Your septic tank's natural bacteria (microorganisms) break
down organic waste into gas and liquid. Any organic waste that can't be broken
down settles at the bottom of the tank as sludge. Household chemicals like
bleach or drain cleaners can disturb that bacterial balance. If septic waste
isn't broken down, it can leach into your drain field and cause problems that
can cost you thousands of dollars to fix.
Your Septic's Natural Bacteria and How It Works on
Waste
Every septic system gets organic waste flushed out of your
home. This could be from your toilet or from your home's drains. The bacteria
in your septic are not added artificially. Septic bacteria occur naturally,
developing and growing as organic waste enters the system. Once the waste
enters the septic tank, the microorganisms feed on the organic matter.
Bacteria, as hardy as they seem, live in a delicate
ecosystem within the sludgy mounds of waste matter. If this delicate ecosystem
is disturbed, your septic will not break down the organic waste from your home.
Bacteria work hard to attack oils, cleaners, and human
waste. Oils tend not to break down easily and can clog your system. Human waste
is more easily broken down, and it provides the necessary nutrition for
bacteria to reproduce as an active component of your septic system. Cleaners,
however, are full of chemicals that can upset that balance, killing good
bacteria so your septic doesn't work properly.
Chemicals That Will Harm Your Septic's Natural
Bacteria
Bleach and laundry detergent are two of the most common
household chemicals. Bleach is often a component of brand-name cleaners,
including laundry detergent. Bleach can cause the natural bacteria in your
septic system to die off since it is very corrosive. Even using drain cleaners
and toilet bowl cleaners containing bleach can upset the delicate balance of
bacteria in your septic over time.
Laundry detergent may seem mild, but if you use one with a
higher phosphate level, you also risk harming your septic over time. Choosing a
low-suds, biodegradable laundry detergent without chlorine bleach is a great
alternative to laundry detergents with added bleach.
Alternatives That Won't Harm Your Septic's Natural
Bacteria
If you must use bleach or ammonia in your home cleaning
routine, use minimal amounts to protect your septic system. Remember, the
higher the pH, of a substance, the more alkaline and corrosive the product.
Bleach is very alkaline, which is why it is so corrosive and kills good
bacteria in your septic tank.
However, there are all-natural cleaning alternatives that
you can use that won't harm your septic, such as:
- Baking soda:
is high on
the pH scale and therefore a base. Its pH is 9.
- Vinegar:
is low on
the pH scale and therefore an acid. Its pH is 2.
- Lemon juice:
is also an
acid with a pH between 2 and 3.
- Water:
is neither
acidic or a base. Its pH is a neutral 7.
You can use one part baking soda to two parts vinegar to
lift stains and smells off household surfaces and in the laundry. If you look
at the history of using baking soda and vinegar as cleaning agents, you will
find that probably your parents or grandparents used it instead of buying
household cleaners.
If
you find that your septic needs to be cleaned out more often than usual, the
bacteria balance may be the culprit. Don't let the good bacteria die out by
using non-compatible cleaners in your septic system. The Nibbler® Company can
inspect your septic and let you know if a bacterial imbalance is the cause of
an early cleanout.
Contact us
for
more information.
