Having a septic tank as a private sewer system does not preclude a household from using a kitchen sink garbage disposal. However, there are certain precautions the residents and their guests should take in regard to what they grind up and pour into the disposal. Many of the recommendations are for garbage disposals in general, although people tend to ignore some of this advice. It’s even more important to follow the advice when Septic Tank Companies in Olympia WA might otherwise have to be called for assistance.
A Hidden Problem
Technicians with Septic Tank Companies in Olympia WA often can see what their customers have been doing wrong once they open up the lid and take a look. What people put into the garbage disposal may not be evident, however, because it tends to sink to the bottom of the tank. That’s in direct contrast to tampons flushed down the toilet that wind up floating on top of the liquid in the septic tank.
No Cooking Oil and Grease
Cooking oil and grease from dirty pans should never be poured into a sink drain or garbage disposal, even if there is no septic tank on the property. They can stick to the interior of pipes and harden there, narrowing the space until it’s almost completely blocked. In addition, a septic tank is not designed to break down these kinds of fatty substances.
Avoiding Overload
In general, a small amount of food ground up and sent to the tank is OK. The disposal shouldn’t be used to dispense with all the leftovers from Thanksgiving that were never eaten. The household residents might consider how much waste a septic system is actually designed to handle. It’s not equipped to function as a compost pile or trash can.
Routinely stuffing vegetable and fruit peelings into the disposal along with all the stuff from a weekly refrigerator cleanout may end up causing a sewer backup if the tank gets too full. If the residents do want to use the disposal frequently, they may also want to schedule more frequent tank pumping with a company such as A Advanced Septic & Construction Services.
