Keep These Things Out of Your Septic Tank to Protect its Operation [infographic]

At Southeastern Septic LLC, we’ve seen it all when it comes to the things people have accidentally (or purposefully) flushed down into their septic system. To keep your septic tank from suddenly malfunctioning and to maintain the efficiency of your system overall, don’t let any of the following items get flushed down into your tank:

• Antibacterial products—Kitchen cleaners and hand soaps that say they’re “antibacterial” can kill off the good kind of bacteria that resides in your septic tank. Without these bacteria, the solids that get flushed into your system won’t be broken down as easily, which can create problems for your whole system.

• Fats and grease – Never ever pour fats and oils from cooking straight down your kitchen sink! Not only can doing this clog your pipes, but it could also create issues with your drain field.

• Wipes of any kind – Even though many wipe brands, especially face wipes, claim that their products are “flushable,” it’s always better to throw wipes away in the trash instead of flushing them.

• Sanitary products – Dispose of these in the garbage can instead of flushing them into your septic system.

• Cotton swabs – As handy as they are, cotton swabs can get stuck in your septic system and cause it to fail. Plus, cotton swabs aren’t biodegradable.

• Paints, varnishes, and anything with harsh chemicals – After you paint, wash your paint brushes outside with the hose instead of in the kitchen sink. The chemicals in varnishes and paints can disrupt your septic tank’s treatment process.

• Diapers – If flushed, a diaper can create a serious blockage in your septic tank. Always bag diapers up and throw them in the garbage can instead.

• Cat litter – You’d never believe how often we see people flushing cat litter into their septic system! Make sure you avoid this because cat litter is made out of small clay particles that can create blockages in your pipes.

• Cigarette butts – Even though these are small and they may seem relatively harmless, it’s best to keep cigarette butts out of your septic tank.