Sink disposal on septic system?

[ameijers]

Closing on a house in a couple weeks, and it has the usual list of stuff that needs to be seen to. Pretty high up on the list is replacing or fixing a basically dead (non-draining) dishwasher, and a rotted trap assembly under kitchen sink. I noticed sink has no disposal, which isn't uncommon in septic-system houses of the vintage. But I was wondering, since I'll have it all apart anyway, and this would be a convenient opportunity to add a disposal, what is current thinking on the subject? I don't use disposals to grind bones or leftovers or anything. Anything big enough to scrape goes in trash can. Is trivial food waste like post-scraping plate residue really a problem for septic systems? Or does pre-cleaning the plates make a disposal a moot point?

Open to hints on the dishwasher, too, by the way. Seller claims soap cup latch being busted was only problem, but when inspector ran it empty after sitting for several months, it didn't drain. Any chance it something trivial like a clogged screen, or dried crud in corrugated drain line which goes in a big loop (to act like a P-trap, I assume) under kitchen sink before it goes into adapter right under strainer? Brand is Hotpoint, or one of the corporate twins. (At least the inside looks just like the 1992 Hotpoint here in the apartment. I was considering snatching a parts machine out of dumpster first week of June, when the idiot repair guys fix the busted appliances in the newly-emptied units, by replacing them. I won't spend repair money on a 13 year old dishwasher, but if I can get parts free and fix it myself before I move mid-June...)

I'm sure I'll be asking a lot of dumb questions on here next few months- I may have grown up in the business, but that was a lotta years ago, and the details grow foggy...

aem sends....

 

[Edwin Pawlowski]

I noticed sink has no disposal, which isn't uncommon in septic-system houses of the vintage. But I was wondering, since I'll have it all apart anyway, and this would be a convenient opportunity to add a disposal, what is current thinking on the subject?

There are special disposals made for septic systems. I don't know how well they are long term. IMO, why add to the system and have the potential problem for an expensive repair in a year or five or ten?

Is trivial food waste like post-scraping plate residue really a problem for septic systems? Or does pre-cleaning the plates make a disposal a moot point?

Disposals are nice for getting rid of stuff that thas the potential to stink up the kitchen if not removed quickly. I have one, but I'm on city sewer.

Open to hints on the dishwasher, too, by the way. Seller claims soap cup latch being busted was only problem, but when inspector ran it empty after sitting for several months, it didn't drain. Any chance it something trivial like a clogged screen, or dried crud in corrugated drain line which goes in a big loop (to act like a P-trap, I assume) under kitchen sink before it goes into adapter right under strainer? Brand is Hotpoint, or one of the corporate twins.

Possible it is easy. Hotpoint is not one of the better brands, but if it can be fixed cheap, why not.
..

I won't spend
repair money on a 13 year old dishwasher, but if I can get parts free and fix it myself before I move mid-June...)

New machines are $500 and up. Worth spending a little time to save some money. New houses always need things so you can be more selective.

I'm sure I'll be asking a lot of dumb questions on here next few months- I may have grown up in the business, but that was a lotta years ago, and the details grow foggy...

Good luck with the new house.

 

[Edwin Pawlowski]

The tank has been pumped out every 2-3 years and there has never been anything more than the usual fine sediment on the bottom.

Most people don't do anything with their septic systems until it is already too late. You are one of the smart ones.

 

[Toller]

Somewhere I read that adding a disposal is like adding one or two more people to the household. There is nothing inherently wrong with it (as long as you don't add large quantities of grease); just a bigger load on the system. I expect if you do a search on "septic system" "garbage disposal" you will come up with better information than you will get here.

I can barely keep my own dishwasher running, sorry I can't help with yours.

 

[BoborAnn]

Incinerator makes one that's pricy about ($180 at home depot) and has a replaceable dispenser that injects enzymes that break down vegetable matter ..I had one in the house I bought recently. I had problems with mine the aluminum portion of the unit rotted through after only 6 years and I got a second one to replace it . Can't comment on how good it works but as a person that replaced a septic system I don't plan on doing it again. Another cool product you might want to look at is a Septic protector which filters grey water from your washing machine . Amazing how much lint you dump into the system.
Bob

 

[TURTLE]

Incinerator makes one that's pricy about ($180 at home depot) and has a replaceable dispenser that injects enzymes that break down vegetable matter .I had one in the house I bought recently. I had problems with mine the aluminum portion of the unit rotted through after only 6 years and I got a second one to replace it . Can't comment on how good it works but as a person that replaced a septic system I don't plan on doing it again. Another cool product you might want to look at is a Septic protector which filters grey water from your washing machine . Amazing how much lint you dump into the system.
Bob

This is Turtle.

Bob You would be amazed at what $.25 cent pack of baker yeast will do to help a septic tank in clearing it up.

TURTLE

 

[Stubby]

This is Turtle.

Bob You would be amazed at what $.25 cent pack of baker yeast will do to help a septic tank in clearing it up.

Actually, a septic system doesn't rely on any sort of bacteria or yeast. It's much simpler than that. All the waste goes into the 1000 gal septic tank where much of it liquifies on its own. Solids sink to the bottom and it just piles up there. The liquid pours out to the leach field where it evaporates.

The worst thing that can happen is grease and fat get put into the system. These float. Therefore, they will get transferred to the leach field and will clog it. That's your basic $6,000 mistake.

Depending on the number of people in your household, the tank will need pumped occasionally. That's simply because all the bones, paper goods, rubber things, and cellulose ("fiber" in nutritional terms) build up in the tank.

We compost nearly all the vegetable matter. And we put all the fat and meat leftovers out on the back of the property near the woods. They're gone in the morning! So we don't use the disposal very much.

 

[MC]

In a septic tank, anything that floats rises to the top and forms a layer known as the scum layer. Anything heavier than water sinks to form the sludge layer. In the middle is a fairly clear water layer. This body of water contains bacteria and chemicals like nitrogen and phosphorous, the bacteria breaks down the organic material in the wastewater. As new water enters the tank, it displaces the water that's already there. This water flows out of the septic tank and into a drain field. Inside the tank on the discharge side is usually a pipe that goes down into the tank a little so the scum floating on top does not enter the drain field.

 

[TURTLE]

Actually, a septic system doesn't rely on any sort of bacteria or yeast. It's much simpler than that. All the waste goes into the 1000 gal septic tank where much of it liquifies on its own. Solids sink to the bottom and it just piles up there. The liquid pours out to the leach field where it evaporates.

The worst thing that can happen is grease and fat get put into the system. These float. Therefore, they will get transferred to the leach field and will clog it. That's your basic $6,000 mistake.

Depending on the number of people in your household, the tank will need pumped occasionally. That's simply because all the bones, paper goods, rubber things, and cellulose ("fiber" in nutritional terms) build up in the tank.

We compost nearly all the vegetable matter. And we put all the fat and meat leftovers out on the back of the property near the woods. They're gone in the morning! So we don't use the disposal very much.

This is Turtle.

You need to talk to the fellow who design these tanks and let them in on this new way you say they work. No Bacteria in the tank and it will work fine. They need to see this.

TURTLE

 

[TURTLE]

Don't know where you're getting your information, but that's wrong. Septic tanks require bacteria just as municipal sewage disposal plants do. And the liquid going to the leaching field should be percolating down through the ground with very little evaporating. If it isn't, and you haven't got bacteria in your tank, I wouldn't want to get too close to your location :>)

This is Turtle.

He may live out there where the tested that A-Bomb in New mexico where all the people glow in the dark like a Colored Trojan.

TURTLE

 

[Mark (archive)]

There are special disposals made for septic systems. I don't know how well they are long term. IMO, why add to the system and have the potential problem for an expensive repair in a year or five or ten?

You pump your septic tank every couple of years at most. They are designed to be pumped. If you don't, THEN you're looking at an expensive repair down the road....

So, put anything you want in there. Regular disposers are fine. If you grind a lot of stuff up, you may have to pump more often - that's all.

 

[Luke]

On Mon, 30 May 2005 15:34:00 -0500, "TURTLE"

[snip]

You would be amazed at what $.25 cent pack of baker yeast will do to help a septic tank in clearing it up.

I would be very amazed if it did anything at all.