Septic safe garbage disposal?

dredpir8

14 years ago

Is there such a thing? I've seen some marketed as septic safe but are they really?

Thanks!

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Comments (7)

michellemarie
14 years ago
I have a septic system and was told I could not have a garbage disposal, but you could always call the company that pumps your system and ask if they have a recommendation.
chris45ny
14 years ago
I know there are those who have disposers and have septic systems. Insinkerator designs one for septic systems. I have a septic system but no disposer. I, personally, didn't want one.

michellemarie has a good idea-call the company that pumps your system. Bet they would have the best info for you. Good luck!!
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We've had septic with disposal at three different houses over the past 25 years. We live in Pa where you are required to pump empty every three years. We had a septic drain bed issue due to maple trees in the first house but no tank problems. This house is still fine 25 years later as a rental. Second house had sand mound with two tanks for 18 years Never a problem. Current house is 150 y/o cesspool and yes we have a disposer (incinerators one for septics). Five years no problems and we dont pump this as its a cesspool. I compost what can be composted but run the disposer to keep large chunks from pipe clogging. The newer disposals run things so fine that its more of an issue of the bacteria being able to keep up. Or so my septic buddies say. I'm putting one in the new house and will compost the appropriate items but like to have the back up of a disposal if everyone else in the family and guests are not as careful.
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We have had a septic tank system in the past four houses We have had a garbage disposal at each house and are sensible about what goes down. Plate scraps, small things go down of course Large stuff like shucking a dozen ears of corn, 10# of potato peelings get composted. My kids put more stuff down than I do. We have NEVER had an issue with our septics. I would never NOT have a disposer. It just seems like good insurance to be able to grind up stuff that might just slip down. My daughter had no disposer in her first apt and ALWAYS had clogs Her landlord was going to add disposers to all 12 apts. Our current 150 year old farmhouse with a cesspool not a septic has had NO problems over the past 7 years since we included the disposer in the remodel YMMV
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wa8b
14 years ago
Any garbage disposal is safe to use with a septic system. The thing that matters, is what you put down the disposer. No egg shells, no bones, no sea food shells, and no fats. Bones and shells won't break down, and fats float on the surface of the tank contents and sort of smother the organisms that break down solids.

Then, of course, you also want to avoid the usual culprits that will choke up most disposers, very fibrous stuff like artichoke and corn husks, which are very slow to break down.

If you have a disposer with a septic system, a good rule of thumb is to compost the big stuff, then use the disposer just to get rid of the bits and pieces of debris that collect in the bottom of the sink.

Insinkerator's septic model releases an enzyme or some sort of microbe, or something, that's supposed to encourage faster breakdown of solids in the tank, but most experts say that the additive is of dubious value. You also have to buy refill cartridges of the stuff from Insinkerator -- sort of like printer ink -- and we know what a racket that is.

A healthy septic system doesn't require the addition of chemicals or other patent additives (like Sep-Tonic) to work properly.
sara_the_brit_z6_ct
14 years ago
A compost pile.
:)
numbersjunkie
14 years ago
I've had one for 25 years with a septic system. GC installed it after the inspector left. No problems, and I'm sure the ones they make today are much better than the one I have!

I put eggshells in it all the time. Never knew it was a no-no.
julie94062
14 years ago
Our 30 yr old house had a regular disposal and we got the same for the new kitchen. Like wa8b, I just use it to get rid of the little bits in the sink and sometimes a little more, but not often. We've never had a problem using it with septic.
dredpir8
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks for all the feedback.

michellemarie- That's a fantastic idea. I'll give them a call. That reminds me... I think it's time to get it serviced anyway. =)

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Septic safe garbage disposal?

Comments (7)

michellemarie

chris45ny

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Septic safe garbage disposal?

Comments (7)

michellemarie

chris45ny

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wa8b

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