When people first move into a home that has a septic tank, they must learn how to properly treat their private wastewater system. One aspect involves not flushing anything but toilet paper and organic waste. This may be different behavior from what they are accustomed to in the city. Technicians who do Septic Tank Cleaning in Olympia WA are able to see whether this guideline is being followed as soon as they lift the lid of the tank.
Thick, Multi-Ply Paper
Even the kind of toilet paper used can affect how often a septic tank must be pumped. This is not a subject people tend to think about whether they live in the city limits or not. Homeowners who put a lot of demand on the septic system, however, may find that using thick, multi-ply paper fills up the tank sooner than they would expect. It does not dissolve as well or as quickly as other products.
The Option of Not Flushing Paper
Sometimes, septic cleaning workers may suggest not flushing used toilet paper but instead, put it in a trash container intended only for this purpose. Although this may seem unpleasant at first, it can be a useful strategy when a tank is too small to effectively handle the amount of use it gets. This may occur when several people move into a home that was originally built for an individual or a couple.
An Experiment
Household residents who don’t believe that toilet paper could be this much of a problem might try an experiment with their favorite brand. The experiment simply requires tearing off as much paper as might be needed in a typical situation and putting it into a clear container with water and a lid. The container then should be shaken vigorously for at least five seconds and then left to stand. People can be very surprised at how long it takes for some products to start dissolving.
In the tank, large amounts of paper accumulate and can interfere with the wastewater treatment process. Then more frequent Septic Tank Cleaning in Olympia WA becomes necessary to clear out all of that material.
