FAQs on the effects of clothes washing machines on a private septic system.

This article an we use a clothes washer or "washing machine" when a home is connected to a private septic system? What steps should be taken to protect the septic system from excessive water use or clothes lint or detergents? How to extend the life of a septic system.

Washing Machine Draining into Septic System

These questions & answers about the impact on the septic system of using a washing machine were posted originally at WASHING MACHINES & SEPTIC SYSTEMS - you and your washing machine will feel better after reading the advice given there.

On 2018-05-27 by (mod) - greasy drain blockage

I don't think liquid laundry detergent would be causing a white greasy blockage in a drain. More often that's fats or Oils for example from cooking.

You might want to have a plumbing company run a sewer line camera through the drain in order to find out if it's damaged, broken, or improperly pitched.

You can however find a white greasy drain blockage IF you are using too much DRY DETERGENT in a washing machine (or dishwasher too)

On 2018-05-27 by Bruce K Bernard

We are on a septic system. The pipe between the house and the septic tank has gotten blocked several times. When using a snake, big gobs of a white material seem to be causing a blockage. We thought it was grease, but we are VERY CAREFUL not to put grease down the drain. A friend told us it could be the laundry detergent. We use a liquid, and don't use too much. Is it possible it's the laundry detergent? What should we use.

On 2018-01-25 by (mod) - enzymes in laundry detergent

No, John. The enzymes in laundry detergent are designed to help lift soil out of fabrics and are NOT promoters of serptic tank bacteria nor action. Laundry detergent enzymes do not "help" the septic tank bacteria.

According to sciencelearn.org, you'd find 1,2, or 3 enzymes in detergents:

Proteases break down proteins, so are good for blood, egg, gravy, and other protein stains. Amylases break down starches, and lipases break down fats and grease. Washing powders usually only contain one type of enzyme, though some have two or all three.

Septic tank treatments such as or including bacterial and enzyme packages and products are sold, represented as improving septic tank performance, fixing clogged septics, removing odors, extending septic system life. They are not needed and are expressly prohibited in many jurisdictions as some such products are harmful to the environment.

Normal bacteria that develop in a conventional septic tank is all you need.

See details at SEPTIC TREATMENTS & CHEMICALS https://inspectapedia.com/septic/Septic_Tank_Treatments.php

On 2018-01-22 by John

Do the enzymes in today's laundry detergents help a septic system do it"s job?

On 2017-10-15 by Yvonne bonaroti - formula for homemade laundry soap?

Is there a formula for homemade laundry soap? We used to make it with washing soda, borax, one bar of fels naptha (grated), boiled until all dissolved. Then we added five gallons of water.

On 2017-03-26 by (mod) -

Tama

In my opinion it would be smart, and not expensive, to install an external add-on washing machine lint filter on the outlet drain of the washer/dryer combo to avoid sending lint into the system.

Washing machine "lint traps" or "lint filters" are widely sold online and at plumbing suppliers and building supply stores.

The lint filter for a washing machine is an add on canister type device, usually secured to the wall above the existing washing machine drain. The washer drain is connected to the filter inlet, and the filter outlet is then piped onwards to the existing washing machine drain.

You can also install an independent septic filter at the septic tank outlet - that would give greater protection to the drainfield or soakaway bed as ALL lint like crud would be kept in the septic tank - but those filters are less fun to maintain.

On 2017-03-26 by Tama

We are looking into purchasing an washer/dryer combo (all in one) unit for our cabin. Would like to know if this would be bad for our septic tank as a combo machine doesn't have a lint trap, the lint produced is later pumped out and washed down the drain. There wouldn't be lot, as this is only a weekend / summer cabin.

On 2016-10-04 by Shandel

about how many times a week I can used my washer machine on a 2000 gallons septic tank

On 2016-03-19 by (mod) -

The phosphates & nitrates are not good for a drainfield, but indeed I have seen successful re-use of graywater from laundry stations in irrigation systems.

On 2016-03-14 by Taylor

I work at a hospital in rural Ethiopia. We have an industrial laundry situation attached to a septic, then pump pit and leach field. We are trying to determine the impact of diverting our laundry outflow directly into our pump pit and bypassing the septic tank. Any resources on an industrial level of laundry affluent on a leach field? Thanks.

On 2015-12-21 by (mod) - using heat or hot water to unclog and ice jam in the washer drain

Jennifer:

This is a tough one as I suspect the piping you describe is buried; And I also suspect that the drain was clogged, partly clogged, improperly sloped, or that there was a leak into it - as an open properly sloped drain won't usually freeze.

So even if we un-freeze the line re-freezing is likely.

A plumber with drain defrosting equipment for buried lines sometimes uses a pony pump, tubing shoved into the frozen drain, and a bucket of hot water that is circulated into an open end of the line, slowly melting her way through.

If the frozen line is exposed to view and thus gives you access, you can use a hair dryer plugged into a GFCI-protected circuit.

On 2015-12-20 by jennifer bouvier

what can I use to unclog ice jam in he washer drainage system that is connected to septic tank!
Thanks!

...

Continue reading  at WASHING MACHINES & SEPTIC SYSTEMS or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

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