In this article, we look at a septic tank treatment that is a simple and cost-effective maintenance treatment that breaks down solids, sludge and grease and some home remedies for a backed-up system that can reduce the need for septic tank pumping services.
Your septic tank is designed to use bacteria to break down solid waste by what is called the anaerobic digestion process. Unfortunately, with the naturally occurring bacteria, this happens slowly even in a healthy septic system, mainly because of the lack of oxygen.
That’s why one of the top colleges in the US developed one of the best septic tank treatments with the most effective natural way to break down solids and septic tank sludge, a tablet that is flushed down the toilet each month and costs less than $9 per month to treat septic tank sludge. Once the tablet reaches the septic system according to the company that manufactures the tablets in the US they:
If you don’t want to pay for a monthly septic tank treatment to keep your septic system healthy, or pay for septic tank pumping services, the other option is to get your hands dirty (literally) with a mix of home remedies and manual labor. Be wary of many myths or home remedies to keep your septic tank clean as many of them are wives tales.
| Additive | Type | Purpose | Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Bacterial additives | Biological | Break down solids and grease in the septic tank | Effective for maintaining the bacterial balance and preventing buildup |
| 2. Enzyme additives | Biological | Accelerate the breakdown of solids and grease | May help in specific situations, but not a long-term solution |
| 3. Chemical additives | Chemical | Dissolve solids and grease | Not recommended due to potential damage to the septic system and the environment |
| 4. Water conservation | Non-additive | Prevent overloading and allow more time for the breakdown of solids and grease | Effective and recommended for overall septic system health |
How do I clean my septic naturally?Besides you owning a septic company or having your septic tank sucked periodically, you will need to look at a natural septic tank treatment or septic tank additives like a monthly maintenance tablet to do this for you. If you don’t find a solution to clean your septic tank you can start to get bad smells in the house and yard.
Most houses have a grease trap in the drain line from the house to the septic system. Make sure that this is cleaned regularly to ensure as little grease is getting into your septic system and settling on the scum layers. Once the grease is in the scum layers of your septic system the bacteria will not break this down easily. You will need the same septic treatment mentioned above.
To the best of our knowledge, there are no enzymes that break down grease, click here for the only septic treatment we know that does this.
You can follow the steps above to break down solids by stirring your septic system or backflushing your septic systems. The most effective way is to have your septic tank emptied. For information on what to do after you have had your personal septic tank pumped, read this article – “What to do after septic tank is pumped”
You can increase aerobic bacteria or good bacteria in your septic system by avoiding chemicals, sulfuric acid, chlorinated hydrocarbons, drain cleaners and organic solvents if they do not state they are septic safe. Also, do not put things like feminine hygiene products and the wrong toilet paper into your toilet with septic waste from your household. Apart from that, you can add septic treatments or bacteria treatment to your tank each month. This type of biological additives treatment is ideal after professional septic pumping as all the natural bacteria will be gone from your system.
Apart from the septic tank treatments we have discussed, the correct question you should be asking is what should I avoid putting into my septic tank to avoid serious problems. Avoid:
Having periodic tank pumped or septic tank cleaning will clean your tank but it won’t clean your leach field which can get clogged if the sludge layer gets too high in your tank. The best way to clean a septic system naturally is by using a natural septic tank maintenance treatment to keep on top of serious problems before they arise.
The septic sludge or the sludge layer are names for the solid wastes layer in your tank. The most effective way to get rid of septic sludge is by having them pumped out by a septic company that will remove the septic sludge from your tank. The next best option is using a treatment.
This will vary depending on your state or county law but unless you have a pumping truck you will not be able to transport the septic sludge and solids in your septic to an appropriate septic tank treatment plant to dispose of the harmful waste.
We have a good article that covers What Happens If You Don’t Clean Your Septic Tank.
In a healthy system that is working correctly, only wastewater should be draining via your leach field or drain field, not septic sludge or solid waste. If your system is getting backed up or your septic system is overflowing then this is a big sign that either your outlet pipe or your leach field is blocked. This is why appropriate maintenance and periodic pumping will avoid costly expenses like having to have your leach field replaced or your drain field relocated because of solid waste blockages.
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