Garbage disposals provide homeowners with an efficient way of eliminating certain types of waste. The problem arises when it’s treated more like a trash can than a specialized device designed to grind food. That’s particularly true if you have a septic tank on your property. In order to prevent issues from occurring, there are several key steps you can take to minimize damage to the entire septic system. Here’s what you need to know.

3 Tips for Using Your Garbage Disposal When You Have a Septic Tank

1. Grind the Right Foods

It’s perfectly fine to place certain items down the drain, such as fruit rinds, liquids, and chopped up foods. In fact, grinding citrus peels is an easy way to refresh your sink and give the kitchen a pleasant aroma. But you risk damage to the septic system if you attempt to grind anything too hard, stringy, or thick. Bones and pits, for example, won’t move through the system at all. Pasta expands in water and will simply swell up and cause possible clogs in the pipes. Ground coffee can easily collect and create thick sludge inside. Avoid draining oil and grease, too, as they can cause blockages.

2. Pump the Septic Tank

Although the general rule of thumb is to schedule septic tank pumping at least once every three years, you should do it more often if you use the garbage disposal regularly. This is because more debris travels through the pipes than it would otherwise, posing a greater possibility that the tank may develop excess sludge and solid material. If it accumulates, it can easily cause the tank to fail and result in flooding of the drainfield. This will impact the overall efficiency of your septic system.

3. Use It Infrequently

Although it’s convenient, the garbage disposal isn’t a substitute for the actual garbage can. It’s capable of breaking down quite a bit of material, but overuse can impact the overall integrity of your system, resulting in greater need for septic maintenance. Remember that all of that debris has nowhere to go but down through the plumbing and into the septic tank. Since the tank’s job is ultimately to release treated effluent into the drainfield, it will do its job less efficiently if it’s filled with gunk from the disposal.

A clean septic tank is a healthy one! You can trust the professionals at Price’s Septic Tank Service in Danielsville, GA, to provide quality pumping and maintenance services as needed. If you have a garbage disposal, it’s especially important to make sure the septic system is in good condition. Visit the company’s website for more information, or call them at (706) 789-3263.