If your home relies on
a septic tank system, you may have heard horror stories about
catastrophic flooding caused by washing machines. Fortunately, most
modern septic systems are entirely capable of handling wastewater
from your washing machine, but irresponsible use can still cause
serious problems in septic tanks and lines.
Erring on the side of
caution will help to prevent washing machines from causing serious
damage to your septic system. Keep the following guidelines in mind
to ensure that your septic tank can handle everything your washing
machine throws at it.
1. Use Detergents
and Soaps Correctly
You might assume that
throwing an extra dose of detergent in with your laundry is harmless,
but excessive detergent use can cause serious damage to septic
systems. Septic tanks rely on colonies of beneficial bacteria, which
consume and process organic waste so it can be safely released into
the tank's drain field.
Most laundry detergents
contain cleansing chemicals, such as phosphates and surfactants,
which can destroy these vital bacteria and prevent the tank from
processing waste effectively. Under normal circumstances, detergents
are diluted in the laundry water to the point where they will not
harm the bacteria, but using too much detergent can expose the
bacteria to lethal levels of these chemicals.
Using too much
detergent can be especially harmful if you rely on detergent powders.
Using too much laundry powder will cause the undissolved powder to
clump together inside your septic system. If these clumps of powder
get caught in the system's inflow lines, they can cause serious
blockages, which may lead to sewage and wastewater backing up into
your home.
As long as you use the
correct amount of detergent with each laundry load, you shouldn't
encounter any of these problems. However, if you want to play it
safe, choosing liquid laundry detergents that do not contain
phosphates, bleach, or nonylphenol ethoxylate (the most common
surfactant found in laundry detergent.)
2. Clean Lint
Filters Regularly
Cleaning your washing
machine's lint filter regularly is particularly important for washing
machines used with septic systems. If the lint filter becomes
clogged, clumps of lint can escape into the septic system and may
cause serious clogging if they get caught in the septic lines.
Lint that makes it into
the septic tank system can also cause issues. Any non-organic fibers
in the lint, such as threads from polyester or nylon clothing, will
not be processed by the tank's bacteria and will settle in the bottom
of the tank. Over time, accumulated lint and other indigestible
matter can form a thick layer of impacted material inside the tank,
reducing its overall capacity.
3. Don't Overload
the System
Washing machines use a
lot of water, and doing many loads of laundry in quick succession can
overwhelm your septic tank system. If too much wastewater flows into
the tank in a short space of time, the tank may be forced to release
waste into the drainfield before it has been processed. This can
cause serious problems with drainfield clogging and contamination,
which are usually expensive to repair.
The amount of laundry
you can do in a day will depend largely on your septic tank's holding
capacity. If your tank is relatively large, you should be able to
wash several average-sized loads in a day without causing problems.
However, older septic systems tend to have smaller tanks, so you
should space out your laundry loads if you live in an older home.
4. Consider a New
Washing Machine
Another way to avoid
overwhelming your tank with laundry water is by investing in a newer
washing machine. Modern washing machines must meet strict energy
efficiency regulations, and use a lot less water than older models.
They can be expensive, but a newer washing machine will allow you to
do laundry more frequently without worrying about septic system
problems.
Follow these simple
rules, and you should have no issues using your washing machine
alongside a septic tank system. If you have any more questions about
how to protect your septic system, contact the septic system experts
at Pete's Outflow Technicians
for professional advice and recommendations.
