Why Bleach Is Harmful to Septic Systems

If you depend on a private septic system to handle your home’s wastewater, you’re likely familiar with some of the quirks associated with owning a septic system. Septic tank maintenance in Cleveland, TX requires homeowners to avoid the use of certain chemical substances. Additionally, you shouldn’t use too much laundry detergent if you use a septic system, and you need to monitor the amount of water you use on a daily basis to ensure that you’re not overwhelming your tank.

In many cases, septic systems force homeowners to engage in more environmentally friendly behavior—after all, monitoring your water usage, avoiding too much soap and shying away from dangerous chemicals are good things for everyone to practice, regardless of the type of wastewater conveyance system they rely on! Additionally, these practices and behaviors can help you save money in the long run.

Bleach is one of the chemical substances that you should try your best to keep out of your septic system. Septic systems rely on communities of beneficial bacteria to break down organic matter, soaps and potential contaminants. Flushing bleach down your drains will kill all of the bacteria in your septic tank—even the good ones. Instead of bleach, consider using natural cleaners, like lemon juice and vinegar.

Bleach isn’t the only substance that you should avoid, however. Here are just some of the other things that you should keep away from your septic system:

• Ammonia: Like bleach, ammonia is a powerful cleaning chemical that can wreak havoc on the inner workings of your home’s septic system. Ammonia can destroy the beneficial bacteria that live in your tank, and may eventually lead to a buildup of harmful gases that can leak out of your tank.
• Detergents: Laundry detergents and dish detergents aren’t the same thing as soap—detergents are designed to foam up and contain a number of potentially harmful chemicals that, when released into your drain field, could damage local wildlife and even contaminate your own supply of drinking water.
• Drain cleaners: In small quantities, commercial chemical drain cleaners should be fine. They may have a corrosive effect on parts of your septic system, however. Additionally, they might also damage the natural balance of bacteria and other substances that live in your septic system.
• Oils: Cooking oils are among the worst things that you can dump into your septic system. Because they harden and thicken when cooled, oils are likely to cause blockages in your septic system, potentially leading to serious problems both in your tank and in your drain field.

All Pro Septic is a premier expert in septic tank maintenance in Cleveland, TX. We’re proud to be among the region’s most trusted septic system maintenance, repair and installation companies. We offer septic services for industrial, commercial and residential properties. Regardless of the condition of your septic tank, you can count on one of our friendly representatives to provide you with high-quality service. To learn more, reach out to one of our septic system experts today.

Categorised in: Septic System Maintenance, Septic Tank Service