2 Mistakes That Increase The Need For More Frequent Septic Tank Cleanings
If you have noticed that the drains in your home have started to back up, you may have reviewed the cleaning schedule for your septic system and found that it is not yet due. Since the tank will need to be pumped much sooner than you were expecting, you may be wondering why it has filled up so quickly.
When the tank becomes full in between its scheduled cleanings, you should first look at your day-to-day habits. There are a couple of mistakes that you may be making that are leading to an increased need to have your home's septic tank cleaned more frequently.
1. Overusing Your Kitchen Sink's Garbage Disposal Fills the Tank Too Quickly
One mistake that you may be making that can lead to your septic tank filling up faster than expected is overusing your garbage disposal. Because of its convenience, it is easy to use the appliance to dispose of every bit of old food before washing the dishes.
However, if too much food, even when ground up, goes into the septic system, the bacteria cannot keep up with breaking it down. Because the food particles do not decompose as quickly as the usual waste material, they will build up and cause the tank to overfill, creating the need for more frequent pumping.
2. Using Certain Cleaning Products Kills the Beneficial Bacteria in the Septic System
Another mistake that you may be inadvertently making is using certain products to clean your home's plumbing fixtures. The tank is filled with beneficial bacteria that help to break down the waste.
If you use such products as bleach or cleanser, the chemicals that make their way into the tank will kill a good portion of the bacteria. When the bacteria are no longer in the numbers needed for the decomposing process, the ecosystem within the tank is thrown out of balance, and the waste material will build up.
Whatever goes down the drains in your home will end up in the septic tank. If you use your garbage disposal too much and clean your fixtures with harsh chemicals, you will disrupt the balance of the tank's ecosystem, which will cause it to fill up faster and require pumping in between scheduled visits. Once you have called a septic tank cleaning service to have them pump out the system, speak with the representative to learn more about avoiding mistakes that will result in more frequent cleaning.