Why Can’T I Put Grease Down The Drain With Septic Tank? (TOP 5 Tips)

Septic systems are not equipped to break down oils and fats. When they enter a septic system, they will simply sit and accumulate over time. The congealed fat will eventually form a scum layer at the top of the tank that can slow down the decomposition process below and may also find its way through the outlet pipe.

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  • Because they can’t be broken down, fats oils, and grease will accumulate in your septic system over time and cause problems. That’s why it so important to never pour grease down your drain and to always make sure your grease traps are clean and functioning properly. FOGs can adversely affect both your plumbing and your septic tank.

Can you pour grease down a drain with a septic system?

If you pour grease down a drain, you will end up clogging your drain and nothing will be able to get through. Clogged pipes may lead to your septic system backing up and, in turn, cause serious damage to it. Simply pour all grease in a can to solidify and then it throw away.

What can I put in the septic tank to break down grease?

Breaks down paper. RID-X® contains cellulase enzymes, the only enzyme that can digest paper. Breaks down grease. RID-X® is designed to attack grease in your septic tank, breaking it down to slow the accumulation of the greasy scum layer, which, if left unchecked, can compromise the function of your septic system.

Does cooking oil hurt septic system?

Things to Never Do It’s important to remember that you should never dispose of used cooking oil by pouring it down the drain or by putting it into a septic system. The oil can clog up the pipes and can even clog or damage your kitchen’s connection to the city’s sewer mains.

Can a septic tank be used as a grease trap?

Grease traps have long been used in restaurants and food processing plants to prevent fats, oils and grease (FOG) from entering the septic tank and, eventually, the drainfield or sewer system. When properly serviced and maintained, they are very effective at reducing FOG levels in the system.

Can you put bacon grease in a septic system?

3. Keep kitchen grease, such as bacon fat and deep fryer oil, out of your septic system. It is not broken down easily by your system, can clog your drain field, and cannot be dissolved by any readily available solvent that is legal to introduce to groundwater.

How do you ruin a septic tank?

9 Ways You’re Destroying Your Septic Tank

  1. Flushing Paper Products.
  2. Pouring Grease Down the Drain.
  3. Using Too Much Drain Cleaner.
  4. Introducing Additives to Your System.
  5. Flushing Cat Litter.
  6. Neglecting to Pump Your Tank Regularly.
  7. Planting Trees and Shrubs on Your Drain Field.
  8. Washer Lint Overload.

How long does it take for Ridex to start working?

The enzymes in RID-X® begin working as soon as they come in contact with water. The bacteria take 2-4 hours to germinate and then begin to break down solid waste. If the temperature and conditions are favorable, then the bacteria will multiply to the maximum level that the environment will allow in about 2-4 days.

What is a septic grease trap?

Grease traps are used as an additional treatment component and are placed before septic tanks. A grease trap works by slowing down the flow of warm/hot greasy water and allowing it to cool. As the water cools, the fat, grease, and oil separate and float to the top of the grease trap.

Can coconut oil be poured down the drain?

Unlike the majority of other cooking oils, Coconut oil solidifies at cooler temperatures, which in our British climate means it is solid at room temperature throughout most of the year. This means if it is poured down the sink after use in the kitchen it is likely to coagulate in the pipes and contribute to blockages.

What happens to oil in a septic tank?

Oil grease and fat These will solidify and clog your pipes and drains. They do not break down in the septic tank so float at the top of the tank creating a thick scum. Fats and oils that enter the soakaway can block the outlets and prevent soil bacteria working.

Can you put oil in a septic system?

It may surprise you, but grease and oil can spoil a septic system by clogging up the drain field and polluting the surrounding soil. Polluted soil cannot absorb and process liquids from your system.

Do I need a grease trap in my home?

As far as homeowners are concerned, it’s not a requirement. However, if you know you cook with a lot of fats, oils, or grease, then you may want to seriously consider installing a unit in your kitchen. The blockage of sewer pipes is not only an unpleasant experience, but it can be an expensive one to correct.

How does a residential grease trap work?

A grease trap works by cooling warm or hot greasy water. Vegetable oils and animal fats are 10 to 15% less dense than water and are insoluble in water. By allowing the fats, oils, and grease to cool, the different layers of the mixture are able to separate into individual layers for easy separation.

How do grease traps work?

How does a grease trap work? Grease traps work on the basis that animal fats and vegetable oils (grease) are 10 to 15 percent less dense than water and that grease won’t mix with water. Thus, fats and oils float on top of water. Solids settle at the bottom and the separated clear water escapes under an outlet baffle.

How Grease Can Affect Your Septic System – Septic Maxx

The fact that septic systems are not built to break down fats, oils and grease is something that few people are completely aware of (FOGs). Fats, oils, and grease will build up in your septic system over time due to the fact that they cannot be broken down. This can cause difficulties. That’s why it’s so critical to never throw grease down the drain and to constantly ensure that your grease traps are clean and in excellent operating condition. FOGs can have a negative impact on your plumbing as well as your septic tank.

What Makes FOGs So Bad?

Because fats, oils, and greases are less thick than water, they float to the surface of the water and accumulate at the top. For example, you are probably aware that if you fill a cup halfway with oil and halfway with water, the oil will always rise to the top of the water. In the event that this occurs in your plumbing or septic system and you do nothing, the grease will mix to form a hard coating. It is possible that the grease will combine with other things in your septic system, such as soap residue and some particles, in the worst case scenario.

What Happens If My System Accumulates Too Many FOGs?

The hard crust in your septic tank can collect to the point where it spills into your drain field and produces backups, clogs, and overflows if you don’t act quickly to remove the FOG accumulation. In terms of your plumbing, this crust has the potential to clog pipes and prevent grease traps from functioning correctly, which will only serve to aggravate and expedite the situation.

Fine, So What Can Be Done?

Always remember that prevention is the first line of defense! Never dump FOGs down the drain on purpose, and always check to see that your grease traps are clean and functioning correctly before cooking. Unfortunately, for many of people who are reading this, it may already be too late to prevent the situation from getting worse. Perhaps one of ourSeptic Maxx enzyme products would be appropriate in this situation. When you pour enzymes down the drain, they will assist in cutting through the FOGs and correcting the problem before it becomes worse.

Fat, oil and grease are really bad for your plumbing and septic system

Fats, oils, and grease (FOG) are derived from a variety of sources, including cooking oil, lard, beef fats, salad dressing, mayonnaise, gravy, margarine, butter, sour dressing, and other condiments. If FOG is dumped down the drain, it may build up in the pipes and create a variety of issues. As FOG accumulates in plumbing, it interferes with the flow of water through the system, which can result in the backup of untreated wastewater into the system. Manholes that are blocked with FOG have the potential to overflow onto yards, parks, storm drains, and roadways, resulting in the pollution of both surface and groundwater sources.

When FOG builds up in the septic system, it necessitates the need for additional maintenance charges such as regular pumping.

How FOG affects the septic system

Septic systems are intended to break down just tissue and waste; they are not intended to break down anything else. This is one of the primary reasons why fat, oil, and grease (FOG) should be kept out of the food supply chain. Most of the time, FOGs are not degraded by the bacteria in the septic tank, but rather float to the top of it and create the scum layer. The scum will climb to the outlet and begin to force some of the FOG out of the tank if the scum builds up too much in the tank. It is extremely damaging to the aerobic stage of wastewater treatment, which is found in the leach field, when it is present.

  1. Scum is also associated with the gases that are discharged into the system, since some of the sludge particles may be transported up into the scum layer by the gas bubbles as they rise through the system.
  2. Having airspace enables vegetative molds to speed the entrapment of rising sludge particles, resulting in the formation of a leathery scum layer that is difficult to remove by pumping.
  3. The wastewater must be allowed to sit in the septic tank for a period of time in order for the suspended particles to settle into the sludge layer and the FOG to float in the scum layer.
  4. However, if the scum layer becomes too thick, the amount of time that wastewater may be retained in the septic tank is significantly reduced.
  5. As a result, if this wastewater ends up reaching the soil before it has been thoroughly cleaned, the pathogens contained within it may cause pollution.

Measuring the scum depth

In addition to following the manufacturer’s suggested septic tank cleaning interval, you should evaluate the depth of your scum on a regular basis to verify that it hasn’t gotten too thick. Actually, the depth of the scum is extremely essential information since it may help you determine how healthy your system is and whether or not it is being pumped on a regular basis as it should be. The following principles will assist you in determining when you should plan the pumping of the tank depending on the measurements of scum depth in the tank.

  1. Whenever the overall depth of the scum and sludge layer is equal to one-third of the total depth of the entire tank, it is recommended that you pump the septic tank.
  2. To determine the depth of the scum, place a 3-inch piece of wood to the end of a long stick and measure it.
  3. Make a slow, gentle movement across the layer until you notice a difference in resistance.
  4. When you reach the bottom, place a marker at the top of the septic tank’s opening and note the length of your measuring stick from there.

The distance between the two marks you create should be the same as the distance between the bottom of the scum layer and the bottom of the output baffle (see illustration below).

Grease traps

Restaurants generate a significant amount of grease in their kitchens, which can result in a significant number of clogs and other associated concerns. Thousands of dollars are spent yearly by restaurants and other food facilities to deal with plumbing difficulties that are directly connected to FOG, according to industry estimates. The installation of grease traps in all restaurants is mandated by the government as one of the techniques for combating this problem. Grease traps are designed to catch grease before it exits the kitchen and are often positioned directly below the sink in the kitchen or on the exterior of the kitchen.

In-kitchen passive grease trap

As wastewater from the kitchen passes through the unit, these interceptors capture the grease that rises to the top of a tiny baffled tank where it is collected. The grease that has accumulated in passive grease traps in the kitchen will have to be physically cleared from the area. As a result, they should be cleaned on a regular basis (daily or weekly depending on their size and amount of FOG generated). If they are not cleaned on a regular basis, FOG will build up in the traps and be driven into the septic system.

Pre-cast in-ground concrete grease traps

Pre-cast concrete grease traps function in the same way as in-kitchen interceptors, with the exception that they operate on a much larger scale. Pre-cast in-ground grease traps with capacities ranging from 750 to 2000 gallons are the most prevalent. As a result of their size, they are capable of withstanding more FOG, but this also means that they are more expensive to acquire and install. These grease traps are great for large restaurants and are often cleaned on a regular basis by grease pumping firms.

Automatic grease trap

The primary distinction between automated grease traps and the other two types of traps is that automatic grease traps are meant to automatically remove FOG on a timetable that is specified. Because of the automated cleaning mechanism, these traps are quite effective. They are successful at removing at least 98 percent of the FOG present in the wastewater. Because they have the characteristic of automatically eliminating FOG, they are often smaller in size and may thus be readily accommodated in the kitchen space available.

Conclusion

It is not recommended to dump oil or grease down the sink. When cleaning the dishes, scrape away any fat and oil from the plates before starting to wash them. Instead of putting cooled leftover fats down the drain, you may place them in a plastic container and keep them in the freezer until they are ready to be disposed of. Once the container is completely filled, close the lid and throw it away in the garbage.

See also:  What Is The Cost To Have Your Septic Tank Pumped? (TOP 5 Tips)

Septic System Dangers: Grease and Fat

Grease and fat pose a threat to the septic system. Grease and fat are two of the worst things that you can send down your drains and into your septic system because they attract bacteria. A residential septic system is intended to manage the normal sewage and household waste generated in a home or apartment. How much garbage can be managed successfully and efficiently depends on the number of people who live in your home, the quantity of water that is used, and the products and chemicals that are flushed down your drains, among other factors.

  • Using a complete preventive maintenance program, homeowners can keep track of how much grease is accumulating in their heating and air conditioning system.
  • Grease and fat accumulate in your septic system in several ways.
  • The bottom layer is referred to as “sludge,” and it is made up of sewage waste that has not yet been broken down by the system as it should.
  • The middle layer is composed primarily of liquids.
  • When oil and fat are introduced into your home septic system, they end up in this section of the system.
  • If this layer grows too thick, the wastewater will be unable to drain from the septic tank and proceed on to the leach field for the last step of treatment in the sewage treatment system.
  • Following their passage through these pipes, grease and fat will enter the leach field, clogging up the drain holes and pipelines that lead to the leach field on their route.

In an ideal situation, it should be removed before it becomes too thick and reaches the leach field.

It is strongly suggested that you hire a professional septic system servicing firm to take care of this for you instead.

Never use any chemical additions in your septic system that claim to break down or remove grease, as this will harm the system.

If you want to maintain your home septic system operating clean and clear, your best chance is to prevent oil and fat from entering it in the first place.

Enlisting the help of a professional service provider and enrolling in an ongoing preventative maintenance program can also help to reduce the likelihood of grease and fat build-up occurring at all in the first place.

Household septic systems are intended to manage an average volume and kind of grease and fat in the tank.

In addition to the concerns that might arise as a result of grease and fat reaching the leach field, the following issues and damage can occur:

  • Grease and fat pose a threat to septic systems. Grease and fat are two of the most harmful substances you can throw down your drains and into your septic system. It is intended to manage the normal amount of sewage and household trash generated in the home. The quantity of waste that can be handled successfully and efficiently in your house is determined by the number of people who live there, the amount of water that is used, and, of course, the things and substances that are flushed down the toilet. A domestic septic system is especially vulnerable to the effects of grease and fat. Using a complete preventive maintenance program, homeowners can keep track of how much grease is accumulating in their heating and cooling systems. On the other hand, healthy practices and habits will go a long way toward lowering the quantity of oil and fat that makes its way into the system to begin with. Grease and fat accumulate in your septic system in the following ways: Within a home septic system, there are three distinct levels. The lowest layer is referred to as “sludge,” and it is composed of sewage waste that has not yet been broken down by the system. It is made up of a mixture of liquids, including broken down particles that have migrated up from the sludge layer and wastewater. The intermediate layer is composed primarily of liquids. A term used to describe the topmost layer is “scum.” When oil and fat are introduced into your home septic system, they end up in this section of the tank. Here are the last resting places of all solids and materials that are lighter in weight than water. If this layer grows too thick, the wastewater will be unable to drain from the septic tank and proceed on to the leach field for the last step of treatment in the sewage treatment process. As grease and oil accumulate in the scum layer, it can push down into the liquid layer and into the septic system’s exit pipes, resulting in a septic system that is overburdened and clogged. Following their passage through these pipes, grease and fat will enter the leach field, clogging up the drain holes and pipelines that lead to the leach field en route. The Best Way to Remove Grease from a Septic Tank Having grease and fat removed from your residential septic system is necessary if it has collected in your system. It is preferable if it is removed before it becomes too thick and reaches the leach field. Pumping and disposal on a regular basis can help achieve this. It is extremely suggested that you hire a professional septic system servicing firm to handle this for you. If you do not remove the grease from your domestic septic system and the grease and fat reach the leach field, you may need to have the pipes dug up and replaced, which will cost you more money. If you want to break down or eliminate grease in your septic system, you should never use chemical additions. In most cases, the harmful bacteria that naturally appears in the system and helps to break down sewage and other materials will be eliminated. Preventing grease and fat from entering your system in the first place is the most effective method of keeping your home septic system clean and clear. Empty food cans should be used to collect all of the cooking oil and grease from your kitchen, which should then be disposed of with your usual garbage. Enlisting the help of a competent service provider and enrolling in an ongoing preventative maintenance program can also help to reduce the likelihood of grease and fat build-up occurring at all to begin with. Grease and fat take a destructive path through the body. Household septic systems are intended to manage an average quantity and kind of oil and fat in the tank. The natural environment, such as the usual temperature of septic tanks and the architecture of the tank itself, might, on the other hand, hinder oil and fat from naturally decomposing inside the system. In addition to the concerns that might arise as a result of grease and fat reaching the leach field, the following issues and damage can also occur:

Maintaining Your Residential Septic System is Important. To avoid problems with grease and fat, as well as other problems that can lead to septic system failure, it is important to get your system tested on a regular basis. A preventative maintenance program administered by a competent septic system repair and inspection firm is essential to ensuring that the system operates correctly. In addition to Massachusetts Title V inspections and Rhode Island Town inspections, All-Clear SepticWastewater provides preventive maintenance program services, repairs, assessments, and more to clients throughout Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

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Effects of Cooking Oils

Grease traps have long been used in restaurants and industrial kitchens to prevent sewer blockages caused by fats, oils, and grease (FOG). A buildup of FOG in pipes, sewage lines, septic tanks, and drainfields can result in blocked lines. Residents of residential properties should take note of this and never pour grease down the drain. Even though installing a grease trap in most Zimmerman MN homes is probably not a good idea, being cautious of what goes down the drain is a good idea. Septic professionals in Minnesota, such as CSI Custom Septic, Inc., have repaired septic systems that had been contaminated by enormous volumes of septic tank scum.

Grease Trap Installation

AN AGrease Trap is a plumbing device that intercepts grease and oils before they can enter the system and clog it. This particular form of plumbing receptacle has been in use since the 1800s, according to Wikipedia. The concept is rather straightforward. A drain box, which is positioned between the kitchen sink drain and the septic tank, is used to collect liquid fats such as bacon grease and cooking oils. As the temperature of the grease cools, the fats solidify and float to the top of the pan.

Using this method, the negative effects of FOG on municipal sewage systems and independent septic tanks and systems may be reduced significantly.

How Fat | Grease | Oil Damage Septic Tanks

Have you ever heard of the term aFatberg? When it comes to your septic system, oil grease is a major no-no, and you should avoid it at all costs. It is possible that when you pour grease down the drain, it will not only clog the pipes, but it will also have an influence on the chemical composition of the entire septic tank and system. Almost 50% of all sewer overflows are caused by a buildup of fats and oils in the sewer system. Everything that goes down a drain in your home will eventually end up in the septic tank, which is located underground.

Scum Layers are formed when fats, grease, oils, and other particles rise to the surface of the water.

A portion of the Liquid Effluent Layer accumulates in the middle layer before flowing out to the Drainfield.

Bacteria that live within the tank may not be able to keep up with the big fatberg that is growing at the top of the tank’s water column.

The expense of repairing or replacing a damaged drainage system can quickly add up. If you want to avoid serious damage to your septic system, it is preferable to just pour cooking fat into a container and toss it in the garbage instead of risking it.

MN Septic Professionals

It is not worth taking the chance of ending up with Blocked Drainfield. Call CSI Custom Septic, Inc. to set up an appointment with a Certified Septic Professional (CSI Septic, Inc. We provide high-quality septic services, such as inspections, repairs, and system replacement, among other things. Contact CSI Custom Septic, Inc. in Zimmerman, Minnesota, for a Free Estimate on Quality Septic Services by calling 763-218-4769.

Effects of Cooking Oils in Septic Tank

It is not worth taking the chance of having your drainfield blocked. CSI Custom Septic, Inc. may be reached to book an appointment with a Certified Septic Professional. In addition to inspections, repairs, and system replacements, we also provide septic tank cleaning services. For a Free Estimate on Quality Septic Services in Zimmerman, MN, call CSI Custom Septic, Inc. at 763-218-4769 or visit their website.

Clogged Pipes | Septic Tank Scum | Soil Clogging

The fact that everything that goes down your kitchen drain will end up in your septic tank should not be overlooked. During the course of your dish-washing routine, some grease, oil, and other fats are likely to wind up in your plumbing pipes and sewer system. A good septic system is capable of dealing with a limited amount of foul odor gas (FOG). It is possible that someone will spill a pan of bacon grease down the sink, which will have negative consequences such as clogged pipes, septic tank scum, and soil clogging in the drainfield.

Source of FOG in Septic Systems

  • Vegetable oil, olive oil, peanut oil, canola oil, and deep-frying oils are examples of oils. Grease or lard from the kitchen
  • Bacon, hamburgers, steak, chicken skin, sausage, pork chops, hotdogs, bratwurst, lunchmeats, and other fatty foods are examples of fats. Dairy products include milk, butter, cheese, ice cream, sour cream, yogurt, and creams, among other things. Processed foods, such as chips, crackers, and the like

How Fat | Grease | Oil Damage Septic Tanks

Pouring liquid grease down the drain may not appear to do much harm, but it can have a negative impact on the chemistry of the entire septic system. As many septic owners learn the hard way too late, approximately half of allSewer Backups are caused by FOG (fats, oils, and grease) in plumbing and septic component components. The damage produced by lipids that harden in a septic tank might result in significant repair expenditures if not addressed immediately. Some of the ways that fat, grease, and oils can cause damage to septic tank systems are as follows :

  • The act of pouring liquid grease down the drain may not appear to cause much harm, but it has the potential to change the chemistry of the entire septic system. As many septic owners learn the hard way too late, approximately half of allSewer Backups are caused by FOG (fats, oils, and grease) in plumbing and septic component parts and components. The damage produced by fats that harden in a septic tank might result in significant repair expenditures if not addressed promptly. Septic tank systems can be harmed in a variety of ways, some of which are listed below.
  • FOG accumulates on the surface of the septic tank’s top layer, forming a layer of scum. The biological treatment that takes place inside the septic tank is dependent on bacteria to digest and breakdown the sewage that is being processed. Due to the fact that FOG is not easily digested by bacterial activity, it will need to be pushed away.
  • Untreated septic tank FOG that is not removed from the tank before it grows too thick has the potential to become trapped in the septic tank outlet valve or migrate through the partly treated wastewater to the drainfield. Scum accumulating in the soil underneath the drainage pipes has the potential to bring the entire system to a grinding halt.

Minnesota Septic Repair Company

Drainfield or Septic Tank FailureIs not pleasant, and it can result in a large, messed-up situation. At CSI Custom Septic, Inc., a Minnesota septic repair company, we provide fair, honest, and cost-effective solutions for damaged septic systems, including septic repairs and drainfield replacements, as well as drainfield repair and replacement. For a Free Estimate on Quality Septic System Repairs in Clearwater and Clear Lake, MN, call CSI Custom Septic, Inc. at 763-218-4769 or complete our online form.

See also:  What Not To Flush Into Septic Tank? (TOP 5 Tips)

Can You Pour Cooking Grease Down the Drain? No. Here’s Why

Discarding undesired liquids down your kitchen sink drain is a common occurrence – unclean dishwater, old milk, and that cup of coffee you made but didn’t consume. Cooking oils and liquid grease, it appears, fall under this classification. Dumping that material down the drain, on the other hand, is a certain method to create a grease blockage in your pipes. This Might Also Be of Interest to You: There’s a snake in the drain!

How to Unclog a Sink Using a Drain Unclogger Snake As a result, no. If you have any form of drain, including your toilet, you should avoid pouring grease, oil, or animal fat down it. The reason for this is a little gruesome, but it is something you must hear.

What Happens If You Pour Grease Down the Drain?

When you have finished frying the bacon, the fat in the pan will have turned into a liquid. After a few hours of sitting at room temperature, the mixture will solidify. What happens in your pipes when you pour liquid grease down the drain or down your garbage disposal is precisely what you expect. However, when it congeals in your pipes, it causes a clog in the system. You may notice that water drains from your sink more slowly at first than it did previously. You may soon be able to take advantage of complete backups.

It is advised by All-Clear SepticWastewater Services of Massachusetts that if you do not address fat buildup, your pipes may ultimately need to be dug up and replaced.

What If the Oil Is Liquid at Room Temperature?

As soon as you have finished frying your bacon, you will see that the fat in the pan has turned to liquid. After a few hours of sitting at room temperature, it will begin to solidify. What occurs in your pipes when you pour liquid grease down the drain or down your garbage disposal is exactly what happened in your pipes. The problem is that when it congeals in your pipes, it clogs them. Initial observations may indicate that the water draining from your sink is taking longer to reach the drain than usual.

It is possible for grease to produce a variety of issues in an onsite septic system.

What Else Shouldn’t Go Down the Drain?

Always remember that you should never dump cooking oils or fat from cooked meat down the sink or into the sink drain. However, according to Hunker, you should avoid discarding the following items as well:

  • Never dump cooking oils or fat from cooked meat down the drain
  • This is a good rule of thumb. Hocker recommends that you avoid discarding these items as well in order to minimize buildup:

Can I Pour Grease Down the Drain With Dish Soap?

Despite the fact that dish soap is meant to break down the fat on your pots, pans, and plates, it is not powerful enough to dissolve significant quantities of oil. While it may be beneficial to flush fatty deposits out of your own pipes, the grease is only pushed farther into the sewage system or your septic tank as a result of this practice.

‘Fatbergs’

The disposal of grease down the drain might cause significant difficulties on a much wider scale if your pipes are linked to a municipal sewer system. If you flush your solidified grease down the toilet, it will combine with everyone else’s, making an ever-growing solid mass of fat. Non-flushable objects such as Q-tips, floss, and even “flushable” wipes are routinely flushed down the toilet, clogging the sewage system with materials that cannot be broken down. Eventually, the globs of fat become entangled in these and unite to form “fatbergs,” which can weigh several tons.

(Before you click, please be advised that these are rather disgusting.) A gigantic fatberg in Baltimore triggered a million-gallon sewer overflow, according to local media. Additional Related Articles:

  • How to Unclog a Slow-Flowing Drain
  • The Do’s and Don’ts of Do-It-Yourself Drain Cleaning
  • Learn how to retrieve your wedding ring from the sink drain in this tutorial. Are you stuck in the garage? How to Unclog a Floor Drain (with Pictures)
  • There are 5 simple ways to keep your drains smelling fresh.

How to Properly Dispose of Grease

You shouldn’t pour oil down the drain, if only because the prospect of a bus-sized fat mass scares you enough to reconsider. However, you’ll still have to get rid of it in some way. A paper towel can be used to wipe up a little amount of oil from the bottom of a pan. Allowing greater quantities of fat and butter to cool before pouring them into a disposable container to harden is recommended. Cooking oil should be poured back into the container it came in or into another big jug when it has cooled.

What Can I Do If I Poured Grease Down the Drain?

You should avoid flushing oil, fat, or grease down the drain since it may lead to significant accumulations in your city’s sewer system or deposits in your septic system — but there are a few things you can do to prevent fat from building up in your pipes. The hot water, according to Mr. Rooter Plumbing, will transform the grease back into a liquid, allowing it to flow down your pipes. Pour a gallon of boiling water down the drain, along with a few drops of dish soap, then flush the toilet. Hot water from the tap may also be useful at this point.

  1. Some drain cleaners claim to be able to break down grease blockages, but using them too frequently might be detrimental to your plumbing system.
  2. To unclog the drain, shake half a cup of baking soda into it and then pour an equal quantity of white vinegar down the drain.
  3. After 10 minutes, rinse it out with hot water to remove any remaining residue.
  4. The knowledge that you can easily call our 24-hour repair hotline in the event of a covered breakdown provides you more peace of mind.

Kitchen and Cooking Practices Harmful to Your Septic System

There are certain distinctions in care, usage, and budgeting that you should be aware of, whether you’re a new homeowner with an existing septic system or considering about purchasing or building a home without sewer hookups. This document outlines three ways in which your budget will be affected if your wastewater is treated using a septic system. 1. You will not be required to budget for municipal sewer service. Because the municipal wastewater system normally processes all of the water, the cost of city sewage service is sometimes determined by how much water you purchase from the city.

  1. A large number of homes with septic systems also rely on wells for fresh water rather than municipal water, which means you’ll likely save money in that department as well.
  2. It is necessary to include septic maintenance in your budget.
  3. Although you are not required to pay the city for the usage of your septic system, you will be responsible for the costs of maintenance if you want the system to continue to function properly.
  4. It is possible that these maintenance and repair expenditures will build up over time, so you may want to consider setting up an emergency fund to cover any unforeseen repair bills.
  5. You’ll also need to budget for the cost of a single inspection and begin saving for the cost of a tank pump.
  6. Spreading the expenditures out over several months is the most effective budgeting strategy, even for an expense such as tank pumping that does not occur every year, because it allows you to better estimate the costs ahead of time.
  7. You may need to set aside money for septic tank replacement.

The tank and leach field may not need to be replaced if you have a reasonably recent septic system and plan to sell your home within a few years.

If, on the other hand, your home’s septic system is more than a decade old, you’ll want to start looking into how much a new system would cost you as soon as possible.

For example, if the previous owners did not do routine maintenance or if the system was installed on clay soil, the system may need to be replaced.

It is a prudent decision to begin putting money aside in anticipation of this eventuality.

When you have a septic system, you may use these three strategies to budget differently.

Make an appointment with us right away if you’re searching for someone to pump out your septic tank or to complete an annual examination of your septic system. Our experts at C.E. Taylor and Son Inc. would be happy to assist you with any septic system assessment, maintenance, or repair needs.

How to Clean Grease From a Septic Tank

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Sewage treatment systems are a very vital part of your property and of your house. In order to have a fully operating septic system, it is critical to properly care for and maintain the tank and plumbing lines. FOG (fat, oil, and grease) buildup in your septic tank may have a significant impact on its function and, over time, may prohibit it from effectively breaking down solid waste.

Grease Buildup in a Septic Tank

Because you are in the habit of disposing of cooking oil or grease in your home’s plumbing drain system, FOG accumulation in an aseptic tank is the most common reason for this occurrence. Cooking garbage may appear to be the most convenient method of disposal, but what you may not understand is that once it settles in your septic tank, it will harden, forming a barrier on top of the waste already in the tank. It is common for your septic tank to have a FOG layer present. This is referred to as the scum layer in your septic tank, and it includes fats and oils.

The scum layer is only a problem if it grows so thick that it interferes with the proper operation of your septic system, which is rare.

When the scum layer grows excessively thick, it will begin to press down on the liquid waste layer, which is where the exit drains are located, causing the liquid waste layer to collapse.

FOG Removal From a Septic Tank

To ensure that your tank remains in good working order, have it pumped on a regular basis by a professional sewage removal firm. The business will remove all of the trash and scum accumulation from your tank, leaving you with a completely clean and new one. Waiting too long to have the tank emptied might result in foul gas entering the leach field, which may need the excavation of your complete sewage system in order to repair clogged pipes. If you want to break down any oil and grease accumulation, do not flush harsh chemicals that promise to break down scum down the toilet or down the drain.

If you use chemical additives, you will be able to repair the problem temporarily, but you will be generating worse difficulties in the long run.

Rather than just pouring cooking oil or grease down the drain, the most effective approach of preventing FOG accumulation in your septic tank is to properly dispose of any cooking oil or grease.

Once the bottle is completely empty, you can dispose of it in your garbage can.

In the event that you solely prepare plant-based dishes, you can dispose of your cooking oil in your own compost pile.

Disposing of Fats, Oils, and Greases (FOGs) in Your Home

Even though we’ve talked about how to properly dispose of fats, oils, and grease (FOGs) in a commercial context, many of the septic (and sewage) problems that result from improper FOG disposal are caused by the disposal of food waste that is poured down residential drains. There are numerous fallacies surrounding the practice of dumping oil down the kitchen sink, but the reality is that it is never acceptable! However, with a few simple modifications in behavior, it is possible to reduce household FOG drain discharge.

Residential FOG Disposal Myth1

“It’s fine to dump fats, oils, and greases down the sink as long as I utilize the trash disposal,” says the author. While the trash disposal performs an excellent job of grinding up solids before sending them through to the sewage pipes, it does nothing more than mix up FOGs before they travel through to the drainage system in your kitchen. The FOGs will cool and attach to the interior of your trash disposal pipes, ultimately causing a blockage deep inside your home’s drainage system once they have passed through.

According to statistics, households with trash disposals would flush 30-40 percent more FOGs down the kitchen sink than those without.

Residential FOG Disposal Myth2

“As long as I’m running hot water, it’s fine to dump fats, oils, and greases down the drain.” The illusion of dissolving FOGs is created exclusively by hot water. However, after the FOGs have cooled, they will return to their solid condition and cause a blockage in the pipes beneath your sink that is deeper in the drainage system of your home. The greater the depth of the blockage, the more difficult it is to clear it. And to make matters worse, FOGs are particularly tough for your septic system to decompose in.

Residential FOG Disposal Myth3

Fats, oils, and greases that are liquid at room temperature can be flushed down the toilet without causing a blockage.

Proper Disposal of Residential FOGs

The belief that FOGs that are liquid at room temperature would not block drainage pipes is common because they will not be able to solidify is debunked by scientific evidence. FOGs, on the other hand, are able to float on wastewater and gather in drainage pipes, where they accumulate like cholesterol and eventually cause blockages and restricted channels. Having established that FOGs should never be poured down the kitchen sink (or flushed down the toilet), what is the best way for safely disposing of FOGs in a domestic setting is now in question.

FOGs such as bacon fat, duck grease, vegetable, peanut, or olive oil, among others, can be re-used in the kitchen.

Oils, such as vegetable, peanut, or olive oil, can be kept in an airtight, non-corrosive container in a cool, dry location for up to a year at room temperature.

See also:  How Much Septic Tank Pumping Columbus Ohio? (Question)

Our second favorite approach involves pouring the oil into a smaller container, such as a cup or small dish, before storing it in the refrigerator to harden.

Have you ever dumped FOGs down your kitchen sink and noticed a reduction in the effectiveness of your drainage system as a result? You should consider giving Supeck Septic a call to see whether or not your septic system is in need of a service visit.

Household Products That Will Ruin Your Septic Tank!

Many people who have septic tanks are unaware of what they may and cannot flush down their toilets or down their sinks. It may come as a surprise to find just how delicate septic tanks are, and how many common household goods can cause harm to and/or block your septic tank if you don’t know what you’re doing. By keeping these things out from your drains, you can maintain your septic tank in good shape and avoid costly septic repairs down the road. Chemical Cleaners are a type of cleaning agent that uses chemicals to remove dirt and grime.

  • You may disturb the bacteria cycle in your septic tank by pouring anti-bacterial cleansers like bleach down your drains and down your toilets.
  • Additives Several septic tank additives make the promise that they will enhance the amount of bacteria in your septic system.
  • The Environmental Protection Agency and the American Ground Water Trust, on the other hand, warn that chemical additions may cause more harm than good to your tank.
  • Using Bath Oils Oil floats to the top of your septic tank, where it congeals and hardens to produce a layer of scum on the surface.
  • It has the ability to withstand bacterial activity and embed in the solid waste layer.
  • Grease from the kitchen Grease of any kind contributes to the buildup of scum in your septic tank.
  • Unless otherwise instructed, you should avoid dumping oil down your sinks.

In addition, dryer papers might jam the entrance baffle.

Over time, the clay will clog your pipes and cause your septic tank to fail completely.

Products Made of Latex The majority of latex-based products are not biodegradable.

If the outlet tee is missing, the latex may clog the drain field on its way out of your septic tank, causing it to back up and choke the tank.

Paints and oils are two types of media.

In order to maintain your soil and groundwater free of diseases, you must have this bacterium on hand.

Prescription medications and chemotherapy medications Even after passing through a patient’s digestive system, powerful medications may still retain active ingredients that are harmful to them.

If possible, avoid allowing drug-contaminated faeces to enter your home’s septic tank.

Some prescription medications have the potential to be harmful to the environment.

Chemicals for Automatic Toilet Cleaning Systems Automatic toilet cleaners release an excessive amount of anti-bacterial chemicals into your septic tank, causing it to overflow.

Instead, choose toilet cleansers that are suitable for septic systems.

Even minute amounts of string, on the other hand, can clog and ruin pump impellers.

In a period of time, it will encircle a pump and cause harm to your septic tank’s mechanical components.

Your tank is only capable of holding a specific amount of domestic water; it cannot accommodate big volumes of water from a pool or roof drain.

Don’t use your sinks or toilets as garbage cans; this is against the law.

Put your trash in the garbage to prevent having to pay extra in pump-out fees.

Young children, on the other hand, may be unable to comprehend how toilets function.

Rather than degrading, the clothing are likely to block your septic tank.

Butts for Cigarettes Cigarette filters have the potential to choke the tank.

For a comprehensive list of potentially dangerous goods, consult your septic tank owner’s handbook or consult with a specialist.

If possible, avoid flushing non-biodegradable goods down the toilet or down the drain. You will save money on costly repairs and you will extend the life of your tank by taking these precautions.

How to Care for Your Septic System

Septic system maintenance is neither difficult or expensive, and it does not have to be done frequently. The maintenance of a vehicle is comprised of four major components:

  • Inspect and pump your drainfield on a regular basis
  • Conserve water
  • Dispose of waste properly
  • And keep your drainfield in good condition.

Inspect and Pump Frequently

Make frequent inspections and pumps; save water; dispose of waste in a proper manner; and keep your drainfield in good condition.

  • The size of the household
  • The total amount of wastewater produced
  • The amount of solids present in wastewater
  • The size of the septic tank

Service provider coming? Here is what you need to know.

• The total amount of wastewater produced by a household The amount of solids in wastewater is measured in cubic meters. a measure of the size of the septic tank

Use Water Efficiently

In a normal single-family house, the average indoor water consumption is about 70 gallons per person, per day, on average. A single leaking or running toilet can waste as much as 200 gallons of water each day, depending on the situation. The septic system is responsible for disposing of all of the water that a residence sends down its pipes. The more water that is conserved in a household, the less water that enters the sewage system. A septic system that is operated efficiently will operate more efficiently and will have a lower chance of failure.

  • Toilets with a high level of efficiency. The usage of toilets accounts for 25 to 30% of total home water use. Many older homes have toilets with reservoirs that hold 3.5 to 5 gallons of water, but contemporary, high-efficiency toilets consume 1.6 gallons or less of water for each flush. Changing out your old toilets for high-efficiency versions is a simple approach to lessen the amount of household water that gets into your septic system. Aerators for faucets and high-efficiency showerheads are also available. Reduce water use and the volume of water entering your septic system by using faucet aerators, high-efficiency showerheads, and shower flow restriction devices. Machines for washing clothes. Water and energy are wasted when little loads of laundry are washed on the large-load cycle of your washing machine. By selecting the appropriate load size, you may limit the amount of water wasted. If you are unable to specify a load size, only complete loads of washing should be performed. Washing machine use should be spread throughout the week if at all possible. Doing all of your household laundry in one day may appear to be a time-saving strategy
  • Nevertheless, it can cause damage to your septic system by denying your septic tank adequate time to handle waste and may even cause your drainfield to overflow. Machines that have earned theENERGY STARlabel consume 35 percent less energy and 50 percent less water than ordinary ones, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Other Energy Star appliances can save you a lot of money on your energy and water bills.

Properly Dispose of Waste

Everything that goes down your drains, whether it’s flushed down the toilet, ground up in the trash disposal, or poured down the sink, shower, or bath, ends up in your septic system, which is where it belongs. What you flush down the toilet has an impact on how effectively your septic system functions.

Toilets aren’t trash cans!

Your septic system is not a garbage disposal system. A simple rule of thumb is to never flush anything other than human waste and toilet paper down the toilet. Never flush a toilet:

  • Cooking grease or oil
  • Wipes that are not flushable, such as baby wipes or other wet wipes
  • Photographic solutions
  • Feminine hygiene items Condoms
  • Medical supplies such as dental floss and disposable diapers, cigarette butts and coffee grounds, cat litter and paper towels, pharmaceuticals, and household chemicals such as gasoline and oil, insecticides, antifreeze, and paint or paint thinners

Toilet Paper Needs to Be Flushed! Check out this video, which demonstrates why the only item you should flush down your toilet are toilet paper rolls.

Think at the sink!

Your septic system is made up of a collection of living organisms that digest and treat the waste generated by your household. Pouring pollutants down your drain can kill these organisms and cause damage to your septic system as well as other things. Whether you’re at the kitchen sink, the bathtub, or the utility sink, remember the following:

  • If you have a clogged drain, avoid using chemical drain openers. To prevent this from happening, use hot water or a drain snake
  • Never dump cooking oil or grease down the sink or toilet. It is never a good idea to flush oil-based paints, solvents, or huge quantities of harmful cleansers down the toilet. Even latex paint waste should be kept to a bare minimum. Disposal of rubbish should be avoided or limited to a minimum. Fats, grease, and particles will be considerably reduced in your septic tank, reducing the likelihood of your drainfield being clogged.

Own a recreational vehicle (RV), boat or mobile home?

If you have ever spent any time in an RV or boat, you are undoubtedly familiar with the issue of aromas emanating from sewage holding tanks.

  • The National Small Flows Clearinghouse’s Septic System Care hotline, which may be reached toll-free at 800-624-8301, has a factsheet on safe wastewater disposal for RV, boat, and mobile home owners and operators.

Maintain Your Drainfield

It is critical that you maintain the integrity of your drainfield, which is a component of your septic system that filters impurities from the liquid that emerges from your septic tank once it has been installed. Here are some things you should do to keep it in good condition:

  • Parking: Do not park or drive on your drainfield at any time. Plan your tree plantings so that their roots do not grow into your drainfield or septic system. An experienced septic service provider can recommend the appropriate distance for your septic tank and surrounding landscaping, based on your specific situation. Locating Your Drainfield: Keep any roof drains, sump pumps, and other rainfall drainage systems away from the drainfield area. Excess water causes the wastewater treatment process to slow down or halt completely.

How to Prevent Grease Disasters Down the Drain

When bacon is sizzling away on the stove, there’s nothing more wonderful than the fragrance. It’s time to clean up after yourself after you’ve had a few (or eight) slices of pizza. You’re left scratching your head, trying to figure out what to do with the sticky, oily remnants in the pan. If you turn on the water, you could find yourself seeing the two liquids swirl together down the drain and into the unknown abyss of Sewer-World. But have you ever pondered what goes on down there in the background?

However, that momentary reprieve will soon turn into a terrifying reality down the line.

Anyone who has ever had a clogged drain at home knows how much of a nightmare it can be.

Septic tank cleaning services in Poughkeepsie, New York, will assist you in resolving any septic-related issues you may be experiencing.

Grease isn’t limited to the drippings from the bacon at breakfast any longer. It can also contain dairy products, meat fats, sauces, and food wastes, as well as butter, margarine, lard, shortening, cooking oils, and lard. All of these are things that should never be flushed down the toilet.

The science of the sink

When you pour heated oil down the drain, the grease sticks to the inside of the pipes and prevents them from flowing freely. The default idea is that pouring hot water down the drain while scrubbing the grease out of the drain would cure the problem. This, on the other hand, is a counter-productive strategy. What occurs is that the pipes and grease ultimately cool down to a safe temperature. In the end, this will cause the grease to adhere to the surfaces of the pipe’s walls. Although it may take some time, they will eventually accumulate and completely clog the pipe.

That is unquestionably a tragedy that no one wants to be involved in.

In recent investigations, it has been determined that this is the root cause of 47 percent of the over 36,000 sewage overflows that occur in the United States each year.

It is the collection of oil and grease in the pipes over a lengthy period of time that may cause difficulties.

How to properly get rid of grease

The most important factor in preventing pipe-related problems is to prevent them from occurring in the first place. In addition to prevention, there are various approaches that may be used to appropriately stop the building of waste. An efficient preventative maintenance technique involves pouring one quart of boiling water down the drain on a regular basis. In this way, the grease is liquefied and pushed even deeper down the pipes. By including baking soda and vinegar, you can aid in the breakdown of lipids (and also makes it smell better).

Allow the oil to cool in the pan before using.

Now is the time to scoop the hardened fragments into a garbage bag and throw them away.

Using this method, you may wash the pan quickly and without worrying about blocking the drain with remaining fat.

Store it in the freezer or refrigerator until it solidifies, and then discard it in the garbage once it has hardened.

Damage Control

Another reason we’re causing damage to our drains on a regular basis is that the vast majority of us use soaps that are based on animal or vegetable fats. The use of this type of soap might lead to the clogging of drains. There are, however, fat-free soaps available for purchase, which are typically found at natural health food stores. It’s tempting to let a little bit of oil drip down the drain every now and again, just to be safe. Keep in mind that, despite the fact that it may seem like a small quantity, those little flecks of oil will soon build up to a large amount.

Call Jones Septic Services at (845) 452-1123 immediately if you need assistance with any of your septic system issues. Our 24-hour service, fair pricing, and experienced personnel set us apart as the best in upstate New York and the surrounding areas.

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