The bacteria in your septic tank are primarily responsible for breaking down waste to keep it in decent working order. If a good balance of these bacteria is not within your septic tank, you will face expensive repairs or system failure altogether. Fortunately, there are natural ways in which to enhance the bacterial growth of your septic tank.
Installation, fixing, and maintenance of septic are fully provided by us as high-quality septic services here in Rooter Man Plumbing. Here is how to increase good bacteria in your septic tank through effective and natural methods.
1. Pour 1/2 cup dry baking yeast down your drain every three months.
One easy way to promote bacterial action in your septic tank is by adding dry baking yeast into the toilet and flushing it in. Adding good bacteria through baking yeast is helpful in degrading organic material. Avoid overuse, as 1/2 cup per three months is just sufficient. Overuse can be a disaster through excessive foaming that may threaten to disturb the septic system balance.
2. Periodically Pour Diluted Vinegar Down Your Drains
Periodically pouring diluted vinegar down your drains can be a good maintenance practice for the environment of bacterial growth. Vinegar clears off minor clogs and keeps a balance that is friendly to good bacteria. Like baking yeast, however, you should not overuse vinegar since it may affect the pH balance of the tank.
3. Regular Septic Tank Pumping
The regular maintenance of septic systems includes septic tank pumping and cleaning, which is always very important for the health of the system. This pumping of your septic tank will clear out the solid wastes that have been building up over time, paving way for newer wastes and giving bacteria a better space to work their reprocessing magic. In other words, by removing excess sludge, you leave the bacteria more room to break down new organic matter. You ensure that bacteria work in an efficient environment.
4. Use Water Frugally
Water conservation maintains your septic system’s balance of bacteria. It flushes out the good bacteria and puts additional pressure on the drain field. Conserve water by:
Taking shorter showers
Fixing leaky faucets
Spacing out loads of laundry
That would give them the chance to survive without being washed off and also avoid overloading the system at specific periods.
What To Avoid
1. Don’t Use Septic Tank Additives
While septic tank additives might sound helpful to the bacterial balance, it’s the reverse. Most septic systems don’t need them and are just a natural ecosystem in balance. The addition of such products could be pretty harmful.
2. Avoid Bleach and Harsh Chemicals
If you use bleach down your drains or in your toilet, you will kill all the bacteria in your system. This includes the good bacteria in your septic tank that help to break down your waste. If there isn’t enough bacteria in your tank, then you risk your waste building up and causing blockages or other such problems. You are better off not using harsh cleaning chemicals at all.
3. Avoid the Use of Antibacterial Soaps
Antibacterial soap kills off good bacteria too when killing off the germs in your septic system. Use alternative soaps and cleaning products and follow regular soaps to maintain the good bacteria count in your septic tank to help your septic tank keep working right.
4. Never Flush Non-Flushable Items
Wet wipes, diapers, feminine hygiene products, and medications should never be in your toilet to be flushed. These items are complicated to break down and will lead to clogs in the system and stop the growth of healthy bacteria needed to process your waste inside your septic tank.
Professional Septic Services
Professional septic service at Rooter Man Plumbing is required for your septic system to perform at its best continuously. We have been offering quality septic services such as septic tank installation, repair, and drain field maintenance for more than 40 years. Call today to set up your appointment and keep your septic system running perfectly for years.