emptied too quickly from the tank and into the drain field and surrounding soil could contain more sludge (read: human waste) and scum than it should”.

What to do if you’ve accidentally flushed something OR if you’ve been flushing items on the DO NOT FLUSH list…

Look, none of us are perfect and if you’ve not been following the DO NOT FLUSH list, there’s still hope, so don’t worry too much. One small toy or paper towel won’t totally wreck your septic tank.

However, if after reading the DO NOT FLUSH list, you realize you’ve been flushing many of these items, it’s time to get your septic tank serviced to avoid any overflows or septic tank backups!

Source: https://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/things-you-should-never-flush-if-you-have-a-septic-system/

Often times customers contact Speedy Septic Pumping when they need help right away. We offer emergency septic tank pumping, septic tank cleaning and septic service, so we can help. However, in many of these scenarios customers had warning signs of malfunctioning which we ignored or unnoticed. If you know what to look for, you can sometimes catch the problem before it turns into a septic system emergency, which saves you money and stress!

Signs of septic problems might have you asking, where’s the closest septic tank pumping near me? Look no further! Speedy Septic Pumping service technicians have you covered. Here are the 7 signs that might be present when your septic tank and system needs pumping or cleaning.

1. A not so pleasant smell.

Oder promoting gasses build up as your septic tank fills up leaving no where for them to go, so they escape through drains, toilets and your septic tank area or drainfield. This causes a smelly problem, but additionally, it’s not healthy. The next time you notice a foul or sewage type of order around your house or septic tank, call Speedy Septic Pumping in a hurry!

2. Standing water.

When water begins to pool in places around your property, it could indicate your septic tank is full. The most obvious sign of a full septic tank though, is when water pools around the tank itself and/or the drainfield. Anytime you see pooling water, it’s a definite indicator that you need your septic system pumped and inspected right away.

3. Sewage Backup.

This sign is unanimously our customers’ least favorite! Another reason to schedule regular pumping and maintenance is to avoid this from happening in the first place! If you aren’t on a regular septic tank maintenance schedule or septic tank pumping schedule, raw sewage backing up into your house is likely. If you see any signs of sewage backup, call Speedy Septic Pumping right away and avoid the rooms where backup is occurring. Hopefully a good septic pumping by our professional team is all that’s needed, but if you haven’t been regularly maintaining your septic tank and system, there could be more problems involved. Did we say you should be regularly maintaining your septic tank and septic system???

4. Slow Draining and/or Flushing

Sluggish drains from showers, tubs, toilets and washing machines could indicate you need a septic tank inspection or septic tank pump. Of all the signs, this is the least detrimental so be thankful for the opportunity to remedy your septic tank before something worse happens or your septic tank or septic system becomes damaged as a result of negligence.

5.High Nitrate Content in Well Water

This sign is only applicable for those using well water, but if you are, pay attention! Your water should be tested annually and if high nitrate levels are detected, it can be an indicator that waste water is overflowing your septic system and penetrating your drinking water.

6. Extra Green, Lush Grass Over or Near Drainfield

Usually the grass over your drainfield should look similar to the rest of the grass on the surrounding property, but if you notice a part of the grass that is especially lush and green, it could mean that section of grass is getting a bit more “fertilizer” aka excessive waste liquid. If you notice especially healthy grass in comparison to the rest of your yard, it’s time to give Speedy Septic Pumping a call to further investigate!

7. IT IS TIME!

This sign is more of a rule than anything else, and we saved the best (read: most important) for last. The most important thing to remember and do as a septic system owner/user is to regularly maintain (clean/pump/inspect) your septic tank and septic system. Proactively caring for your septic system will ultimately save you money and stress!

As a general rule, septic systems should be pumped every 1-3 years. There are several factors that would contribute to how often your septic tank should be serviced, and Speedy Septic Pumping professionals are trained and equipped to recommend a maintenance and pumping schedule that is tailored to you.

The Speedy Septic Pumping professionals walk you through the basic conventional septic system functions to show you how a properly functioning septic system should work. In the simplest description, think of your septic system as a settling tank for sorting solids and liquids which will eventually be returned to the earth via groundwater thanks to the natural ability of a septic system! If you want a deeper dive into the mechanics, keep reading.

1. All water runs out of your house from one main drainage pipe into a septic tank.
2. The septic tank is a buried, water-tight container usually made of concrete, fiberglass, or polyethylene. Its job is to hold the wastewater long enough to allow solids to settle down to the bottom forming sludge, while the oil and grease floats to the top as scum.
   Compartments and a T-shaped outlet prevent the sludge and scum from leaving the tank and traveling into the drainfield area.
3. The liquid wastewater (effluent) then exits the tank into the drainfield.
4. The drainfield is a shallow, covered, excavation made in unsaturated soil. Pretreated wastewater is discharged through piping onto porous surfaces that allow wastewater to filter though the soil. The soil accepts, treats, and disperses wastewater as it percolates through the soil, ultimately discharging to groundwater.
   If the drainfield is overloaded with too much liquid, it can flood, causing sewage to flow to the ground surface or create backups in toilets and sinks.
5. Finally, the wastewater percolates into the soil, naturally removing harmful coliform bacteria, viruses and nutrients. Coliform bacteria is a group of bacteria predominantly inhabiting the intestines of humans or other warm-blooded animals. It is an indicator of human fecal contamination.

https://www.epa.gov/septic/how-your-septic-system-works