Jun 27, 2023
While most people associate their septic systems with toilet use, household appliances such as washing machines are a major outlet to the septic system. Luckily, modern septic systems are capable of handling wastewater from household appliances, but irresponsible use can lead to septic failure.
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At Septic Blue of Charlotte, we pride ourselves on being septic experts, offering a wide range of services including septic tank pumping, septic tank repair, and septic tank installation. With our expertise, we understand how laundry can impact septic tanks. Today’s article focuses on some of the ways laundry can affect your septic tank and what you can do to prevent septic failure associated with laundry.
A septic tank is designed to handle so much water on a given day. Washing machines use a lot of water, and doing multiple loads of laundry in quick succession can overload your septic tank. When too much water passes through the septic tank, it can overwhelm the tank's capacity, leading to poor settling of solids and increased risk of untreated effluent reaching the drainfield. Furthermore, too many loads of laundry reduce the retention time of the wastewater within the septic tank. This may lead to more solids and partially treated effluent entering the drainfield. It is advisable to spread out your laundry loads over time to prevent overloading the septic tank and maintain its optimal performance. Also, instead of doing small loads of laundry frequently, wait until you have a full load before running the washing machine.
Using excess detergent may seem harmless, but it can destroy the beneficial bacteria in your septic tank over time. The beneficial bacteria in a septic tank help digest the organic waste, converting it into simpler substances. Most laundry detergents contain harsh chemicals, such as chlorine, phosphates, and ammonia, which can disrupt the balance of beneficial bacteria in the septic tank. The solution is to opt for septic-friendly laundry detergents without harsh chemicals and select liquid detergents over powdered ones. Powdered detergents may contain clay and fillers that promote clogs.
If you are still using an older washing machine model, it’s time to upgrade to an energy-efficient machine to reduce water consumption and minimize the impact on your septic system. Energy-efficient washing machines are designed to use less water per load compared to traditional models. They often incorporate features such as load sensing technology and adjustable water levels, which optimize water usage based on the size of the load.
Septic Blue of Charlotte is a professional septic company that provides a comprehensive range of septic services, including:
We are a licensed and insured local septic company with many years of industry experience. When you choose us for your septic needs, you can rest assured that our septic technicians will go above and beyond to provide you with the right solutions.
