Blog, Drain Cleaning, Residential, Septic Emergency
How Baking Soda Can Help Prevent Septic Emergencies
If you own a residence or business that has a septic system you know that there is no getting around septic pumping service. It’s recommended that you have your septic tank pumped and inspected every 3 years, so if it’s been a while, you should really schedule septic service today. But if you end up having issues with the pipes, drains, or the septic system itself, you may have to schedule septic pumping service and inspections much more often.
This can end up costing you hundreds of extra dollars, not to mention putting too much wear and tear on your septic system. If your septic tank or leach field ends up having to be replaced it can cost you thousands of dollars! There are many ways to help take care of your septic system and one super easy and affordable way is to simply start using baking soda.
How does Baking Soda help you avoid septic system emergencies?
Simple, using baking soda mixed with other all natural ingredients can be used as an environmentally safe and natural cleaner for your toilet, sinks, tub, and drains. Using baking soda instead of harsh chemical cleaners such as bleach will keep all that important bacteria from being killed off. The good bacteria in your septic system is necessary because it breaks down all the waste that comes through the pipes.
Without the good bacteria you will end up with clogs, back-ups and odors that wear away at your septic tank and eventually cause a septic system emergency. Using baking soda is very easy.
You can mix about a 1/4 cup of baking soda with 1/2 cup of vinegar and 2 tablespoons lemon to make your own natural cleaning agent. The baking soda will fizz up to help get the dirt and grime in your tub and drains. It’s a great cleaner and your septic system will thank you!
Blog, Earth Care, Septic Emergency
Septic Emergency? Baking Soda Might Help
If you have a septic tank, then you know that you don’t want to pour drain cleaner or anything else that kills bacteria into your tank when you have a septic emergency. Doing so can cause your septic tank to become less efficient, or even fail.
What to do in case of a Septic Emergency
This means when you have a drain clogged by hair or grime, you need other alternatives. One of them is something you likely already have in your kitchen: Baking soda. Baking soda loosens up the grime or hair. Then you follow up with vinegar. This causes a chemical reaction which knocks the clog loose. Yes, there should be some foaming from the culprit drain afterward. Finish off with hot water to make everything go away. The combination will not kill bacteria. Also, it does not have a bad smell and will actually clean up any bad smells.
So, baking soda is great for shower, bathroom, and floor drains where the clog is likely to be dirt, grime, hair and a bit of soap residue. However, it should never be used on kitchen drains. Baking soda is not effective for cleaning away fat, oil or grease. It simply doesn’t work – you just have fat clog coated in baking soda. For clogged kitchen drains try hot water on its own. If this isn’t effective, then consider a bacterial additive to encourage bacteria to eat the blockage. Again, you should still avoid using drain cleaner or detergent.
If all else fails, you should call a professional. If your septic emergency is not responding to these basic measures, then contact EarthCare to find out about our professional drain cleaning services.
