Improper disposal of household waste can have disastrous ripple effects. It spreads disease-causing viruses and leads to tremendous environmental damage. Septic tanks have become crucial in that regard. They carry out waste management efficiently and ensure that what goes into the environment is pre-treated. It is the small-scale sewage treatment that has led people to adopt septic tanks, especially in the suburban and rural parts of the U.S.
While pumping out stubborn sludge every 3-5 years is necessary, routine cleaning can keep your tank healthy. A septic tank cleaner liquid is a potent solution for your regular septic tank maintenance needs. Applicable without professional assistance, it is multipurpose and a common preference among owners. Moreover, adequate maintenance of septic tanks can ensure their longevity and proper functioning.
Ways To Spot That Your Septic Tank Needs Cleaning
When cleaning is overdue, parts of your septic tank can begin to fail. It’s essential to pull up your sleeves when that happens. Spotting the problem can help determine whether you can DIY the process with cleaning liquids or if you’ll need to pump the tank. Below are a few easy signs that can help:
1. Slow Drainage & Backing Up
If the waste in your toilet bowl or kitchen is moving through the pipes slowly or backing up into your home, that is proof that something is amiss. Clogged plumbing can cause your pipes to drain slowly. A more serious problem in the septic tank, like excess accumulation of waste, can cause the grime to pile up into your home.
2. Foul Odour
In case you smell a stink in or around the area of your septic tank, prepare to intervene. Improper bacterial decomposition or blockages in the pipe vents might be causing this. Moreover, overloaded septic tanks that fail to process accumulated sludge can give rise to an unpleasant odor. Get your tank checked for capacity to ascertain whether pumping is overdue or if cleaning liquids will be sufficient.
3. Gurgling Sounds
The wastewater flowing out of your home might not be able to flow into the septic tank if there is an accumulation of water. This can be noted by the gurgling sounds your toilet makes when you try to flush it. When inlets of the septic tank are blocked due to sludge, the waste has to be disintegrated to promote drainage. An effective septic tank cleaner liquid can easily fix such clogs.
Three of The Most Effective Septic Tank Cleaners
The most effective septic tank cleaners are effective in sanitizing as well as safe to use. Here are the three best cleaners to maintain your tank for longevity:
1. Enzyme-Based Cleaners
A powerful cleaning agent, an enzyme-based septic tank cleaner liquid can rapidly catalyze waste management in your septic tank. Enzymes are biological components that break down protein and accelerate the decomposition process in the tank. As the organic sludge disintegrates, it is able to pass out of the tank in the form of simpler substances. Enzyme-based cleaners can save your septic tank from leakages caused by excess accumulation of waste. It can delay any need for pumping. Additionally, these cleaners are fragrant and actively help cleanse foul odors.
Enzyme-based cleaners are eco-friendly cleaning liquids. They are biodegradable and operate without causing damage to the environment.
2. Chemical Cleaners
Chemical septic tank cleaner liquids are made from a combination of acids, bases, and bleaching agents. Pouring them into your septic tank prompts a chemical reaction into place. The reaction acts on the stubborn sludge and disintegrates it through chemical dissolution. These cleaners raise the pH levels in the tank and promote the dissolution of fats into simpler molecules.
In case you opt for a chemical septic tank cleaner liquid, it is important to remember that the acids and bases in these formulations can be damaging. Prolonged application of these solutions can kill beneficial bacteria within the tank that usually act first on the waste. Exercise caution and limit usage when using chemical cleaners for your septic tank.
3. Homemade Cleaners
For routine cleaning and maintenance, a homemade septic tank cleaner liquid is ideal. You can opt for a solution containing baking soda and vinegar. The fizzing reaction caused by flushing them one after the other helps unclog any waste clinging to the plumbing of the tank. It can also catalyze bacterial decomposition on reaching the septic tank.
Another effective, homemade natural cleaner is yeast. Flushing down yeast powder into your septic system can enhance aerobic and anaerobic decomposition in the septic tank. It ensures that the digestion process remains uninterrupted so your tank can function the way it is meant to for a long period of time.
Conclusion
Keeping your septic tank clean ensures that the sewage flowing out of your home is locally treated in an optimized manner. It facilitates the enrichment of soil in and around your home and inhibits the spread of harmful bacteria. In safely managing grime and contaminated water, a healthy septic tank promotes a healthy ecosystem. Make sure to keep your systems clean by opting for a septic tank cleaner liquid that is safe, effective, and eco-friendly.
Also read: How To Check If Your Insurance Policy Covers Sewer Line Replacement
