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Garbage disposals are a great way of getting rid of food scraps, but not so much if you have a septic system. Unlike many homes connected to the city’s municipal sewer system, septic systems are individual wastewater treatment systems that require careful use and maintenance. Using the garbage disposal with a septic system in your house can be dangerous. In this article, we will explain the danger of using a disposal if you have a septic system, its alternatives, and what shouldn’t be put down the disposal. Call Rooter Septic Services today to learn more.

Are Garbage Disposals Bad for a Septic System?

There is a lot of argument regarding whether garbage disposals are bad for septic systems. The short answer is no, it's not bad. However, it isn’t recommended. Garbage disposals can reduce the effectiveness of your septic system. With these disposals, homeowners often put a lot of pressure on the system by constantly throwing away organic waste in the drains. These organic wastes easily overwhelm the beneficial bacteria that break down solid wastes. When this happens, the effectiveness of your septic system decreases, and you may need to get septic pumping more frequently to break down the waste in the septic system.

Alternative to Garbage Disposals

Garbage disposals are never a definitive solution to food waste. A better approach would be to compost it. Composting transforms organic waste into natural resources that can be added as nutrients to lawns and gardens. What’s the benefit of composting? You get to add whatever organic waste you would’ve thrown into your garbage disposal to a compost bin. This fertilizes the lawns and holds moisture inside. Call Rooter Septic Services today to learn more about the alternatives to garbage disposals.

What Not To Put Down The Disposal If You Have A Septic Tank

• Eggshells: Eggshells are fragile. They can easily create a residue that clings to your septic tank, leading to clogs and drain field failure.
• Bones: Bones are hard, dense, and difficult for any disposal to grind. Putting a bone down the disposal would not only damage your garbage disposal but also prevent it from breaking easily, and could lead to a blockage in your septic tank and clogged pipes.
• Coffee/Tea Grounds: Most of us have thought that coffee and tea grounds are fine, but they can easily build up in the pipes. Also, contrary to popular belief, coffee grounds don’t decompose well in septic systems.
• Potting Soil: Unfortunately, some homeowners pour down potting soil thinking it is an organic matter that can easily decompose. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Pouring down potting soil would put extra pressure on your septic system and can even disrupt the beneficial bacteria balance within.
• Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG): Fats, oils, and grease should never be poured down a drain. Since they are liquid, throwing them away doesn’t seem harmful. However, inside drains, they cool down and quickly solidify, leading to blockages in the pipes and a decrease in the function of beneficial bacteria.
• Plastics & Paper Towels: Plastics and paper towels can’t break down in water. They can only clog your plumbing system. Contact a septic company today to learn what should and shouldn’t go down the drains in a septic system.

Rooter Septic Services

Are you looking for a professional septic service near you? Rooter Septic Services offers budget-friendly septic cleaning, septic repair, and septic maintenance services in the Metro Atlanta area. Call us today to learn more about us and our services.