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These tips provide a guide to help maintain all types of septic systems  

Do Not:

Do Not flush anything down your toilet except toilet paper and human waste.

Do not plant large trees or shrubs close to your drain field pipe system.

Do not cover the drain field or septic tank with concrete, asphalt or any other impermeable materials.

Do not walk around your septic tank system if your septic system is failing – contaminants can be breathed in and cause disease.

Do not drink from your well water if your septic system is showing any signs of failure.

Do not allow heavy equipment, vehicles or heavy foot traffic over your drain field. Only grass should be planted over your drain field.

Do not pour chemicals into your drains because they will harm the good sewage-digesting bacteria in your septic tank. Dispose of these at a household hazardous waste facility.

Do not make repairs to your septic tank, unless you are a trained professional.

Do not overload your septic system with an excess amount of water. Do not use your dishwasher, shower, washing machine and toilets all at the same time. All the extra water can put a strain on your septic system.

Do not allow waste materials that do not break down into your drains or toilets: hair, cat litter, lint, condoms, tampons, dental floss, tea leaves, q-tips, coffee grinds, or anything else that would interrupt with the bacterial digestion in your septic tank.

Do not pour food, fats, oils or grease down your drains or toilets.

Do not introduce harsh chemicals into your plumbing that may harm the sewage-digesting, good bacteria in your septic tank: paint, acids, lye, chlorine, medicines, mouth wash, paint thinners, bleaches, toilet bowel cleaners, dyes, furniture polishes, drain openers, etc. Living bacteria make your system work and you will kill these essential microorganisms. Call and dispose of these chemicals at a household hazardous waste facility.

Do not use thicker or fancy toilet paper because it does not break down as well as the single-ply ones. Tampons, wipes and sanitary napkins need to be disposed of in the trash – never flushed.

Do not Use a garbage disposal, and if you do, minimize its use.

Do not flush paper towels or wipes of any sort. Flushable wipes are NOT flushable!

Do not ignore warning signs of a failing septic system. Take immediate action. Sewage odors, water backing up into drains, showers or crawl space, soggy water over your drain field, gurgling sounds in the pipes, clogged plumbing, water seeping from the drain field are all signs of a failing septic system.

Do not use root killers because they harm your septic system and are not effective for drain field root invasions. Trees must be removed along with their stomps and roots.  

Do not allow the use of insecticides, herbacides, and pesticides that have harsh chemicals. Go natural if you can with products such as diatomaceous earth.

Do

Consult with a septic service professional regarding the proper distance of planting trees and shrubs from your septic tank system.

Minimize rainwater runoff by diverting your downspouts away from your septic tank and drain field.

For future maintenance and repairs, keep accurate records of the location of your septic system, its inspections and pumping dates.

Use water saving shower heads and low-flush toilets.

Limit overall chemicals into your drains – cleaning, laundry and personal care products.

Treat/clean your drains and septic system with Drainteks – apply regularly through your drains and toilets, to keep it trouble-free.

Compost food waste, fats, oils and grease (FOG). If not, put the FOG in a container and discard through your trash. Limit the amount of FOG and food that enters your drains. Fats, oils and grease increase scum in your drainage system.

Conserve your water use – allows time for the Drainteks sewage-digesting bacteria to digest your system’s scum and sludge so they do not clog your drain field.

Contact your local waste department for the disposal of paints and harsh chemicals.

Use energy efficient toilet bowls and shower heads.

Have a licensed septic service company inspect your system yearly, to clean your effluent filter, and to make sure that your baffles are intact.  A properly maintained septic system will have little or no sludge, or lint to pump. You want your pumper to inform you that there is little or no sludge to pump; it indicates that you have been properly maintaining your system.

Use biodegradable, earth-friendly cleaning, laundry and personal-care products. These are safer for you and the environment – it will help the Drainteks products work better.

Put lint filters on every drain. If your washer does not have a lint filter, have a plumber install a canister lint filter if your washer’s pipes are behind your wall. You may use a disposable mesh filter if your washer’s discharge pipe drains into your sink.

Have an effluent filter attached to the outlet baffle of your septic tank by a septic system professional – to stop solids from entering your drain field.

Keep trees, vehicles, automatic sprinklers, and heavy foot traffic away from your drain field.

Fix leaks in the plumbing immediately so that excess water in your septic tank does not push scum or sludge into your drain field.

Limit laundry to twice a day, and space loads several hours apart.

Test your well annually to make sure that there are no mechanical problems.

Test your well water every year for contaminants: disease-causing fecal bacteria, total numbers of disease-causing bacteria, nitrates, and PH levels

Have a vent for your leach field to vent noxious gases.

Trees that are planted too close to your drain field can disrupt your drain field’s water flow. Roots look for water, and they can make their way through the porous pipes in your drain field, into cracks and joints within your pipes. When considering planting around your drain field, you should identify the types of bushes, shrubs and trees that will not disrupt your drain field’s water flow. If invasive roots are found to be a problem, the tree must be removed. Physical root barriers can be used t o protect your drain field and be installed by yourself or a professional. This only helps if roots have not yet infiltrated your septic system.  Never rely on caustic chemicals that kill roots under the surface; they seep into your drain field and destroy your soil’s microorganisms which are necessary for your septic system to function properly. Tree root killers do not work and are meant for small roots. They will not help for a major root blockage. Only short-root grasses over your drain field should be planted. Plants with deep roots should be avoided.  If your roots are removed by a professional using an auger, they will probably grow back; it is best to remove the tree. When you remove surrounding trees and bushes from your drain field, you must remove the stumps and roots as well. Trees and plants with deep roots should never be planted near your drain fields.

Besides roots, overwhelming your septic system with too much water, improper septic system maintenance, and parking your vehicles on your drain field can lead to septic system failure.

The presence of sewage odors inside or outside of your home is an indication that your drainage system needs to be treated/cleaned, to remove the sewage or the cause of the odors. Untreated sewage has a buildup of odorous fatty acids and methane gas. The presence of odors means that there is incomplete mounts of anaerobic bacteria in your drainage system. The anaerobic bacteria introduced by Drainteks into your drains and toilets reverse odors by breaking down the grimy solids back into the environment: into CO2, water and minerals. Check to see if your soil is wet over your drain field. If grass is discolored or greener over the drain field it can mean that the drain field is saturated with nitrogen from waste materials. Any plumbing that is blocked or sluggish in the home can be an indication that your septic system’s absorption area is clogged. The most common signs of a failing, clogged septic system are frequent pump outs, odors inside and outside of your home, septic tank that is overflowing, and water surfacing over your drain field.

Using biodegradable products will help with the digestion of sewage; the use of effluent and lint filters will help stop solids and non-biodegradable lint fibers from entering and clogging your drain field. Chemicals in everyday products can interfere with the optimal digestion of sewage. Avoid pouring bleach and harsh chemicals down your toilet and drains. Any material that cannot be broken down should not be poured into your drains or flushed down your toilets. Lint and hair can be easily removed before entering the septic system. Lint filters stop lint and hair and can be bought from any hardware store; they belong in each and every drain. If your washer does not have a lint filter, and your plumbing is behind your wall, have a canister lint filter attached to your washer. If your washer water gets drained through a pipe into your sink, you can attach a disposable mesh lint filter to the discharge pipe. A septic system professional should attach an effluent filter to the outlet pipe of your septic tank to stop solid from making their way into your drain field.

A properly functioning septic system will remove almost ALL of the bad disease-causing bacteria and viruses from sewage. Wastewater which flows into the septic tank from toilets, sinks, showers and dishwasher contains viruses, and bad bacteria that can be harmful if they come into contact with your well water. The bacteria in the tank start to decompose the sewage and the final decomposition of the waste takes place in your soil. Poorly maintained tanks can have less than half their capacity because the depth of the top grease or scum layer and the bottom or solid waste layer have taken take up more than 50 % of the septic tank’s volume. When there is adequate digestion in the septic tank, only water flows into the drain field and that water is decomposed by microorganism in the soil.

When there is not enough digestion in the septic tank, the fats and greases in the top layer of the septic tank enter the drain field and clog it. When the drain field lines and soil get clogged, then wastewater cannot leach and backs up into the septic tank or it breaks through the ground and causes wetness, greener grass or puddles in the lawn. The harmful bacteria and viruses now have a breeding ground. The water that seeps from a clogged drain field can contaminate your drinking water well through an unsecured well cap or cracks in the well casing. Disease-causing bacteria can enter your drinking water and airborne viruses can be breathed in from the yard’s surface to cause chronic illnesses.

Other factors that contribute to well water contamination:

Abundance of septic systems in close proximity or multiple properties sharing a well – especially when the septic system owners are not treating their systems with the right type and amounts of bacterial cleaners/treatments.

If the soil on your property is impermeable, it cannot absorb the water released from the drain field.

It helps to have the well be dug as deep as possible and it helps to have the well in great distance and uphill from the septic system but the well can still get contaminated regardless of its distance from the septic tank.

Especially if your well is shallow and collects surface water contaminants, have it tested regularly, once a year for biological contaminants. If the water changes color, smells or if you have any signs of a failing septic system, you should test your well water.

What can be done to avoid contamination of your well:

Adding the right types of bacteria clean out the scum and the sludge and increase the septic tank’s capacity. This decreases the pressure within the septic tank and allows more time and better conditions for the digestion of sewage. When your sewage is properly digested throughout your drains, septic tank, drain field and soil, there is less risk of viruses and bad bacteria to contaminate your well.

Everything to do with digestion of waste is what matters in your septic system. Limit your use of chemicals and follow our dos and don’ts blog below.

When you look at land to build a home, have your perc test done before you buy your property. If the soil does not pass the perc test, you WILL NOT be allowed to build.  

• High seasonal ground water table
• Broken pipes between the house and the septic tank, or between the septic tank and the drain field
• Faulty plumbing, leaks
• Failed groundwater trenches, failed french drains
• Damaged, broken or leaky septic tanks
• Roots intruding into septic tank or roots intruding into other parts of the septic system
• Damaged D-box
• Missing or broken effluent filters or outlet baffles
• Clogged effluent filter
• Clogged inlet pipes
• Poorly constructed or a DIY septic system made without expertise
• Drain filed does not have enough soil above the trenches or perforated drain field pipes
• Bad soil conditions
• Collapsed, broken leach lines
• Compacted soil around leach lines from construction or vehicle use over the drain field
• Blockage from non-biodegradable materials
• Blockages from non air tight septic tank from soil and sand
• Toxic material overload
• Hydraulic or water use overload
• Undersized septic tank
• Undersized drain field

Due to the cumulative buildup of black scum in your entire drainage system: drains, septic tank, drain field and soil, the regular maintenance of your drainage system is necessary.  A septic tank is as good as the amount of the sewage-digesting bacteria and water that it holds. Too much scum on the surface or too much sludge on the bottom reduces the working capacity of the septic tank. When the Drainteks bacteria are added regularly through your drains and toilets, they clean out the sludge and scum, promote a healthy septic system, and replenishe the good bacteria levels in your septic tank that are removed by everyday chemical-use and pump outs. When there are not enough of good sewage-digesting bacteria in your septic system, clogs form; waste accumulates at a rapid rate, causing frequent pump outs and other septic problems such as odors, backups, greener grass and water surfacing over your drain field. Drainteks helps prevent septic problems and reverses these septic system problems.

The majority of septic systems are not properly maintained, and they can fail suddenly without warning. If you have septic problems, you need to take immediate action, and not wait as most homeowners do because the consequences can be catastrophic. If you are like the majority of septic system owners, you may not know how to properly take care of your septic system. This can easily change because septic system maintenance is simple and is the single most important thing you can do as a homeowner.

Every year, improper septic system care costs US homeowners thousands of lives, and chronic illnesses. Septic problems can cause chronic odors, insect infestation, ground and well water contamination, devaluation of your property, and loss of money for unnecessary pump outs, repairs, and system replacements. Problem signs such as backups, wet soil or odors may “come and go”, which may confuse you and lead you to think that your system is improving or that your septic problems are gone. Unless the waste that has accumulated in the pipes, lines and soil is eliminated, even if your structural or mechanical issues have been corrected, your septic problems will get worse. The waste NEEDS to be treated/cleaned/removed the right way – pump outs and digging are inefficient. Pump outs only remove about 5% of the waste. The other 95% of the waste is in your drain field lines and soil. Yoursoil is where the final absorption of your waste takes place and it is the most important part of your septic system. When you replace your drain field, your septic system will fail again because the soil surrounding the new drain field is still compacted with the waste left behind from the old drain field. When properly maintained and restored, your septic system can last as long as your soil or up to a hundred fifty years or more. A new drain field is usually installed close to the old one and may last anywhere from 3 to 7 years; when it fails again, which it will, your odors and septic system problems will be worse because the underlying contaminated soil will not have been thoroughly removed by the contractors. Drainteks not only completely removes the waste that causes odors, wet soil and pump outs, but it can restore water flow to your clogged septic system and prevent you from having to dig up and replace your drain field. When our bacteria are introduced into your drain field, they seep far into the soil, aerate and decontaminate it. This results in a permanent restoration of your septic system.

The Drainteks bacteria multiply and double in numbers every few minutes to eat more and more of the waste being dumped into your septic system. It is as simple and effective as that! The buildup of household waste, mold, viruses and disease-causing bacteria is the primary cause of septic tank problems. Bad bacteria cause odors, disease and contamination of your drinking water. By removing the waste, Drainteks removes the waste or the food source of viruses and bad bacteria, and waste will no longer be present to produce septic problems.

Drainteks’s exclusive bacterial enzyme formulas are specialized to eliminate the gradual and continuous waste that causes your entire septic system to smell, back up, be sluggish, clogged, overflow and completely fail. The buildup that drains into your septic systems includes food, grease, human waste, toilet paper, shampoos, mouth washes, conditioners, water softener salts, shaving creams, soaps, cleaning products, laundry detergents, makeup, and all the accompanying germs!

Before anti-bacterial soaps, bleaches and detergents, the waste water ran through the drains into a pit in the ground; there was no overload of the septic system from the washing machine, dishwasher, and household chemicals. There was not the same accumulation of waste, and the bacteria in the septic tank that naturally eat waste were not being killed off as they are now by the chemicals we use in our modern lives. Detergents and other chemicals we use kill the good anaerobic bacteria that eat the waste buildup. Anaerobic or non-oxygen surviving bacteria are very important for the proper functioning of your septic system; they are difficult and expensive to produce. Drainteks restores the beneficial anaerobic bacteria to your septic system that are destroyed by everyday product use.

You can stop septic tank system problems and restore a failing septic system once and for all with Drainteks. The daily waste accumulates at a rate of 1/10th of an inch per year in your pipes, septic tank, drain field pipes, and soil; it eventually causes odors and a blocked water flow. The digestion of waste by Drainteks’s powerful bacterial formulas create space in your pipes, and restores water flow to your drain field, eliminating a sluggish, clogged, overflowing and backed up septic system!

If you have a septic system, wait several hours between each load of laundry. Too much water at once overloads your septic tank and does not allow your septic tank to replenish the sewage-digesting bacteria that get killed off by the use of detergents. Only wash full loads.

Find better alternatives to your salt-based water softener system: use potassium chloride, or a magnetic system. Sodium can impede your septic system’s sewage-digesting bacteria and contribute to premature failure of your septic system.

Hang your laundry to dry.

Do not use liquid fabric softener – use only the sheet type.

Do not allow any sort of bleach or chlorine to drain into your septic system.

Avoid as many chemicals as you can and try making your own detergent, disinfectants and cleaning products using recipes online with: baking soda, aluminum foil, salt, distilled white vinegar, castile bar and liquid soap, rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, club soda, grapefruit seed extract (natural germ killer), dish soap, essential oils such as orange, lemon, lavender, and peppermint.

Disinfect toilet seat and other surfaces with rubbing alcohol. Make sure that the rubbing alcohol is safe for the surface you are cleaning first.

Never pour cleaning products down your toilets or drains. Use as little as possible and as is needed.

If you must use harsh chemicals, use old clothing as rags and discard them after use. Do not drain chemicals into your sinks or toilets.

Use all organic laundry Soap Nuts – dried fruit of the Chinese Soapberry tree are natural soap-releasing berries that have been used for thousands of years. Buy online.

Wear your clothing more than once – also extends the life of your clothing.

Buy concentrated detergents – for reduced packaging and shipping weight.

Try organic dry cleaning – DIY instructions can be found online.

Wash and rinse in cold water to conserve energy costs.

Read Labels – Manufacturers are Not required to disclose what ingredients are in your cleaning products. Greener companies will display what is NOT in the product and market more environmentally friendly products.

Look for “phosphate free’, “no bleach”, “SLE, SLS free”, “NPE free”. Look for plant-based ingredients.

Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)/sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), 1,4-dioxane (known carcinogen),  NPE (nonylphenol ethoxylate), and Phosphates.

Not only are these chemicals potentially damaging to your health, but they are contaminating waterways and harming the environment. The wastewater carries these toxins and harms our fish and wildlife.

Sodium lauryl sulfate is a surfactant, detergent, foaming agent and emulsifier used in thousands of industrial cleaners and cosmetic products. It is present in nearly all shampoos, scalp treatments, hair color and bleaching agents, toothpaste, body washes and cleansers, make-up foundations, liquid hand soaps, and laundry detergents.

Although SLS originates from coconuts, the chemical is not natural. SLES is considered to be slightly less irritating than SLS. Ammonium lauryl sulfate is not safe as well. SLS has been linked to cancer, neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption, organ toxicity, skin, and lung irritation. NPE is banned in Canada. Both SLS and SLES are banned in the European Union. It is best to opt for sulfate-free, “SLS free”, phthalate-free products.

SLS goes by other names, including Sodium dodecyl sulfate and Sulfuric acid. Ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS) is another variation commonly put into cosmetics and cleansers to make them foam. ALS is similar to SLS, showing similar risks. All these are contaminated in the manufacturing process with the known byproduct, toxic carcinogen 1, 4 dioxane. 1,4 dioxane is toxic to your brain, central nervous system, kidneys and liver, respiratory system and yet it is found in 2/3 of laundry detergents.

Many popular brands of shampoos, body washes, lotions, and even baby products were found to contain 1,4-dioxane. Levels of contamination were so high that many companies have come under legal attack for poisoning consumers. About two-thirds of the laundry detergents tested contained1,4-dioxane. However, all brands with the USDA organic certification were found to be dioxane-free.

,4-dioxane is a by-product of SLS, which is an extremely common ingredient in detergents.  1,4-dioxane is considered by the State of California to cause cancer and has been found to be potentially toxic to your brain and central nervous system, kidneys, liver and respiratory system. According to the CDC, and the Organic Consumers Association: The cumulative effects of 1,4-dioxane exposure, even at very low levels of a few parts per billion resulted in laboratory animals developing cancer. 1,4-dioxane is readily absorbed through the lungs, skin and gastrointestinal tract of mammals. The U.S. federal regulation systems consider dioxane’s potency to be equivalent to or greater than many pesticides considered dangerous to humans. Cosmetics and detergents contaminated with 1,4-dioxane may also have traces of other contaminants, including formaldehyde, nitrosamines, and phthalates. Like SLS and SLES, NPE is an inexpensive nonionic surfactant frequently used in laundry detergents. NPE is an endocrine disruptor and estrogen mimicker that can potentially cause hormonal problems, or even cancer. NPE is banned in the use of laundry detergents in Canada and the European Union.

Look for toothpastes, shampoos and other personal care products marked “SLS Free”. Sodium coco sulfate is less irritating than SLS and SLES.

Phosphates are the main cleaning ingredient in many detergents and household cleaners because they break down dirt particles and remove stains by softening the water and allowing suds to form, which enhances the cleaning power of the detergent. Some dishwasher tabs are made of more than 30 percent phosphates. There are human health problems as well as major environmental hazards associated with phosphates. Phosphate residues on items that have been cleaned with phosphate-containing detergents have been known to cause nausea, diarrhea and skin irritations. The largest concern with phosphates is the environmental hazards they create. Phosphates are difficult to remove from wastewater and often end up in rivers and lakes, where they increase algae growth, choking off waterways and suffocating salmon and other aquatic life, starving them of oxygen. Since detergents are available with or without phosphates, use only phosphate-free detergents.