A clogged septic usually refers to a clog in the line that leads from the tank to the drain field or in the distribution lines.
The Septic Tank
The tank receives all waste from the house including the washing machine, dishwasher, and garbage disposal. A common misconception is that the tank “treats” the waste making it safe to run into the drain field, but its actual purpose is to catch and store material that can clog the drain line: scum and sludge. Scum consists of fat, grease, oil, and any floating solids, while sludge refers to non-floating solids.
The tank doesn’t do anything except give the water enough time for scum and sludge to settle, which is technically referred to as the retention time; once scum and sludge have separated from the water, the water is allowed to flow out through an outlet tee, a tube underneath the water surface that allows water but not floating scum to pass. If the retention time is too low, however, the scum and sludge won’t have time to settle out before passing into the drain field leading to a clog.
Distribution Box and Drainfield
In most systems, the wastewater, “effluent”, from the tank flows through the tightline to a distribution box where it flows to smaller perforated distribution lines allowing the water to spread evenly into the surrounding soil. The drain field is the area where these distribution lines are buried. The amazing part about the system is that bacteria in the soil naturally cleanse the water so that it can safely flow back into the groundwater supply.
Causes of Clogs
Many times the lines become clogged because harsh chemicals have killed off helpful bacteria inside the tank. These helpful bacteria grow at the bottom of the tank and digest the sludge; in other words, these bacteria keep the sludge from building up too quickly. If it weren’t for the bacteria, then we would have to pump our septic tanks much more often.
Chemicals to Avoid
- Oil Based Paint
- Solvents
- Bleach
- Caustic Drain Opener
- Strong Disinfectants
- Strong Bathroom/Kitchen Cleaner
- Pesticides
- Anti-freeze
Solids to Avoid
- #1 Offender: Washing Machine Lint (consider getting a washing machine lint filter)
- Kitty Litter
- Sanitary Napkins
- Feminine Hygiene Products
- Cigarette Butts
- Dental Floss
- Coffee Grounds
- Q-Tips
- Kitchen Grease
- Anything in the Garbage Disposer
If you’ve put harsh chemicals down the drain, then I strongly recommend CCLS cleaner; it contains billions of specially grown bacteria to replace any that have been killed off. CCLS also has enzymes that can break down grease and small solids that have already made it into and potentially clogged the drain field. For best results, it needs to be applied at the distribution box or septic outlet tee; if you’re not comfortable doing this, you should be able to inexpensively hire a pumper to do it for you.
If you’ve routinely put items off the list above down the drain, then simply pumping should prevent a clogged septic, but it’s important to pump as soon as possible because passing time can cause it to get more serious and expensive.
Possible Products