Graphic of septic system - why Rid-x is bad for your septic

More than 21 million households in the United States rely on septic systems to remove and treat household wastewater. Touted as the eco-friendly alternative to the chemically-laden waste treatment facilities used by many cities, septic systems work to naturally purify wastewater. And while a properly performance system requires little more than routine cleanings every 2-four years, some homeowners strive to make their septic systems more efficient by using additives, similar Rid-X, to give the bacteria in their tanks a lilliputian boost. But beware! Those expensive additives not only interfere with your system's treatment process, but they also put your entire septic system at chance of catastrophic failure.

Septic Systems 101

Earlier nosotros can tackle the reasons why additives, like Rid-X, are bad for your septic system, we need to get-go generally empathize how septic systems piece of work. In a properly functioning septic system, wastewater from your firm empties into the septic tank, where solids settle to the lesser, allowing liquids to ascension to the top before exiting through the outlet baffle and filtering through the drain field to be purified and reabsorbed into the water table. The leaner establish in homo waste works to decompose the solids in your septic tank, allowing them to settle into a layer of sludge. This layer of sludge needs to be pumped out of your system every 2-4 years. The bacteria in your septic system efficiently breaks down solids and slows the aggregating of sludge so long as a properly balanced environment is maintained.

How additives, like Rid-x, interfere with your septic system's eco-organisation

Likewise much of a good matter can be bad. There are a lot of tips and products for homeowners looking to enhance the leaner in their septic systems, from commercial additives like Rid-10 to more outlandish ideas that include packets of yeast and raw liver! But in a properly functioning bacterial environment, these additives accept little positive effect and can actually cause enough damage to ruin your entire septic organization.

And then what's the problem with additives like Rid-Ten? According to the EPA and the Ohio Section of Wellness, not merely are additives like Rid-10 not recommended, but they actually have a detrimental and potentially chancy effect on your septic organisation'south waste product treatment procedure. Rid-X contains a much stronger form of enzymes than the natural bacteria found in a healthy septic arrangement and, as a issue, solids are broken down further than they commonly would be. You might think a more than effective breakdown of these solids would be a practiced matter, that information technology would allow you more time between septic cleanings. Nonetheless, these particles are and so small they don't settle to the bottom of your septic tank and instead make their way through the outlet baffle and into your bleed field. Before long thereafter, the drain field will become chock-full and need to be replaced. And when the average price to supersede a septic system is $thirteen,000 but can range upwards of $25,000, you lot may desire to think twice before dumping potentially system-killing additives into your septic system.

Better methods for maintaining bacteria in your septic system

The all-time thing y'all can practise to make sure your septic system is working the best it can is to proceed a close center on what y'all pour down the drain. Never treat your toilet or your sinks similar a garbage can!

  • Avoid putting harsh chemicals – bleach, paint thinners, pesticides, gasoline, antifreeze, etc. – into your system as they tin destroy the bacteria that works to go on your organization functioning properly.
  • Garbage disposals are not recommended for a home that has a septic organisation because they flood the system with organic solids that the bacteria in the septic tank is non equipped to tackle.
  • Never flush inorganic materials, like feminine hygiene products, kitty litter, cigarette butts, or paper towels. They clog your septic tank with non-biodegradable solids.
  • Be aware of how much h2o you're putting into your arrangement and conserve wherever y'all peradventure can. Combine loads of laundry when yous can and only run your dishwasher when it's full. Flooding your septic system with grey water (h2o from the washing machine, dishwasher, bathtubs, and showers) will interfere with the bacterial composition in your septic tank and saturate your drain field to the bespeak of exhaustion.