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Your Dishwasher And Your Septic Tank

It’s nice not to have to wash the dishes after dinner every night and, in reality, using a dishwasher saves water over running the sink constantly to clean dishes. But if you have a septic tank, you know that you can’t just put anything down the drain. And that includes dishwasher soap. You don’t want to have to get septic tank pumping in Vallejo, CA more often because of what you put down that drain.

Here are a few tips that help you figure out what you need for your dishwasher and your septic tank.

Dishwashers, similar to washing machines, use a lot of water. You won’t want to run the dishwasher at the same time as the washing machine, for example. But the detergent is also important. If you get detergents that say anti-bacterial on them, that might sound like a good thing. Normally, it would be, but not for a septic tank. When you get anti-bacterial matter in the septic tank, it can kill off the good bacteria that is working hard to break down the solid waste in the tank. Then, the tank fills up quickly and you have to get pumping done way sooner than you would have otherwise.

Without bacteria, your septic tank fills up, backs up, causes unpleasant odors, and can have all sorts of other issues. You also want to keep an eye on detergent that has phosphates in it. These elements can kill the enzymes in the tank as well as bacteria. Phosphates are chemicals that help to get grime and food from the dishes, but the chemicals are a threat to the septic system. They are also very toxic so it might be better overall not to use them anyway.

So, which of the dishwasher detergents are best? Look at the labels, just as you would your food and find something that is phosphate-free, non-antibacterial, and eco-friendly. IF it says it is biodegradable, that is great. The boxes should be labeled with those terms and once you find a brand and type that works, you can simply buy it over and over again.

It is always best to run your dishwasher when it is full, so you don’t have to run it very often. Make the most of the water it uses. It’s going to use the same amount of water no matter how many dishes are in there, so run it full, even if you have to wait a day to fill it the rest of the way.

septic tank pumping in Napa, CA

If you have any other questions about dishwashers, laundry machines, or anything else in your house as it pertains to septic tank pumping in Vallejo, CA, the professionals at American Sanitation Inc are here to help. We can give you tips and tricks to keep your septic tank in the best possible conditions, so you are able to limit the times you have to have it pumped out as the years go by. You’ll need it eventually, but it’s nice to space things out when you can.

Dishwasher Detergent for Septic Systems

With so many dishwashing detergents available in the supermarket, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one for your septic system. They come in many forms such as cartridges, gel, liquids, pacs, powders, and tablets so it might be difficult to find the best for you. Water is the primary ingredient in liquid soaps, while alkaline salts such as sodium carbonate are used in powder soaps. Detergent is the principal active component. Thickening and stabilizing ingredients are included in many products.

Question: Is dishwasher detergent or dish soap harmful to the septic tank or drainfield of a septic system?

Answer: The amount of dishwashing detergent used in sinks that reaches the septic system is so small that it is extremely dilute when it reaches the septic tank. It is diluted enough that it will not affect the bacteria in the septic tank at regular levels of household dishwasher consumption.

Dishwasher Pods and Septic Systems

Septic systems are safe when using non-toxic, organic manufactured detergent pods. They are easily dissolved in water. They don’t clog the pipes and don’t affect the stain. Look at the label or pack of detergent pods that are labeled as “green” or “environmentally friendly.”