We Bet You Didn't Know This About Your Septic System

When it comes to gross, your septic system does not disappoint. But the more you know, the better prepared you'll be for a potential backup or septic problem in the future. With that in mind, we're sharing some of the things you might not know about your home's most expensive utility, and some of the things that will make you say, "ew."

1. Septic Systems Were Not Originally Meant to Be Permanent
   In the United States, septic systems were designed as temporary solutions until all homes would be connected to public sewer. Well, it didn't take long for developers to realize that getting every home on public sewer was a lot harder than they had anticipated, so changes were made to make septic systems more permanent fixtures in rural areas. Most of today's septic systems can work effectively for 20-30 years before requiring major repairs or replacement.
   
   
2. When We Empty Your Tank, We Can See What You've Been Flushing
   Yep... wipes, paper towels, tampons, condoms - those things do not break down. Even the "flushable" wipes or the "septic safe" makeup remover pads, are a scam. There is no such thing as a wipe that breaks down like toilet paper once it's been flushed.  Our suggestion... When in doubt - throw it out! 
   
   
3. Your Septic System is Like a Really Gross Layer Cake
   We’ll break it down for you. Inside your septic tank are three layers: Heavy solids such as human waste and food scraps drop to the bottom and become "sludge." Lighter waste such as hair and grease form a floating layer of "scum," and the liquid left in the middle is known as "effluent." After a few days in the tank, that middle layer is treated by naturally present bacteria found in our waste and eventually, the broken-down waste finds its way out to your drain field, where it gets absorbed into the soil. Sludge is the thick dark stuff that can harden over time and become a real issue if you don't have you tank serviced regularly. If you do a lot of cooking, grease can make your sludge situation even worse.
   
   
4. The Gases in Your Septic Tank Can Kill You
   In small amounts, hydrogen sulfide is what causes the rotten egg odor you might notice from time to time around your drainfield. (If you notice it often, contact us there could be a problem.) In larger quantities, however, it can cause paralysis, collapse after five minutes, or nearly instant death. Yes, your waste can kill.
   
   
5. Your Septic Tank is Full of Bacteria - Some Good, Some Bad
   The naturally occurring bacteria in our wastewater helps to break down solids and "sludge," but a typical septic tank can contain more than 100 chemical pollutants that are a danger to that naturally occurring bacteria. This doesn’t mean you can’t sanitize your sink or scrub your toilets, but we highly recommend using septic-safe cleaning products to avoid stripping your tank of the natural bacteria it needs. Products we recommend for household use include Thieves Household Cleaner or Seventh Generation brand products, available at stores like Target.
   
   Fact: Just 2 gallons of bleach will wipe out all of the bacteria in a 1,000-gallon septic tank, and it can take up to 60 hours for it to recover. Drain cleaners (Draino, Liquid Plumber etc) are another big no-no. Just 1.3 ounces of the stuff poured directly into a septic tank will kill off its entire microbe community—and it won’t come back for at least two days.

The more you know, the better you can care for your Central Pa septic system and save yourself money on unexpected service visits and repairs. We hope you found some useful tips here and if you have any other questions we're happy to answer them! Overdue for your septic tank cleaning? Give us a call today to get back on track. We'll assess your tank levels and come up with a routine maintenance plan to keep things flushing smoothly! We provide reliable and affordable septic service in Lancaster, York, Lebanon and Dauphin Counties.