Your septic tank is an essential component of your home. It helps you get rid of waste in your home by holding wastewater so that solids go down to the bottom and any grease goes to the top. These tanks are buried in the ground and are watertight. According to the EPA, the tank is made of fiberglass, concrete, or polyethylene. While they're made to withstand time and very unseemly contents, they're not indestructible. The same goes for the pipes that direct the waste you put in your toilets and sinks to the septic tank. Here are some things that you should avoid putting in these pipes, so they do not negatively impact your septic system.

1. Kitty Litter

There are brands of kitty litter that say that their litter is flushable. It's really not a good idea, however, since the litter can wind up getting clumped in the pipes and backing things up. Also, there are bacteria in the cat's poop that can be resistant to the chemicals that treat the waste in pump-out septic tanks. As a result, this can get in the water and harm the wildlife that live in it and drink it. Put the kitty litter where it belongs when you're cleaning up the litter box: the garbage. The same goes for those supposedly flushable wipes: they wind up getting stuck in the pipes or ruining the blades that chop up the waste. Put the wipes in the garbage.

2. Grease, Fats, and Oils

Yes, we mentioned fats and septic tanks earlier. This isn't the one to try, though. It can be tempting to just pour your hot bacon grease or meat fat down the toilet. They can cool down, congeal, and then wind up clogging the pipes. They can also bind with other things that are sent down and create a blockage. It's much easier to just cool them down by running cold water on the pan that they are in and then scraping them into the garbage. It's much more efficient and also better for the pump-out septic tanks. If you detect a clog, be sure to call a septic professional promptly.

3. Coffee Grounds

There's a myth of sorts that coffee grounds are fine enough to go through any drain. The reality is that they can wind up clogging your drains. This is doubly annoying since you're trying to use a plunger or something similar and likely wondering why the toilet smells like coffee. Put the coffee grounds in the garbage or even use it as compost for some plants. Keep them away from the toilet or other pipes that lead directly to septic pump-out systems.

4. Household Fluids

Pump-out septic tanks and your pipes are made for water and bodily fluids. Keep things like car fluids or household cleaners out of the drain. The reason for that is that while they won't necessarily do any damage to the pipes, they will get into the water supply and possibly cause harm to people or wildlife. Dispose of them properly, which can mean going to a center to properly dispose of them. You can even go to a local auto parts store to find out if there are certain car fluids that you can dispose of there. As far as household cleaners go, there are plenty of natural ones out there that can be safer for the environment as a whole.

5. Medication

Here is another case of things not necessarily being bad for the pipes, per se, but for the wildlife that drinks the water. The medication can wind up contaminating those waters. As far as prescription medication or other medications go, you can usually drop them off at a pharmacy so that they can properly dispose of the medication. There are also drug take-back sites that you can look up online to find their exact locations and hours. This is a situation that you need to take seriously, and if you do encounter plumbing issues, be sure to give us a call.

6. Produce Stickers

You might think that there's nothing wrong with flushing these tiny little stickers that you find on your produce. The problem is that these stickers have adhesive on them which makes them stick to things like your plumbing or the inside of pump-out septic tanks. These can get stuck in the pipes or even wastewater treatment equipment, which can then break them. This is easily avoidable by properly disposing of these adhesives in the garbage. Putting items such as these down your pipes will create a situation only a trained septic professional can help you with, so don't hesitate to contact us.

7. Paint

Never, ever put paint into your toilet or sink. This will make this highly toxic chemical go into the waterways. There are very specific rules in each state on how to dispose of paint. You can look them up online and then follow those directions. It's an important thing that you can do for the environment and wildlife, so pump-out septic tanks last as long as they're supposed to.

8. Eggshells

Your garbage disposal is a wonderful thing. You can see a lot of things through it. Eggshells are not one of them. That's because the tiny pieces wind up getting stuck on any grease that's in the drain and then wind up clogging the pipes. It's far easier to just toss the eggshells into the garbage itself. While shells are biodegradable, they shouldn't be decomposing in pump-out septic tanks. If you want to be environmentally conscious, use them in your garden and schedule an estimate for our maintenance services.

9. Feminine Hygiene Products

These products can wind up doing a lot of damage to your pipes and septic tank since they don't dissolve and tend to get stuck. Flushing them down the toilet can wind up resulting in expensive plumbing issues and septic tank damage. You can safely dispose of them by wrapping them up and then putting them in the garbage. This is an issue our experts see a lot of, so if you do encounter a septic backup because of this, we're equipped to handle it.

10. Cotton Balls and Paper Towels

Some of these products are fairly safe for the environment since they are biodegradable, which is a lot more than any other products that we listed here can say. However, they still have their drawbacks when it comes to how they impact pump-out septic tanks. Both of these things are highly absorbent, which can then cause them to clog the pipes. Throw them into the garbage and save yourself from having to worry about damaging your septic system. Just stick to flushing toilet paper to ensure that things go right.

These are far from the only things that human beings have tried to flush or send down the drain. While some of the culprits are children, many adults still are unaware of the impact flushing miscellaneous items has on pump-out septic tanks. People have tried to flush food, action figures, money, light bulbs, and even phones. These issues have deeper foundations than simply having to break out the plunger. You can risk ruining an integral part of your home. These pump-out septic tanks not only can cause issues within your house when treated poorly but the rest of your property as well. Lucky for you, our experts can handle any issue with years of experience under our belts.

Are you looking to learn more about pump-out septic tanks? We have experts who can explain them to you. From the initial design of pump-out septic tanks to routine maintenance and inspections, we've got you covered. With nearly 70 years of experience, you can rely on us for whatever you need. Our team looks forward to working with you. Contact Reliable Septic & Services today.