Hygiene Wipes and Septic Systems

Every time someone comes up with a new hygiene product, humans benefit. But, the environment suffers in one way or another. This holds true with hygiene wipes, which are continually increasing in popularity. They may be convenient and comfortable, but they can also spell disaster for septic systems and the environment. So read on and think twice before using these products.

In the case of septic systems, hygiene wipes are causing issues that recently affected a system at a local apartment building. The wipes collected inside the drain lines, causing grease to build up behind them, causing a backup. The expense was around $650 to have the tank pumped and the lines flushed. The owner now realizes these wipes have entered the dry well, blocking the drainage holes in the dry well. This means the tank needs to be cleaned out.

Be careful what you put in your systems: no wipes, no harsh toilet cleaners, no paper towels or other hygiene products. Remember that everything you flush down the toilet still has to end up somewhere. You certainly don’t want any of those items in your septic system.

hygiene wipes

For more information visit Septic Drainer and Bio-Septic Boost or call 518-812-0000

Septic Additives That Work

Hey, it’s your Septic Drainer friends here to talk about Septic Additives.

Not all Leach Field Claeners are the same. We’ve all seen the X product ads on TV, and one good thing about them is they remind us about our septic system.

Caring for your system is vital if you want your system to last. When picking the best leach field claener, you should treat your system to prevent both soil failure and biological failure. Using a soil conditioner is vital, since soil failure is the the number-one reason for septic failure.

Septic bacteria is not a soil conditioner. Using a bio-stimulant nutrient or a bacterial-based product, or both, can prevent biological failures, which is the second-greatest reason for septic failure. Are all bacteria additives equal? No. It’s a good idea to look to see how many strands of bacteria are included with the product you’re purchasing. You’d be surprised to know the truth about the products you have been buying.

So in summary, yes it’s a good idea to use both a soil conditioner and a bacterial treatment to maintain your septic system. Also, don’t forget to have your system pumped every two years, and every five years have the entire system pumped and the drain field flushed-out with a hydro-cleaner. Be sure to add your soil conditioner and bacterial products.

Just don’t get caught sitting down on the job.


For more information visit www.septicdrainer.com or www.biosepticboost.com


Mark Reynolds

Septic System Tips – The Do’s and Don’ts

If you live in rural America, you’ve probably heard about septic systems. In addition here are some septic system tips and other useful things you need to know:

1) The location of your system.

2) The type of system you have.

3) An understanding of how a system works.

4) Accurate maintenance records.

Many folks have questions like:

1) How often should you pump your system?

Every two years is a good rule of thumb. Every five years you should pump your tank and flush out your drainage system.

2) Should you add additives?

For the biological health of the system, we recommend a bio-stimulant nutrient (BSN), which is the safe bet. There’s no need to match your septic environment to a specific type of bacteria additive. Pick the wrong bacteria and you might waste your money. Using a BSN is the safe bet.

For drain field soil health, use a soil conditioner to keep your soil draining properly. Remember, 90% of the septic failures happen in the soil of the drain field, according to the U.S. EPA.

Common Questions

3) Is it ok to build things on top of your system?

Building driveways, patios and pools, and planting trees, prevents access and compacts the soil, compromising your system.

4) Should you dispose of paper products, female hygiene products or handy wipes in a septic system?

Absolutely do not dispose of anything other than human waste or toilet tissue in your septic system.

5) Does adding harsh cleaning products or paint products negatively affect a septic system?

Yes, these chemicals destroy the biological health of your septic system. Do not use toilet chlorine cleaning dispensers, harsh cleaning chemicals or any other chemical in your septic system or you will have soil drainage issues.

For more information and septic system tips, visit www.septicdrainer.com


Mark Reynolds

Bad Smell In The Yard, Instead Of Roses

The day started off like any other. As I took my morning garden tour to check my rose bushes, a curious smell in the air disrupted my slice of heaven. You didn’t have to be a detective to quickly ascertain that the bad smell in the yard was decidedly “sewer-like.” My septic drain field was in crisis. To put it mildly, the lawn surface over my septic drain field was awash in wastewater.

In retrospect, I had ignored the warning signs. Bright green strips over the septic drain field should have set off alarm bells. Then there was a plumbing backup about a month ago. I attributed it to a small toy that a helpful child flushed down the toilet. This was followed shortly thereafter by gurgling sounds in the plumbing and slow-draining sinks and toilets. A call to the septic maintenance company indicated that they had pumped out the septic tank only six months ago. So an inspector was dispatched.

If sewage water cannot trickle through the holes in the underground piping in a septic drain field, the cleaning organisms present in soil cannot do their job. Then the effluent will begin to collect. In this case, it was collecting on my lawn.

The Problem

Septic drain field problems develop over time. As the inspector pointed out, the sodium present in products used for laundry, in the kitchen and bathroom, and in our diets, bonds with the soil in a septic drain field. Over time, this bond creates an impenetrable barrier, which prevents the wastewater from percolating through the soil. Almost 90% of septic system failures are due to sodium buildup in the soil. If the soil is unable to perform its cleaning or absorptive functions, then the continuous wastewater flushed out from the septic tank into the septic drain field has to find an outlet.

The good news is that it is possible to restore soil structure and drainage by adding Septic Drainer to the septic system. An environmentally friendly product, Septic Drainer uses a groundbreaking soil-restorative formula to restore failed or failing septic drain fields. The product is based on a solution commonly used in agriculture to improve the absorption of plant foods and water.

The Answer

As directed, I added four gallons of Septic Drainer to my 1,000-gallon septic tank. Within a week, my septic system was rejuvenated and back on track, with no more bad smell in the yard. To ensure that the system stays in balance, I will follow the advice to add one gallon of Septic Drainer every six months, as well as regular treatment with its companion product, Bio-Septic Boost. The modest cost of Septic Drainer was a welcome alternative to repairing the piping, or replacing the septic tank.

Now I can relax and smell my roses.