Can I Have A Garbage Disposal With Septic Tank

When you use a garbage disposal with a septic tank the ground up food particles contribute to the layer of solids that is deposited on the bottom of your septic tank.

Can i have a garbage disposal with septic tank.

If you are on your city s sewer system all that food ends up going to your local water treatment plant. Down that garbage disposal. Unlike a sewer system that is taken care of by the city a septic tank can be a little difficult to take care of. When you put a food item in your garbage disposal it ends up going somewhere.

The short answer is yes but there are precautions to be taken if you have both a garbage disposal unit and are on a septic system. After all garbage disposals are environmentally friendly by keeping scraps from entering landfills across the nation. Do consider starting a compost pile for the majority of your food scraps. Just because you have a septic tank doesn t mean that you have to give up on the convenience of a garbage disposal.

Otherwise bacteria cannot break it down. It is okay to make use of garbage disposal with a septic tank. However since septic tanks are usually designed to break down human waste added measures need to be taken to ensure that they work well when paired with a garbage disposal. Don t put food macaroni veggie peels grease egg shells etc.

Do consult with a professional to make sure that your septic tank is properly sized for the garbage disposal you are considering purchasing. Unfortunately though they are not the best choice for septic systems. Some garbage disposal manufacturers like insinkerator have a unique solution to this by injecting the enzymes directly into your septic tank every time food waste passes through the disposer. Below is a list of things you should never put down the garbage disposal if you have a septic tank.

Usually this requires you to add them directly into the septic tank. If you have bought a house with a septic system and it doesn t already have a disposal don t add one. One way to overcome this is by using special enzyme additives. Garbage disposals are popular additions in many kitchens as they keep kitchens clean from bacteria that can cause illnesses and food waste out of landfills.

Do pump your septic tank more often if you use your garbage disposal on a daily basis. However making use of garbage disposal and a septic tank is different from making use of garbage disposal and a sewer system. For example you will have to ensure that the waste going down your garbage disposal to your septic tank is entirely biodegradable. A garbage disposal is used to grind food scraps into tiny pieces making is easier to dispose of and process the waste.

The best advice you can get is to just not use a garbage disposal with a septic system. The second best advice you can get is to use it minimally and responsibly.