Garbage disposal and septic tank

kiana-2010

13 years ago

I was told by a plumber that septic tanks and garbage disposals don't work well together. Is this true? If you have a septic tank and a garbage disposal, are there certain brands made for septic tanks? Are there certain chemicals that help break down food that can be added? Have you had problems?

Or am I just asking for trouble?

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Comments (9)

barbcollins
13 years ago
Yes we have a septic tank, yes we have a regular garbage disposer. We had one of the special Septic Disposer by DH said they are really necessary. DH is a plumber. We just are careful about what we put down it.
gryane
13 years ago
we have a septic tank and a garbage disposal. Have not had any trouble, but you can't stuff just anything down there. I really only use it for the small remnants that are left over. I try to put all my "compostables" in the compost pile or in the trash.
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Agree non-degradables do accumulate until pumped. Septic systems do need to be pumped/inspected at appropriate intervals and those intervals will be shorter with more solids. I do regard occasional pumping/inspection as normal maintenance required of any septic system. I did not mean to imply that in 28 years using a disposal with my septic system I've never done anything to maintain it. To be specific, I typically pump/inspect it every five years or so. Upon each of those occasions, there were no problems of any kind observed and was advised I could wait longer. Not an expert. Just saying my experience. Probably should have left the "microbes" quip out. Trying to be cute.
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The septic tank is supposed to give waste place to break down, and it's intended to enter the leach field essentially one molecule at a time. The problem with a disposal is that some of the material you put down will float, so there's a chance of it entering the leach field in large chunks, potentially clogging things up. I've had a disposal for 20 years with a septic and no issues, but I DON'T put much mass down there. Table scraps go to the dogs, things like salad gone bad go to compost, or in the winter a feed trough just out of the yard for the deer and wild bunnies. So a limited amount goes down the drain: the occasional veg trimming and the like. My system has never needed to be pumped, even once. So if it doesn't float, and you feel its a reasonable volume, it should be fine going down the disposal. Just look out for no/slow biodegradables, like eggshells. A far bigger enemy of your septic is stuff like tampons and stridex pads.
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Thepeppermintleaf (and everyone) - my worm bin is something like this one. I started out with a home made one using a Rubbermaid type bin, but, as peppermintleaf alluded to, I was always trying to manage where the worms migrated to so that I could get vermicompost that was fairly worm free to put in the garden, and the results of my efforts were mediocre at best. This systems works much better, and, for the number of years it's been working well, very worth the investment. The worms do migrate up as you add shelves & compost material. My only complaint is that, to get to finished compost, you have to get to the bottom - so you have to remove the upper layers, put them down, remove the bottom, finished layer, and then replace the upper ones. Not the end of the world, but it takes some effort. Here are some photos of how it works: Here's the top drawer. I add compostables & shredded newspaper. The newspaper helps keep fruit flies at bay, as well as acting as bedding for the worms: This shelf is somewhere in the middle: Here's the lowest one (I recently took two finished ones out to the garden, so this one isn't completely done breaking down - but almost: And here's one of the recently harvested empty shelves. Note that the bottom is a grid/screen, which allows worms to move up - when a top layer gets full, I simply add an empty shelf to the top & add food/newspaper to it.
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misplacedtxgal
13 years ago
ditto what gryane states.
covingtoncat
13 years ago
We have one made specially for septic tanks. It has a cartridge with "bio-enzymes" that aid in breaking down the food. We are also careful what we put down it, usage is limited to mostly what's left on dishes after scraping big stuff into trash. You may need to have your tank pumped more often as well.
holligator
13 years ago
We have a septic tank and two regular garbage disposals--one at the clean-up sink and one at the prep sink. As others have stated, we limit what goes in the disposal. Even before the reno, we had a disposal for many years, and we've never had a problem. We do have three separate septic tanks, with one dedicated to the kitchen, so that may make a difference.
alwaysfixin
13 years ago
The one made specifically for septic tanks is the Insinkerator Evolution Septic Assist. I do not have one (not on septic), but I do have the Insinkerator Evolution Cover Control, and it's very nice. It's quiet, and grinds everything perfectly. The Septic Assist has an in-home warranty of 4 years, which is pretty good. I have read on this forum posters who are very happy with this disposal. I will link to Faucetdepot, whic is a reputable web retailer, and has good prices and free shipping.

Here is a link that might be useful: Insinkerator Septic Assist Disposal at Faucetdepot
alwaysfixin
13 years ago
Also, some plumbers have locked in their minds the older inefficient disposals, and the "Badger" disposals. Those would be bad for septic plumbing and it is understandable for a plumber to advise against them. Your plumber may not be familiar with the more modern (and more expensive) disposals that have 3/4 hp or 1 hp motor and all stainless innards.
Buehl
13 years ago
I have both septic and a garbage disposal - but not a regular one, the one that AlwaysFixin linked to. In our County, if you are on septic you are only allowed to have a GD if you have one specifically designed for septic systems. (When we built in 1995, they weren't allowed at all, so the County does change Code from time to time.)

As to being careful...to be honest, we don't worry about what we put down it other than what's advisable for any GD. For example, we do put egg shells & potato skins down but don't put celery down it. The key things to do/remember, I think, are: Be sure you have a good quality disposer (i.e., NOT a Badger or equivalent!)
Be sure you don't over stuff the disposal b/f grinding
Be sure to run cool or cold water when grinding
Be sure you grind until the disposal is completely empty...and then some (you can tell by sound...the sound changes when the disposal is empty)
Run the water a while longer to be sure everything has been flushed from the pipes
Don't pour grease or fat down the drain...the GD or other
Don't grind stingy items like celery

All these apply to all GDs, not just w/septic.
vampiressrn
13 years ago
Wow...this is interesting as my parents were always told no garbage disposal on septic....my Mom still does not have one. Sounds like things have certainly changed over the years. Thanks for posting this question.

Garbage disposal and septic tank

Comments (9)

barbcollins

gryane

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