Can I Flush Household Chemicals into a Septic Tank? - Septic Tank Maintenance Advice InspectAPedia® -
What common household cleaners or chemicals are OK to flush into the septic tank?
What household cleaners or other common household liquids should NOT be flushed into the septic tank?
What do bleach, epsom salts, liquor, whiskey, wine do to the septic tank and drainfield?
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Is it ok to flush common household chemicals & household cleaners cleaners into the septic tank? What typical household chemicals and substances are safe to flush down the toilet and into a private septic system? What may damage the septic tank or leach fields?
This document explains how to extend the life of the septic system by being careful about what goes into it.
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This document is a chapter of Inspecting, Testing, & Maintaining Residential Septic Systems an online book on septic systems.
HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS - Effects of Household Chemicals Flushed Into a Septic System
Household Chemicals Commonly Put Into Septic System or Down Building Drains
Ammonia - in normal dilute quantities such as from mopping a kitchen floor, should not be a concern. Don't dump bottles of un-wanted ammonia or any other chemicals into the building drains or septic system.
Bleach - in normal quantities, modest household usage is so dilute in the septic tank as to not be much of a concern; but if you're doing a lot of
wash using lots of bleach, consider using an oxygen bleach product (sodium percarbonate) as an alternative.
Bleach at large quantities such in an attempt to subvert a well test or septic dye test, can
damage the septic system and should not be poured into it.
Drain Cleaners & Septic Treatment Chemicals , such as used to unclog building drains, of all types, caustic or organic, should be ok provided that you follow the manufaacturer's instructions.
Regular, daily, weekly, or monthly use of drain openers, drain cleaners should not be needed in residential septic systems and some products that are caustics may be harmful to the system and to the environment when used often or in larger-than-recommended quantities.
Septic treatment chemicals are generally not needed, sometimes contaminate the environment, and are illegal in many jurisdictions in the U.S. and all of Canada. See SEPTIC TREATMENTS & CHEMICALS.
See BLOCKED DRAIN REPAIR METHODS for a detailed step by step guide to un-blocking clogged drains. Articles at that page also assist in diagnosing the location and cause of drain blockages. Also see CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS.
Thanks to David Peterson for suggesting clarification on drain cleaners and septic systems.
Epsom salts, such as used to bathe feet, at normal use should also be OK.
Household detergents & household cleaners at normal levels: Small and normal quantities of household cleaner such as water used to mop a floor or clean a counter,
are unlikely to damage a septic system by their volume, concentration in the septic tank, nor by their chemical content.
Normal levels of household cleaning,
detergents, fabric softeners, shampoos, and bath soap, at normal levels of household use are sufficiently dilute
when they reach the septic tank that they should not be a problem for a conventional septic tank and drainfield system.
However clothes washing machine and dishwashing machine detergents commonly contain phosphates and surfactants which are environmental contaminants. See Dishwasher & Laundry Detergents Containing Phosphates & Surfactants for a discussion of the effects of phosphates & detergents on the environment.
Liquor or Whiskey: how to get rid of un-wanted whiskey or liquor: pouring a small amount, say a bottle or two of unwanted liquor down the drain and on into the septic tank is not likely to be harmful. Frequent pouring of liquor into a septic system or pouring large amounts, say a case at a time, is probably a bad idea. It'd be better to give the liquor away. Look into a charitable gifts foundation if your whiskey bottles are in good shape.
Photo chemicals: But if a building is hosting non-residential activities such
as a photo lab or other activity that sends a concentrated dose of chemicals into the system it's likely to be a problem either
for the septic system or for the environment.
While liquids are not going to clog a pipe, they can, especially if in high concentration, damage the
bacterial action in the septic tank or in the leach fields where the biomat is needed to process pathogens and thus to make
the effluent safe to discharge into the environment.
Even a chemical which does not directly damage the biomat may
be nonetheless neither filtered nor neutralized by the septic system process. So if you're dumping large amounts of photo chemicals
or cleaners down your drains you may be discharging these into the environment, and contaminating it.
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Thanks to reader David Peterson for suggesting text clarification on drain cleaners 04/2009
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