Septic Pumping Company in Spanaway, WA.

Summary: It’s important not to flush or send down your drain items that don’t belong in your septic tank. This includes wet types, period products, cat litter, coffee grounds, kitchen fats, or medications. These items can cause blockages and even septic tank failure. Only human waste, water, and toilet paper should go into your septic tank.

Intro: If you have a septic system, it’s important that you take care of it. This means thinking about what you are flushing down into it. If you don’t take proper care of your septic tank, it can back up or become damaged. It’s better to be safe than sorry so that you can avoid expensive plumbing work in the future. Flow Rite Septic Solutions has seen our fair share of items in septic tanks that shouldn’t be there. We are the local Puyallup plumbers that you can trust.

Items That Should Not Be Flushed

1. Baby Wipes, Even “Flushable” Wipes

Facial wipes, baby wipes, disinfecting wipes, and other types of pre-moistened wipes are not paper but are more akin to fabric. Wet wipes are not septic-safe and do not break down the same way as toilet paper. They can clog pipes and quickly accumulate in the septic tank, sometimes even leading to septic tank failure. Toilet paper disintegrates when it gets wet, but even flushable wipes can take months to dissolve. It’s not worth the risk- remember that wipes do not go in your septic system.

2. Menstrual Products

Feminine hygiene period products, such as tampons, pads, applicators, and diva cups, should never be flushed. These items are made of non-degrading materials such as silicone or plastic. Absorbent materials like cotton, wood cellulose, and superabsorbent polymers will continue to draw in moisture and expand in your septic system. This means that not only do they not break down, but they can also cause serious blockages and backups. Always dispose of period products in the trash can.

3. Cat Litter

Cat litter should never be introduced to your septic system, even if the package claims that it’s flushable. Cat litter contains absorbent, clumping materials such as clay, which can form solid masses in your septic tank as it absorbs liquid. Cat litter does not dissolve the same way toilet paper does, and can add too many solids to the septic system. Cat waste can also carry dangerous parasites that can infest your drain field. It’s best to get rid of cat litter in sealed trash bags.

4. Medications

Whether over-the-counter or prescription, you should not put medications down your toilet or sink. Medication should be treated like hazardous waste. When it enters your septic tank, it can leach chemicals into the groundwater. Medication in the groundwater can pose health risks to people and wildlife, leading to reproductive issues, hormone imbalances, cancers, and resistance to antibiotics. Drop off unwanted medications at your local pharmacy disposal sites.

5. Tissues and Paper Towels

It’s easy to think that tissues and paper towels can go down your pipes like toilet paper can, but they are thicker than toilet paper and don’t break down the same. They’re designed to be durable and can build up in your septic tank. They can even clog your pipes and drain field. For the safety of your septic tank, the only paper product that should go in it is toilet paper.

6. Kitchen Waste Such as Grease, Oil, and Fats

You should be careful not to let cooking fats go down your drain. It might seem convenient to just wash food waste down the drain, but it can wreak havoc on your septic system. When grease cools, it solidifies and can build up in your pipes. This can block your pipes and prevent water from draining. Inside your septic tank, fat floats to the top and can form a layer that affects the septic tank’s functioning. 

Instead of pouring grease down your drain, pour it into a container and let it cool. After that, throw it away in the trash.

7. Coffee Grounds

You may assume that coffee grounds will break down and dissolve in your septic tank, but they actually sink to the bottom and pack tightly together. Over time, coffee grounds build up and cause septic tank problems, meaning that it needs to be pumped more often. Throw away coffee grounds instead of sending them down your drain. 

Conclusion: Take care of your septic system by not putting things down it that aren’t meant to be in there. This can help extend its lifespan and keep it working smoothly for years to come. If you notice slow drainage, septic backups, or other signs of septic system problems, contact Flow Rite Septic Solutions so our experts can help. It’s also a good idea to get regular septic inspections to ensure everything is working properly. Our technicians can handle even the toughest jobs.