Adding septic treatments, good or bad..?

[Pushing_Tin]

I am looking for personal experience and/or feedback for those using septic treatments. Products like Rid-X or septicseep. Looking at different stories on the web some people swear by them while others say not to use them.

 

[beenthere]

I've had a septic system in here for 40+ years. Never have used any addatives, and never have had a problem with the septic not working (a lousy drain field problem, but the septic tank has always worked well).

I think they are just looking to sell a product, so get people to swear by them.
Now if I had used one of the products regularly, and also didn't have any septic problem, then I might also swear by them.

 

[1950T]

we have allways used rid-x. it came recomended by the company that pumps our tank

 

[sweettractors]

Yeast from the grocery store works real well. About once per month, keeps the bacteria working better, Especially if you drain a lot of soap and bleach through your system, Ken Sweet

 

[captaincrab55]

I've had a septic system in here for 40+ years. Never have used any addatives, and never have had a problem with the septic not working (a lousy drain field problem, but the septic tank has always worked well).

I think they are just looking to sell a product, so get people to swear by them.
Now if I had used one of the products regularly, and also didn't have any septic problem, then I might also swear by them.

Good Advice... I attended a class on wells and septic systems, put on by the Baltimore Extension Services about 15 years ago... They approached septic treatments as not needed... They claimed the best treatment was a dump followed by a good flush... They did preach that one shouldn't dump bleach or other bacteria killing products down the drain... Grease was also a No No to dump down the drain...

 

[flyingcow]

I've had a septic system in here for 40+ years. Never have used any addatives, and never have had a problem with the septic not working (a lousy drain field problem, but the septic tank has always worked well).

I think they are just looking to sell a product, so get people to swear by them.
Now if I had used one of the products regularly, and also didn't have any septic problem, then I might also swear by them.

X2

If you have problems with your septic system, additives won't help. I usually have my tank pumped every 4 to 5 yrs. That's whats recommended. If you don't the tank will fill up eventually and flood into leech field, than you got real problems.

 

[bstrom]

eat a lot of beans.

 

[20 20]

old timers would use road kill or some other type of dead critter to keep the bacteria strong.

I'll second the yeast idea

 

[gauthier]

Who knows,I know its a form of yeast and yeast eats stuff and than makes alcohol and gas.

Some say its not necessary,if you don't put stuff like bleach and antibacterial stuff in it,it probably ain't. When you get it pumped out some have told me leave a little juice in bottom kinda like a starter thing,,it probably don't hurt to put a few boxes of ridex down toilt every few months,but don't know if it helps

 

[beenthere]

Might add that I do not flush the water softener re-cycle/discharge down the drain.

I keep that separate.

Would like to divert the clothes washer discharge somewhere else, but always has gone into the septic.

 

[Mousefield]

Think additives are a waste of money. Have had septic systems for over 28 years on 3 different properties, never had a problem. As other posters have mentioned, you need to watch what goes to the septic tank. If you feel you need to add something use a dead mouse or similar to stimulate bacteria. Don't know if anyone ever gets a bacteria count done. :laughing::laughing:

 

[JL Sargent]

Think your septic system as a living creature. No Draino, or other harsh chemicals allowed. If you keep it healthy then you may NEVER need to pump it. How does that sound? The bacteria is turning the poop into gas so there will be nothing to pump.

The proof: My family lived in a house for 30yrs and then agreed to sell it. We never pumped the septic tank during that time. Closing requirements included pumping the septic system. There were only 6 to 8 inches of solids in the bottom of the tank after all that time!!! In other words the tank still didn't need pumping. Keep the harsh chemicals away and you can flush from now on. Yeah bacteria:thumbsup:

 

[Kays Supply]

I don't guess any of you long time septic non cleaners live with women. Try and get my wife to not use bleach or dump pickle juice down the drain, fat chance. I have been a plumber for 30 years. I have seen the worst of it. In a perfect world you don't need enzyme treatment. I don't live in that world. I have seen a product called Bio Clean do wonders on drains and grease traps. It has both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Life style is the major thing that effects your plumbing. Some people can go without any service and others can stop up a new pipe in a few months. All the info above is good , but if you don't live in their world, a little bacteria will do alot of good.

 

[sweettractors]

Think your septic system as a living creature. No Draino, or other harsh chemicals allowed. If you keep it healthy then you may NEVER need to pump it. How does that sound? The bacteria is turning the poop into gas so there will be nothing to pump.

The proof: My family lived in a house for 30yrs and then agreed to sell it. We never pumped the septic tank during that time. Closing requirements included pumping the septic system. There were only 6 to 8 inches of solids in the bottom of the tank after all that time!!! In other words the tank still didn't need pumping. Keep the harsh chemicals away and you can flush from now on. Yeah bacteria:thumbsup:

I had a friend that I went to Church with that got in bad health with Cancer just before he died. I remember one time I visited him and he was bragging about his septic system had been there for 30 years and never been touched and never added any yeast or ridex. 2 weeks later, he had to put in new lateral lines and pump out the septic tank. All the washer and kitchen sink water had been going in his system. Keep the bleach, soap and harsh chemicals away. Ken Sweet

 

[clemsonfor]

KS said it like i was thinking. No antibacteria soap no cleaners in shower woilet etc. Yall must have a dirty mold bathroom. we use bleach to kill odor in drains, a few ounces, plus every now and then in the laundry. I try to tell her to limit the use but we still use it. I guess we could clean the bathroom with vodka cause its good for the environment, but that s alcohol so it would kill bacteria as well, we could use orange peels in garbage disposal (witch i really limit what and how much goes in there) (rotton friut always goes down it as there is all that bacteria in the rotton fruit) but that masks an odor and does not kill all the bacteria causeing the odor to return.

So Ridx for me every month. The box is like $10 reading the directions you use half the box each month. so i spend $60 a year on it, dosent break me, but does add those additional bacteria, that the box says help breakdown greese soaps, bleach and chemicals.

Real answer i do it to add what i feel we kill with cleaners, never draino though.

 

[skipmarcy]

Alot of people around this part of the country have gray water drains - they are supposed to be illegal but the septic inspectors will turn their heads alot of the time if you do it right. I built my place 4 years ago and put my washer and kitchen sink on a gray water drain off into the woods. We never have intentionally put much grease down the kitchen sink but you're bound to get some just from washing dishes alone, so I put it on that drain so no grease at all goes to the septic system. Of course the dishwasher is on that sink drain too. The only thing that goes to the septic are my 2 toilets, 1 shower, and 2 vanity sinks. Since it's just the wife & myself, I don't have to use drain cleaners much at all and I think they are mostly enzyme type anyway. My wife keeps the cleaners use to a minimum on the fixtures and shower so I'm hoping we won't have much problems with our septic system. I never have used additives in the several places we've lived and luckily haven't had any problems. It's mostly just common sense using your septic system and if you get everyone in the house on board, most won't have a problem.

 

[plowking]

This time of year,I'll see little bugs or flies in tanks that have good bacteria. Like others have said,the tank should be self suffiicient, but clothes washing,antibacteria products,softener discharge or mineral buildup from well water in tanks make it harder for bacteria to sustain itself. I have customers who take medications daily[ blood thinning medication,prozac,diabetes,chemo or radiation treatments,] those tanks need bacteria to combat the antibiotics from human waste. The tank lid needs to be tight or havesome dirt on it,airtight tanks work better then loose lids. plowking

 

[Pushing_Tin]

Thanks for the feedback all. :thumbsup:

 

[Storm56]

I use a product called Roebic, usually twice a year. Today with all the anti bacterial soaps and of course bleach it can be hard on the bacteria. I usually pump my tank every 10 years or so. There are things in the food we eat and dirt in the clothes you wash, even washing really dirty hands puts dirt in the tank that will not break down. There is usually a layer of almost like mud about a foot thick in the bottom of the tank when I have it pumped. System is still working fine but those solids need to come out of the tank. The bacteria and pumping are cheap insurance in my book. A new drainfield can cost about $15,000 today.

 

[coreshot]

Good info. One question though... what type of cleaners should you use for toilets and such that do drain into your septic? Like others have said, my septic tank is only used for my toilet, all sinks and showers go to gray water drains in the woods. Each toilet use is followed by 2 gallons of water.