We are a valuable resource for septic tank cleaning and the proper care of your septic system.
It might seem like a misnomer to think of a septic tank as being able to be cleaned. It holds waste after all! Why call for septic tank cleaning for something that’s only going to get dirty again, right? Well, you should clean a septic tank for the same reason you keep cleaning your home even though you know the dirty socks laying around, the dust on the dresser, and the muddy footprints at the door are going to return. You don’t want the mess to keep accumulating until a critical-mass situation is the result.
Here’s another comparison to cleaning house: prevention makes the job easier. If you can train your family to clean up after themselves, you won’t have to spend as much time cleaning the house. Likewise, if you treat your septic tank properly and proactively keep it cleaner, you won’t need to call for septic tank cleaning as often.
At Tampa Bay Septic, we provide septic tank cleaning services in the Brandon, Florida area, but we are also a valuable resource for keeping your septic system in top working order. We are more than happy to provide you with a few tips that will make your septic tank cleaner and operate more efficiently.
- Tip #1: Cleaning products to avoid– We recognize that your family is likely doing a bit more house cleaning than usual these days, including using anti-bacterial cleaning products and bleach. Unfortunately, these are not good for your septic system. You can still use them, but avoid letting them go down the drain. Also put any disinfecting wipes into the trash instead of flushing them. As for cleaning the toilet bowl, instead of using bleach products, use a solution of equal parts of vinegar and baking soda. A quarter cup of each is sufficient to get a nice, clean toilet bowl.
- Tip #2: Increase good bacteria– The waste in the septic tank is broken down by a species of bacteria, which is why you don’t want to use anti-bacterial products when you have a septic system. You can give the good bacteria a boost by adding yeast to the system every so often. Another option is to crush up three or four rotten tomatoes every four months and flush them or put them through the garbage disposal.
- Tip #3: Avoid putting certain food items in the garbage disposal– Actually, the less you use the garbage disposal, the better. Food should go in the trash or be composted whenever possible if you want to reduce the need for septic tank cleaning. With that said, the items you really want to avoid are cooked or raw meat, cooking oils, fats, and grease.
- Tip #4: Don’t flush nonbiodegradable items– Things that the bacteria can’t break down easily shouldn’t be flushed. Many products tout themselves as being septic-friendly, but they really aren’t. If you want to test an item, put it into a container with water and see how long it takes to break down. If it takes more than a couple of days, don’t flush it.
Septic tank cleaning is going to be needed at some point, even if you were to follow all these tips religiously. There is no other way to get rid of the sludge that will accumulate at the bottom of the tank. Call us to schedule septic tank cleaning to avoid having that sludge damage the tank and cause other problems that could be far costlier than regular septic system maintenance.
At Tampa Bay Septic, we offer septic tank cleaning services in Tampa, Brandon, Clearwater, Palm Harbor, Fort Myers, Indian River, Spring Hill, and Brevard County, Florida.