Septic Do’s and Don’ts

SEPTIC DO’S AND DON’TS

3 STEP MAINTENANCE

It’s incredibly important for you to keep your septic system well-maintained. The average cost of a septic system replacement is $26,000! To limit your risk of ever having to pay this large sum, the most important “do” for your septic system is to keep it maintained using our 3-step maintenance regimen.

1. Regular Septic Pumping Service

The first step in our 3-step septic maintenance regimen is to get regular pumping service. Give us a call at 800-428-6166 to discuss how often your home should receive service or Schedule Service.

2. Bacterial Additive Products

The second step is to use bacterial additives in your septic system. These bacteria ensure that your system is able to break down the solids that enter your system and keep your system working properly.

Sign Up for the WRE Program, we will send you postcards once every 2 months. A welcome reminder and another value from us keeping your system flowing along.

3. Septic System Filter

The third step is to use a septic system filter. This will ensure that solids remain in the septic tank, as they should, and do not clog your leach field, the most expensive part of your system. A septic system filter works much like a coffee filter. It catches suspended solids.

As a EarthCare customer, part of our normal service provided to you will be to clean your filter.

Septic System Do’s and Don’ts

Septic System Do’s

• Do spread laundry use over the week rather than many loads on one day.
• Do make a permanent record of where the key parts of your septic system are located for future maintenance (i.e. septic pumping service or field repairs).
• Do have septic pumping service regularly.
• Do keep the records of septic pumping service and septic system maintenance.
• Do use water-conserving devices where possible. Low flush toilets and showerheads are commonly available.
• Do have manually cleaned lint traps on your washing machine.
• Do check any pumps, siphons, or other moving parts of your system regularly.
• Do remove or prevent trees with large root systems growing near the leach field.
• Do keep surface water from upslope or from roof drains away from the leach field.
• Do check your interceptor drain regularly to ensure that it is free flowing.
• Run water regularly in seldom used drains such as sinks, tubs, showers, etc. to avoid noxious gasses from building up and causing odors inside.

Acceptable Products

EarthCare suggested detergents, cleaners and toilet paper for use in Septic Systems:

Detergents

Detergents should be concentrated, low-sudsing, low (or no)-phosphate, and bio-degradable. Any type of septic system should use liquid detergents.

• Amway S-A-8
• Arm & Hammer
• Boraxo
• Cheer
• Dash
• Equator
• Fresh Start
• Oxydol
• Seventh Generation

Environmentally Friendly Laundry Detergents:

• All Free and Clear Liquid Laundry Detergent
• Bi-O-Kleen Laundry Powder
• Cal Ben Seafoam Laundry Soap
• Charlie’s Soap Laundry Detergent
• Country Save Laundry Products
• Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds
• Earth Friendly Laundry Products
• Ecover Liquid Laundry Wash
• Ecover Ultra Washing Powder
• Ecover Wool Wash Laundry Liquid
• Healthy Living Fresh Laundry Concentrate
• Mountain Green Ultra Laundry Liquid
• Mrs. Meyers Laundry Detergent
• Naturally Yours Laundry Detergent
• Oxy Prime Laundry Detergent
• Planet Ultra Liquid or Powdered Laundry Detergent
• Planet Delicate Laundry Wash
• Restore Laundry Detergent
• Seventh Generation Laundry Liquid
• Seventh Generation Laundry Powder
• Sodasan Soap Washing Powder

Toilet Paper:

EarthCare recommends using single ply toilet paper because it breaks down in the septic system faster and better then higher ply count toilet paper.

• Cottenelle
• White Cloud
• Northern

Cleaning products:

EarthCare recommends using non-chlorine, non-ammonia, non-antibacterial, non-toxic and bio-degradable cleaning products. Most all-natural cleaners are septic safe.

Septic System Don’ts

• Don’t overload the septic system with high volumes of water.
• Don’t connect basement sump pumps to the on-site septic system.
• Don’t connect backwash from water treatment devices directly to the on-site septic system without professional advice.
• Don’t use a garbage disposal. Chopped up food particles do not break down in the septic tank and can make their way out into your leach field lines causing clogs.
• Don’t allow large amounts of fats, chemicals, or solvents to enter the septic system; don’t allow any plastics to enter.
• Don’t enter a septic tank without proper ventilation. A second person is required to be present above ground and other requirements by law are met for confined spaces. Sewer gasses can be fatal.
• Don’t allow vehicles or heavy equipment to drive over or park on the leach field. This may compact the soil and crush the piping.
• Don’t plant anything over the leach field except grass. Especially do not cover the septic tank or leach field with asphalt or concrete or other impermeable material.
• Don’t put in a separate pipe to carry wash waters to a side ditch or woods. These “greywaters” also contain disease- carrying organisms.
• Above all else- DON’T wait for signs of failure. Check the septic system regularly.

Do Not Flush

The best thing to do for your septic system is to be sure not to flush anything other than human waste and toilet paper (preferably 1 ply toilet paper).

Even if items are marked as “septic safe” do not flush them. For example, some baby wipes and cat litter may be labeled this way. It is not good for your septic system to flush anything other than human waste and toilet paper because it does not break down in the septic system correctly.

No Flush List

• Coffee Grounds
• Disposable Diapers
• Sanitary Napkins
• Cigarettes
• Fats, Grease & Oils
• Disinfectants
• Photographic Chemicals
• Pills & Unused Medication
• Thinners
• Backwash Water from Water Softeners
• Kitty Litter
• Tampons
• Condoms
• Plastic Materials
• Paper Towels
• Tissues
• Cloth
• Dental Floss
• Pesticides
• Other Chemical Wastes
• Paints
• Varnishes
• Waste Oils
• Poisons
• Sump Pump Discharge

Odors

Odors coming from outside the house can be an indication that your septic system is overfull and you need septic pumping service. A vent pipe may also be installed to help release odors from the septic system.

Sometimes when drains are not used the noxious gases can build up and cause odors. For example, if you have a shower downstairs that gets little use you may notice that at times there is an odor coming from that area. Running the water regularly in those drains will help keep odors at bay.

Toilets And Slow Drains

Garbage disposals are not a good thing to have along with a septic system. Chopped up food particles from the garbage disposal make their way into the tank and do not completely biodegrade before they can get out into your leach field lines. These lines can then become clogged with food and cause a back-up.

Having a filter will be a good way to help prevent this from becoming an issue. Filters are placed on the outlet line of your septic tank and keep the hair, grit, grime, and food particles from escaping into your leach field lines and causing issues.