Your Septic System | What Not to Flush Into

If you’ve installed a septic tank, just inherited one as part of the new property you’ve bought or rented we have a few tips for you. Chances are that if you’ve never been the proud owner of a septic system before then you’re likely keen to know more about how your septic system works and what not to flush into your septic system.

The bottom line to remember is this – your septic tank system isn’t a bottomless pit or repository. It’s got limits and it’s only ever able to soak up and drain away specific solids and liquids. Therefore, if you’re keen to make the most of your tank and don’t want to have to shell out for endless costly pump-outs time after time, you’re going to need to keep an eye on what goes in.

The last thing you want or need is a septic tank system that simply doesn’t do its job. That’s going to be a big health hazard, and importantly, it means you’ll have nowhere to flush into. No one has the time to muck around with blocked up septic tank systems – and prevention, if you ask us here at Muck Munchers, is much more effective than the cure.

items that will block a septic tank — What Not to flush into your septic tank system

Why Should You Care About ‘What Not To Flush Into Your Septic System’?

That’s nice and easy – your septic tank, while useful, isn’t a miracle worker. That means it’s not going to be able to digest absolutely everything you throw into it, no matter how good your intentions might be. Therefore it’s really important that you care about what not to flush into your septic system.

Ultimately, your septic system thrives on bacteria. Bacteria might be harmful to us in some ways, but in others, they’re massively helpful. Without bacteria in your septic system, your waste is going absolutely nowhere, and that means it’s going to clog up in layers of sludge and immovable waste that are going to stop your septic tank from draining out properly.

Whether you have a traditional septic tank or a more modern package sewage treatment plant, letting your tank build up undigested organic waste, inorganic waste and chemical deposits will, time and again, starve or destroy those all-important bacteria.

If your bacteria are unable to break down the waste in your septic system, they’ll die off and your waste is going to pile up. Effectively, you are left with a hole in the ground that’s clogging up with all kinds of muck and sludge.

So, yes – you should care about what goes into your septic system. If you don’t, you’re going to end up in a world of trouble. Trust us on this one – you should amend your flushing habits in line with your septic system demands. If you’re new to running any kind of septic tank, this might seem like an uphill struggle at first. However, the fact is, you will grow to adapt to septic flushing – millions have, and you’ll soon find that this slight adaptation is going to save you time and money over the years to come.

What Not To Flush Into Your Septic System

This is where we cover what’s known in the trade as the 3 Ps – Pee, Poo, and Paper.

Nice and simple – you should ideally only be flushing organic waste into your septic system, as this is what your bacteria will be able to break down. Unless you have a bidet installed it’s expected you’ll need to flush paper of some form or other into your tank, too.

However, this is where some distinctions come into play. You should ideally only be flushing toilet paper, in manageable amounts. Many of us use far too much paper when paying a visit, in which case, if you’re taking on a tank, you should perhaps start monitoring your usage. You could try using a toilet paper calculator. That’s going to save you money in terms of paper buying as well as in terms of septic tank maintenance. Just because bacteria can eat through toilet paper, doesn’t mean they can handle enormous, mountainous wads of it. Go easy on them!

ten pound notes floating down the toilet

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it Okay to Add Bleach and other Cleaning Chemicals to My Septic Tank System?

Understandably, you’re going to need to clean your toilet regularly. However, there are plenty of people out there who will happily throw gallons of toilet cleaner down the u-bend without a care in the world. While we don’t expect you to avoid cleaning your toilet, chemicals of any kind are going to spell instant doom for your bacteria. That means you’re left with a tank full of sludge that’s going absolutely nowhere fast.

It may be worth rethinking how you clean your toilet. We’d strongly advise against throwing any chlorine-based products down the loo at all. Instead, you should look to use a zero chlorine bleach, such as Bio-Gen Eco Toilet Cleaner, and a host of other eco-friendly cleaners, which not only will clean your toilet, but also your baths, showers, sinks and basins. Using an eco-friendly bleach will preserve the bacteria further down your tank.

Is it Okay to Flush Fats, Oils and Greases to My Septic Tank System?

It’s not recommended to flush Fats, Oils and Greases (FOG) into your septic tank FOG. Anything lighter than water that isn’t a solid or that will change from a liquid to a solid is going to add to your septic tank’s scum layer. This can crust up if too much FOG is flushed down, which means your bacteria are going to pretty much starve and find it nigh impossible to breathe.

Ultimately, the best thing to do is to dispose of used fats, grease and oils in your household waste. FOG tends to be a very common culprit when it comes to septic tank breakdowns, meaning you’re really going to need to need to avoid flushing it altogether.

What Should Avoid Flushing into My Septic Tank System?

Yes, believe it or not, people flush more than just the basic 3 Ps and the odd chemical or FOG down the toilet. When you’re used to a sewerage system connected to the mains, it is easy to forget how much of a problem other types of solid or liquid can cause when you flush down the drain. However, when you start running your own septic tank, it’s all too easy to realise how much of a major issue that can and will likely cause.
Here’s a quick breakdown of some of the common or more problematic flushed items we’ve heard about over the years. Again, anything that isn’t natural, or isn’t anything close to being a basic, biological liquid, is going to cause both you and your septic tank some serious issues further down the line. Therefore, take particular care and if you do want to get rid of any of the following, always make sure you bin, recycle or compost them (where appropriate and applicable) if you can.
– Cat litter (it goes in the bin!)
– Chemicals (not just household bleach, but ammonia, anything containing chlorine, excess detergent, drain uncloggers and Epsom salts – biological cleaners may be fine, but do read the bottle)
– Cigarettes and butts (use an ash tray!)
– Clothes dryer sheets
– Coffee grounds (great for composting, not for 2inch drains from your sink)
– Condensing boiler discharge (it might look flushable – it’s not)
– Disposable wipes of any kind (baby, antibacterial – they are all the same problem in the tank)
– Drugs and medicine (dispose of safely elsewhere)
– Food (while bacteria can break this down, it’s still unwise to flush it)
– Hair (it clogs your drain; it’ll clog your tank)
– Latex (gloves, condoms, you name it)
– Makeup products
– Motor oil (a rare FOG)
– Paint and brush cleaners (lighter than water – avoid flushing)
– Panty liners (same applies to tampons and other intimate products)
– Paper towels (do not break down readily and more likely to clog inward drains)
– Pesticides (will kill off your bacteria, too)
– Plastic bags / cling film (plastic is a massive no-no)
– Prescribed Medication
– Swimming pool and hot tub chemicals (again, bacteria killers)
– Water softener recharge salts
As you can see, this is a pretty long list. It’s also inexhaustive. Septic tanks work extremely hard for us, so make sure you know what you can and can’t use your tank for before you go ahead and use it!

In Summary

There may be exceptional cases where you are going to need to pump out your septic tank. However, you can mitigate the number of times you pump out by adding new bacteria to your tank, as well as ensuring you are only flushing appropriate items down through to the tank.

Muck Munchers are fantastic at preparing your tank for as few pump-outs as possible. It might seem easy enough to just pump out your tank every so often but – it costs a hundred pounds plus a time to pump out a septic tank, and that’s dependent too on the scale of the job at stake. It’s much cheaper, and easier, for you to just flush responsibly and to regularly add Muck Munchers biological septic tank treatment into the mix.

If you would like to know more about how Muck Munchers work and how to get the best out of your septic tank system do read How to Care For Your Septic Tank System, which is packed with useful information to ensure the best septic system maintenance.