Why do I need a septic system treatment?
Apr 24, 2020 · A biological septic tank treatment that includes bacteria and enzymes might be the most useful type. Although the bacteria necessary for your septic system to function are abundantly present in human waste, these additives may help the natural bacteria work more efficiently. This keeps things running smoothly within the septic tank. This also means that …
How does a septic system work?
Dec 29, 2021 · This septic tank treatment boosts the beneficial bacteria population in the tank and introduces specific enzymes for breaking down fibers ( toilet paper ), septic tank scum that gathers at the top...
Why are bacteria needed in a septic tank?
Nov 01, 2021 · You can increase aerobic bacteria or good bacteria in your septic system by avoiding chemicals and drain cleaners. Also, not put things like feminine hygiene products and the wrong toilet paper into your toilet with human waste from your household. Apart from that, you can add septic treatments or bacteria treatment to your tank each month.
Do you need a septic tank system?
A septic system relies on holding time in the tank to breakdown the organic material. When a 1,000 gallon tank is about 25% filled with solids and scum its’ functional treatment capacity is only 750 gallons. This results in a 25% reduction in the amount of organic treatment being completed.
Do I need to add chemicals to my septic tank?
Chemicals and other additives promoted to keep a septic system “healthy” or “free-flowing” or “nourished” are generally not required nor recommended by any known expert sources.Feb 14, 2020
Is it necessary to add bacteria to a septic tank?
Biological additives combine enzymes and bacteria to supposedly enhance the existing biota in septic tanks to provide a start for new systems or to augment stressed systems. For new systems, many people believe you must add bacteria. While septic systems require bacteria to work, no special bacteria need to be added.
How do I keep my septic tank healthy?
Do's and Don'ts when maintaining your septic systemRegularly inspect and maintain your septic system. ... Pump your septic tank as needed. ... Keep your septic tank lids closed and secured. ... Be water-wise. ... Direct water from land and roof drains away from the drainfield. ... Landscape with love. ... Keep septic tank lids easily accessible.
How often should you use septic tank treatment?
A: As a general rule, a septic tank should be pumped and emptied every 3 to 5 years. Homes outside a city may rely on septic tanks since they don't have access to city sewer lines.Apr 7, 2022
Can you put too much bacteria in your septic tank?
In some cases, yes. Too much of a good thing can cause problems. A septic system relies on the correct balance of bacteria to do its job. An overpopulation of bacteria can deplete the oxygen in the septic tank and turn the environment septic.
Is beer good for septic tanks?
Do not flush meat, buttermilk, yeast, vegetables, beer etc. down your drain to “Feed” your septic system. This is misinformation and will overload your septic system. Do not let faucets or toilets drip or run.Feb 1, 2022
What are the signs that your septic tank is full?
Here are some of the most common warning signs that you have a full septic tank:Your Drains Are Taking Forever. ... Standing Water Over Your Septic Tank. ... Bad Smells Coming From Your Yard. ... You Hear Gurgling Water. ... You Have A Sewage Backup. ... How often should you empty your septic tank?More items...•Sep 7, 2021
Is RIDX good for septic?
If the reason is to avoid regular pumping, the answer is no. Not because Rid-X is necessarily harmful, but that it has created an impression that it can replace other, more important, aspects of septic system maintenance.Oct 16, 2020
Does hair break down in a septic tank?
Hair contains proteins which the bacteria in your septic tank cannot break down. Human hair can take hundreds of years to break down. All the hair you flush down your toilet can get stuck in your drainage pipes, bind with other waste, and clog up your drainage pipes.
Do you put Ridex in every toilet?
If my home has 2 or more bathrooms, do I have to use RID-X® in each one? No, either pour RID-X® down one drain or toilet or flush a RID-X® Septi-Pac down one toilet.
Does Ridex clean pipes?
Rid-X is a bacterial enzyme that breaks down waste in septic tanks, but it can also be used for all waste systems in your house. Applied regularly, it will “clean” the inside of the pipes by breaking down the solid waste stuck to the pipes.
Is Ridex harmful to humans?
Ingestion May be harmful if swallowed. Ingestion could cause irritation of the mouth and throat.
Why do you need to treat a septic tank?
Aside from periodic pumping, regular septic tank treatment is essential to give the bacteria in the tank a boost to help it continue effectively degrading the waste that enters the tank. A monthly dose of septic tank treatment keeps your tank working efficiently and prevents it from prematurely wearing out.
What is a septic tank treatment?
Septic tank treatments come in a variety of forms intended to make the product more effective and easier to use, including pods, tablets, powders, and liquids . Pods are one of the most popular formats, with a water-soluble casing that makes them simple to handle, similar to dishwashing detergent pods.
How much does it cost to fix a septic tank?
Expensive septic tank treatments can cost between $35 to $80 for a full year, but they are usually the most effective solutions available. These treatments are frequently used by septic tank maintenance professionals, but they may not be necessary for regular household maintenance.
How to ensure a septic system is healthy?
To ensure the health of your septic system, always review the active ingredients in a septic tank treatment before buying . Consider the purpose of the included enzymes, the number of bacteria, and the presence of harmful chemicals or inorganic matter.
What happens when you add too many biological additives to a tank?
Too many biological additives will increase the number of bacteria in the tank, causing a much faster breakdown of solid materials and a build-up of methane gas. The gas pushes solid waste around within the tank and can cause the absorption and drain field system to clog.
How long does a septic tank last?
Most treatments come in once-monthly doses, but they can also come in three, four, six, or 12-month doses. There are also single-use treatments intended for treating clogs.
What is a septic tank?
Septic tanks are reliant on the health of their bacteria population, the soil content of their drain field, and a functioning plumbing infrastructure. Without these, a septic tank is little more than a hole in the ground.
How to break down solids in a septic tank
Your septic tank is designed to use bacteria to break down solids by what is called the anaerobic digestion process. Unfortunately, this happens slowly even in a healthy septic system, mainly because of the lack of oxygen.
5 home remedies for a backed up septic tank
If you don't want to pay for a monthly septic tank treatment to keep your septic system healthy, the other option is to get your hands dirty (literally) with a mix of home remedies and manual labor. Be wary of many myths or home remedies to keep a septic tank clean as many of them are wives tales.
Frequently Asked Questions
Besides you owning a septic company or having your tank pumped periodically, you will need to look at a natural treatment like a monthly maintenance tablet to do this for you. If you don't find a solution to clean your tank you can start to get bad smells in the house and yard.
How can septic sludge affect the drain field?
In a healthy septic system that is working correctly, only wastewater should be draining via your drain field, not septic sludge or solid waste. If your septic system is getting backed up or your septic tank is overflowing then this is a big sign that either your outlet pipe or your drain field is blocked.
Does aeration change the environment in a septic tank?
Research by two universities, however, does prove that aeration of the water in a septic tank changes the bacterial environment from anaerobic to aerobic, allowing up to 40 times more active bacteria to consume and break down organic waste in the septic tank and the drainfield.
Is septic additive harmful?
Most research has, in fact, suggested just the opposite; septic tank additives are harmful to septic tank systems.
Is septic additives warranted in Illinois?
The county and city of Peoria, Illinois, alerts consumers that the use of septic tank additives is not warranted. They say: “…………..don’t use septic tank additives (these do not help and sometimes can be harmful to your system.)”3.
Can additives affect septic systems?
In fact, some additives potentially could be detrimental to the function or components of the septic system or to groundwater quality.”1. Presley further added: “One research study, for example, found that the use of a biological additive caused the solid sludge layer at the bottom of the septic tank to decompose too rapidly.
Do septic tank additives work?
The Absolute Truth About Septic Tank Additives: They Don’t Work. by Karl Holt. Many property owners in the United States must use on-site waste water treatment systems, or septic systems, to treat organic waste water created on their property.
Where Best to Put Your Drainfield
To review, wastewater from the household or business facility travels through the main sewer line into the septic tank where bacteria digest organic matter and separate solid waste from the liquid.
Septic Tank Placement Regulations
Besides environmental conditions to consider in determining the placement of a septic system, there are mandated clearances prescribed for various onsite wastewater treatment system components. Local governments will specify minimum distances from buildings, property boundaries, lakes, streams, wells, and so on.
The Cost of Installing a Septic Tank
Septic systems are virtually miniature waste treatment plants. These systems are most common in rural areas, where public sewer access is not readily available. There are several types of septic systems, but the most common is the septic tank-absorption field system.
How to Hide Your Septic Tank
As functional as septic systems are, they don’t always fit in with the landscaping of most, if not all, properties. Tank lids and other protruding elements of a septic system are often unsightly. There are several things you can try out to “hide” your septic tank lids (or other visible components) in plain sight.
Septic Tank System Alternatives
Conventional septic systems involve buried tanks that release wastewater and sewage into sand and gravel drain fields. About a quarter of American households relying on on-site sewage treatment employ this conventional method.
Why do septic tanks need microorganisms?
Septic tanks require microorganisms in order to process both liquid and solid household (or facility) waste. These microorganisms are supposed to reduce the number of harmful pathogens in the effluent (the processed waste) before it gets released into the environment.
How does an aerobic septic tank work?
Aerobic septic tank systems utilize an air compressor or blower system to pump air into the main treatment tank. Here, the air mixes with the tank’s solid wastes and wastewater. This process is called septic tank aeration, and the oxygen in the air sustains the aerobic microorganisms which catalyze digestion of the waste.
What is the purpose of a septic system air pump?
The purpose of the septic air pump is actually two-fold: first, the air pump forces oxygen into the water allowing for the formation and thriving of aerobic bacteria. As earlier discussed, these aerobic bacteria “eat up” or digest the waste contents in the tank.
What is aerobic septic system?
An aerobic septic system utilizes the aeration process to digest household or facility waste at a much faster rate than traditional septic tanks. This entails electrical consumption to run the aerating compressor and pump. This, of course, results to higher electricity costs as compared to traditional septic systems.
What is a septic aerator?
The septic aerator transforms your traditional septic system into a small scale wastewater “treatment facility”. The septic aerator pump breathes air into a holding chamber in your septic tank. This introduction of air allows for the growth of air-thriving (aerobic) bacteria. This bacteria, in turn, break down the wastewater, ...
What are the two types of microorganisms that can be found in a septic system?
There are two types of microorganisms that can do this job: either anaerobic or aerobic . Anaerobic microorganisms thrive in an unoxygenated environment typical in traditional septic systems. On the other hand, aerobic microorganisms need oxygen to effectively process your household waste. This is where aeration comes in.
How fast can a septic tank process waste?
The National Park Service notes that the use of aerobic septic tank systems can aid in processing waste with speeds up to 20 times faster than traditional septic tank systems. Unprocessed solid wastes will either settle to the bottom of the septic tank as sludge or will flow through a settling chamber.
Key considerations
Not all homes have access to a sewer system. In such areas, a septic system is necessary to keep and store waste from toilets, sinks, tubs, washing machines, dishwashers, and garbage disposals. A septic system is basically an underground tank where waste is contained.
Septic tank treatment features
Harsh chemicals can cause septic tank components to malfunction and corrode. That’s why quality septic tank treatments are made with natural, biodegradable ingredients that aren’t likely to damage the system, plus they’re environmentally friendly, too.
Septic tank treatment prices
The price you pay for a septic tank treatment depends on the brand, quantity, and treatment process. Prices vary somewhat depending on these criteria, but you can expect to pay between $11 and $80 for multi-month treatments ranging up to 14 months, and between $8 and $12 for one-time alternatives.
Tips
Don’t flush chemicals and harsh cleaners down your toilet if you have a septic system. They can corrode your tank and kill the “good” bacteria that dissolve organic waste.
Other products we considered
As you browse the different septic treatment options available, you’ll want to choose a product that contains quality ingredients and is convenient to use.
How does a septic system work?
Touted as the eco-friendly alternative to the chemically-laden waste treatment facilities used by many cities, septic systems work to naturally purify wastewater. And while a properly functioning system requires little more than routine cleanings every 2-4 years, some homeowners strive to make their septic systems more efficient by using additives, like Rid-X, to give the bacteria in their tanks a little boost. But beware! Those expensive additives not only interfere with your system’s treatment process, but they also put your entire septic system at risk of catastrophic failure.
How to keep bacteria in septic system?
Better methods for maintaining bacteria in your septic system. The best thing you can do to make sure your septic system is working the best it can is to keep a close eye on what you pour down the drain. Never treat your toilet or your sinks like a garbage can!
How often should you pump out septic tank sludge?
This layer of sludge needs to be pumped out of your system every 2-4 years.
How much does it cost to replace a septic system?
And when the average cost to replace a septic system is $13,000 but can range upwards of $25,000, you may want to think twice before dumping potentially system-killing additives into your septic system.
Can you flush a septic tank with a garbage disposal?
Garbage disposals are not recommended for a home that has a septic system because they flood the system with organic solids that the bacteria in the septic tank is not equipped to tackle. Never flush inorganic materials, like feminine hygiene products, kitty litter, cigarette butts, or paper towels.
Can you use a garbage disposal in a septic system?
– into your system as they can destroy the bacteria that works to keep your system functioning properly. Garbage disposals are not recommended for a home that has a septic system ...
Can additives affect a septic system?
Those expensive additives not only interfere with your system’s treatment process, but they also put your entire septic system at risk of catastrophic failure.
How often should I put yeast in my septic tank?
While researching in social media on how best to take care of our septic tank system, I noticed several posts that recommend to put baking yeast in the septic tank every few months. This, they say, is to put good bacteria back into the tank. Well, if you know a little about yeast, fungi, or bacteria, this yeast cure for your septic tank doesn’t ...
How to contact a septic system technician?
Sign up on our website to schedule any services – or call us at 1-800-499-1682 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you have any questions about keeping your septic system healthy, don’t hesitate to contact us today!
How to clean a drain with food scraps?
Put food scraps down the drain, even with a garbage disposal. Use bleach or other caustic cleaners. Put any kind of poisons, paint thinners, solvents, or paint down the drain. Use chemical-based cleaners or drain opening products.
Is yeast a natural septic tank additive?
Yeast is not the “natural septic tank additive” it’s hyped up to be. While researching the validity of adding yeast to a septic system, I’ve found a great divide. Septic professionals who promote the use of yeast in the septic. Homeowners who revere the septic professionals who promote the use of yeast. Bloggers who promote the “natural” solution ...
Does yeast help septic systems?
Adding yeast to your septic system may help break down some starchy materials in the tank. But yeast will not break down the greasy scum layer, nor any plant matter (think of the salads and other vegetables you ate), nor any proteins (meat products). And yeast will not add bacteria to your septic tank. Yeast is not the “natural septic tank ...
Can you use yeast to clean a septic tank?
Well, if you know a little about yeast, fungi, or bacteria, this yeast cure for your septic tank doesn’t exactly prove out. Grease and fat, plant matter, proteins, and starches all need different enzymes to break them down. Adding yeast to your septic system may help break down some starchy materials in the tank.
Is cigarette butt septic friendly?
Other solids like food bits (even if you use a garbage disposal), baby wipes, flushable wipes, feminine products, prophylactics, cigarette butts, dental floss, and the like are not septic friendly (see our blog post on things not to flush ).