4 Unexpected Things That Harm Your Plumbing and Septic Systems

Being a septic owner isn't always easy. But fortunately, many of the principles needed to keep the septic system healthy are similar to those you already use to keep your drains clear of clogs. For example, both your septic system and plumbing pipes can become clogged if you flush dental floss or floss picks down the toilet.

But some potential septic hazards are less obvious. Here are four things you might not have heard of that could damage your plumbing system or septic system.

1. Bushes and Shrubs

You may have heard that trees can insert their roots into septic and sewer lines and cause root balls that clog things up. However, you may not have known that woody shrubs and bushes, even relatively small ones, can do this as well. Water-loving shrubs can display especially problematic water-seeking behavior.

If you have woody bushes in your yard, you need to make sure they're at least ten feet from your main sewer drain. And if you have a septic system, keep in mind that all parts of the system are vulnerable to roots. Grow only shallow-rooted non-woody plants above and around all parts of the system, including around pipes, the septic tank, and the leach field.

2. Garbage Disposal

Your garbage disposal can affect your plumbing and septic system in a variety of ways, some of them negative. For example, the food you put down the disposal can clog the drain. This is more likely if you put in extra fibrous food or too much at once, or if you don't follow the manufacturer's instructions when using the disposal.

If all goes smoothly, though, the ground-up food particles can still affect your septic system negatively. That's because the extra organic matter changes the environment inside the tank and adds a great deal of solids. This alters the bacterial and microbial balance inside the tank, which can cause the tank to fill up with solids faster

The faster the tank fills, the more often you need to pump the tank out. An overfilled tank is in danger of spilling some solids over into the leach field. This can cause tens of thousands of dollars of leach field damage. So if you have a garbage disposal, check your septic system more often than usual and pumped as soon as it fills up.

3. Tractor or Riding Mower

Your lawnmower is typically used outside of your house and you probably don't think of it in relation to plumbing and septic at all. However, the septic system is very vulnerable to compaction.

The typical reasons for compaction might be parking a car in the area or installing pavement, but using a heavy riding lawnmower or tractor frequently could cause some compaction too. So for best results, you should use the lightest possible lawnmower when trimming the grasses in your leach field or septic mound.

4. Septic Treatments

Septic treatment additives are typically used to help out your septic system, so obviously you wouldn't expect them to harm it. But using the wrong treatment or treating too frequently can sometimes alter the environment in the tank, which makes it less efficient at processing wastewater.

For example, some treatments are so alkaline that they can have a corrosive effect on the inside of your tank. Some can also kill off the microbes that your septic tank needs to function properly. So be sure to consult an expert before you decide to use any additives.

These four elements can all cause damage to your septic and plumbing system if you're not careful. Add them to your list of things to monitor for septic health. If you suspect you may already have a problem or if you'd like an inspection or septic pump-out, give JT Sanitation a call and let us know.