For those of you on septic tanks; I had to have my tank pumped out last year. The guy who did the work, told me that instead of buying the expensive bacteria products, to pour a half gallon of buttermilk down the drain once a month and it would do the same thing!
Source: Helpful worker!
By shirley felts from Tallassee, TN
Could someone tell me if there is anything you could use in your septic system to dissolve ice cream and milk products? We have an ice cream stand and the people are always putting the unused ice cream and milk down the drain and then the septic backs up. We have to have it pumped all the time. It does not dissolve the way it should.
By Glenn from Coalport, PA
I use to pour RootX down our drain in toilet. It helped very much, never had to have it drained or pumped out, good luck.
I don't know that those kinds of products will dissolve the fats, which is what is causing the problem. Unfortunately, your drain field is probably all clogged by the fat. I would call septic contractors in your area and ask for advice. You may need a new drain field. But they can probably put a fat trap in your system to prevent future occurrences.
I would also invest in bright, large signs that ask that milk products NOT be put down the drain. What a pain for you! Good luck!
I am not a plumber or septic tank person of any sort, but I pour yeast down my commode each week. I was told by my mother in law that it breaks down stuff in the septic just like the other septic cleaners. I cant guarentee it works but worth a try to see if you notice improvement. I buy in bulk but pour the equivalent of 2 packages a week minimum..
Well, if you have an ice cream stand where else are the dairy waste products supposed to go? It's not a good idea to throw those into the trash bags as they will very likely leak immediately.
I thank everyone for there comments, but no one has any thing that we have not tried, and for the drain field and the drainage is fine but when you put milk and milk byproducts in the septic system it kills the bacteria and nothing dissolves the way it should. so thanks for nothing,
Sorry that you did not get the help you need, but this site is for people who appreciate what advice they get. The people here are such good and kind folks with plenty of wonderful advice, so for you to say "thanks for nothing" was very rude.
Found this concerning septic systems and dairy waste:
www.extension.umn.edu/
The bottom line is that septic systems and dairy waste never mix--you will have ongoing failure unless you either hook in to a municipal sewer system or dispose of the waste through your trash system. If you don't want to deal with leaky bags, throw a layer of cat litter or play sand to absorb the waste before disposal.
By the way, thumbs up, Marfette. If this were me, I think I would have done a little research into all aspects of business operations before dumping the dairy sludge into the septic system. Finding the info took under a minute just by Googling.
We just had our drain line from our septic tank replaced after 35 years of use. Our plumber put in a valve and told us to put mixing salt in it every so often.
My question is what is mixing salt? Thank you.Will the use of Epsom salts damage our copper bathtub? If not, will the use of Epsom salt baths damage our septic system?
I bought a house two years ago and don't know when the septic tank was last pumped. Should I have the septic tank pumped as a starting care and maintenance program?
By Charles H.
What is involved in a septic tank inspection? I am not familiar with a septic tank and its care.
By Charles H.
IF you have a lot of trees surrounding your land or nearby neighbors that roots can spread to your leach bed lines, then do this:
Each Spring before the rains pour forth, use copper sulfate (CUS-04) and put it into the septic system by removal of lid and pour it in mixed with water. As the rains begin, the water from the septic system will flow out into the leach bed lines and will kill tree roots that interfere with leach lines that can ruin the system and causing big problems later. Do not plant trees or shrubbery over leach bed lines or dig deeply into the soil with a garden plow, so you don't disturb the lines. You can buy this product at any lawn/garden or feed/grain store.
The more toilet paper is put down the toilet, the sooner the septic system will get filled and need pumped out; this isn't all that cheap anymore to have done, but you'll know if you have waited too long because of a noticeable outdoor odor in the air and sometimes causing toilet to not flush well.
Write down date of having septic system cleaned and you'll know just about when it's time to have it done again after the second time around. I'd also suggest that you do a lot of internet research on this topic so you are well informed. Ask the previous owners when the septic system was last cleaned. Other than that, it's all I can tell you as I can't see the layout of the land you live on.
There's also products you can buy that are yeast activated and break down the waste material faster that pours right into the toilet and is flushed. We never thought it to be that helpful and was a bit pricey.
Avoid driving heavy equipment over the leach bed lines; lawn mowers are okay.
Will mixing sugar and yeast in your toilet bowl and letting it stand over night then flushing help with the biological breakdown action ocuring in the septic system?
By Jim L
No it doesn't. This is an old myth that needs to end now! There are certain bacteria for fats, proteins, feces, urine, etc and each works only on that which it is made to digest. Use the bacteria you buy specifically for septic tanks. Once every 3 months is plenty for the average household of 4.
While I agree that different bacteria do different things, those septic tablets are a crock of boloney. Nobody needs to buy those, and some of their sales reps are rude.
It would be nice to have more info on the winterization of septic systems. For example if you have a 'pumped' system where the sewage is collected in a pumping station and then pumped uphill to a septic tank and bed should you leave this pump powered up over the winter or turn it off? The sewage ejector pump utilizes a float valve of course but nonetheless some ground water could conceivably get in the tank and the tank is just below the surface of the ground thus can freeze.
In order to understand the problem can you explain it better? Where do you live in the country or city? Is their Regulations for septic systems? Why are their 2 tanks? mrmoose71943@yahoo.com
Why can you not use automotive anti-freeze with ethylene glycol in the toilets?
Does granulated sugar work in a septic tank as a cleaner?
By J. H.
Could sour milk be beneficial to a septic system?
The bacteria in yeast is considered a good additive for septic systems. This is a page about, "Can I use yeast in my septic tanks?.
A monthly dose of this homemade septic cleaner should keep your system working well. This is a page about septic tank cleaner.
