Talking About Sanitation Services

Shampooing carpet, washing windows, and repairing leaky faucets are all part of maintaining your home. While these are considered priorities by most homeowners, focusing on your home's septic system is also important. This system is an imperative part of removing waste from the home in a safe, efficient manner. Unfortunately, you may not realize how disposing of certain items down the toilet and tub or sink drains can damage your septic system. Common household items can build up in your septic system, resulting in flooding, water damage, unhealthy living conditions, and costly repairs that can range between $645 and $2,348. To ensure your septic system is in proper working condition while also protecting your home, health, and finances, avoid disposing of these common household items in your toilets and other drains.

Grease

Grease is commonly disposed of through the kitchen sink drain. Even though you may be pouring it down the sink as a liquid, the grease will quickly solidify inside the drain. Over time, the grease builds up in your sink drain and septic lines.

You most likely will experience clogs in your kitchen sink that are difficult to remove. Over the years, the constant draining of grease through your kitchen sink can also cause your septic system to back up and fail.

After cooking, avoid draining greasy foods in your kitchen sink. Place a few paper towels in a large bowl or on a large plate and use them to drain greasy food. The paper towels will soak up the grease, allowing you to dispose of it in the trash can.

If you seem to be constantly draining greasy foods, consider having grease traps installed in your drains. These traps will stop grease and other heavy debris from clogging the drains and damaging your septic system.

Latex

Many homeowners believe they can flush latex products down their toilets, but this is definitely dangerous to your plumbing and septic system.

Latex condoms and gloves are not biodegradable, meaning they are unable to break down and dissolve in your septic tank. This will cause the latex to float around in your septic tank. Over the years, continual disposal of latex materials will cause your septic tank to back up, requiring it to be pumped before it fails and empties onto the lawn around your home.

Be sure to throw condoms, gloves, and other latex materials into your trash can instead of flushing them down your toilet.

Prescription Medications

Flushing old medications or prescriptions you no longer need to take down the toilet may seem like a good idea, but this can actually be very dangerous to your plumbing and septic system.

Strong chemicals used to manufacture certain medications, such as antibiotics and chemotherapy drugs, can kill the good bacteria in your septic system. This good bacteria is necessary for breaking down and dissolving organic matter in your septic tank.

In addition to the dangers it poses to your septic system, flushing prescription medications down the toilet can also affect the environment. The chemicals will eventually end up polluting local soil and water sources.

You may have heard that mixing medication in cat litter is a good alternative to flushing it down the toilet. Unfortunately, this is a myth that needs to be debunked. Combining the chemicals with the cat litter will only pollute your local landfills. Your safest option is to dispose of the medication through a professional facility.

To dispose of medication in a safe manner, contact a local organization that will take back your medications.

Most homeowners are surprised to learn these common household items are damaging their plumbing and septic systems. With proper understanding, you can dispose of grease, latex, and prescription medications in a safer and more efficient way. To learn more about maintaining your plumbing and septic system, contact a specialist or check out website like http://www.zebwattsseptic.com.