Keeping your home clear of any sewage backup is extremely important. Backup that reaches the drains of your home can create a major health hazard for those that are living in your home. This is the main reason that a homeowner would want to keep their septic tank and system clean and clear throughout its lifespan. One of the ways that some homeowners try to keep a septic system clean is through septic tank additives.
While this can be seen by a homeowner as a practical solution, in reality, industry professionals say that like other pipe clearing “insta-products,” there are many issues involved that are simply ignored.
What Are Septic Tank Additives?
Septic tank additives are products that homeowners can easily purchase for their septic tank. Based on how these products are advertised, additives are meant to be used to:
- Accelerate biosolid digestion
- Break up scum in the system
- Unclog a clogged soil absorption system
One of the potential key benefits are that additives might have the power to reduce the amount of oil and grease in a septic tank. However, the results can be questionable.
Do Septic Tank Additives Work?
In short, no. Much like other types of easy fix products, there really isn’t much research out there that proves that additives work positively for a septic system. In fact, much research has shown that additives, both biological and chemical, are actually harmful to a septic system.
Are They Harmful to Your Septic Tank?
Much like other products that offer similar results in plumbing, septic tank additives include corrosive matter like sulfuric acid. These ingredients can not only harm the bacteria that is naturally used to break down waste, but it also damages the structural integrity of your tank and sewage pipes.
Some forms of additives may not be necessarily harmful to your system and pipes but could have a negative impact on the soil in your drainfield. This means that the purification process of the wastewater in your drainfield would slow down and become less effective with additive use.
Reach Out to Professionals Over Additives
Despite what products state, there really is no getting around actually having to properly maintain your septic system. You will always eventually have to call out a local septic professional and have your septic tank pumped and your pipes cleaned. By using corrosive additives, not only are you creating more problems for your land, but you are also shortening the lifespan of your septic system.
A local professional like Texas John’s will be able to safely, effectively, and quickly find your septic problem and take care of it.
Texas John’s Now Focuses on Septic Tank Services
If your home is experiencing septic backup or your septic tank and system simply need to be pumped, don’t take the quick-fix route; they don’t work. Get in touch with Texas John’s to have your septic tank maintained by a professional.
