10 Weird Ways People Say To Treat Septic Systems: Myths or Magic?
Septic systems are responsible for treating and dispersing household (and some commercial) wastewater, so it’s crucial to maintain them properly.
Most people stick to established guidelines and recommendations for septic system care, but every now and then, you come across some bizarre, strange, or downright weird advice.
Here are ten crazy ways people claim to treat their septic systems…
1. The Roadkill Recipe
Some people insist that throwing a piece of roadkill, like a squirrel or raccoon, into your septic tank is a natural way to boost the bacteria needed to break down waste. The theory is that the decomposing animal provides a rich source of bacteria that aids in the process of breaking down solids.
The Verdict: Highly inadvisable. While it’s totally true that bacteria are necessary for breaking down waste, introducing a decomposing animal could introduce harmful pathogens to your tank. Plus, you’re actually giving your tank something more complex to break down — creating extra work for it.
2. The Yeasty Solution
Another strange — and amazingly common — piece of advice circulating among septic owners is the use of yeast to treat your tank. Some homeowners claim that flushing a package of baker’s or brewer’s yeast down the toilet can help maintain the bacterial balance in the septic tank.
The Verdict: While not as hazardous as adding roadkill to your system, using yeast isn’t a scientifically backed method for septic system maintenance. The science is simple. Yeast only eats the starches in your system — and that’s a tiny percentage of what makes up the solids in your tank. The organic solids are made up of fats, proteins, and fiber — which yeast doesn’t eat. You know what does eat those things? Bacteria.
3. Cola Cleanse
Believe it or not, some people recommend pouring a liter of cola into your septic system. The idea is that the phosphoric acid in the soda will help break down waste material.
The Verdict: Cola might be good for cleaning rust off a penny, but it’s not ideal for septic system care. The sugars can actually feed unwanted microbes, leading to imbalances. Also, frankly, the volume of coke required to make an impact would be waaaaaay more than a liter.
4. Sugar Rush
Adding a bag of sugar to the septic tank is said to boost bacterial activity, supposedly because bacteria feed on the sugar and multiply, thus increasing their ability to break down waste.
The Verdict: While sugar is a form of carbon that bacteria can use, dumping it into your septic tank can have unpredictable effects. The septic biome is simply more complex than that and you’re basically just giving them more stuff to eat instead of the waste in your system. Doesn’t work.
5. The Fish Tank Technique
Some septic system adventurers recommend adding aquarium water, complete with the fish waste and excess food, to the septic system to increase beneficial bacteria.
The Verdict: This is a creative but untested idea. While fish waste does contain ammonia and microbes, there’s no scientific evidence to suggest it’s a good treatment for your septic system. Even if it did make a difference, it would take way more than an aquarium load to make that difference.
6. The Leftover Beer Boost
Beer enthusiasts claim that pouring leftover beer down the drain can be beneficial for your septic system. The theory is that beer, being rich in yeast and other microbes, can aid in breaking down waste.
The Verdict: While it may be tempting to give your septic system a beer bath, it’s best to avoid doing so. Alcohol can actually kill off beneficial bacteria, disrupting the balance in your tank.
7. The “Septic Smoothie”
Some people suggest blending up scraps of meat, vegetables, and even cardboard, and then pouring this “smoothie” into the septic system. The idea is to provide a variety of organic matter to fuel the bacteria in the system.
The Verdict: The concept sounds innovative but is fraught with risks. Adding such a mix can lead to clogs and imbalances in the system. You’re basically just giving your tank more undigested stuff to digest. Remember, most of the stuff that gets flushed into your tank has already been digested.
8. Chicken Feed Trick
Another surprising recommendation is adding chicken feed to the septic system. The theory is that the grains will boost bacterial activity.
The Verdict: Grains from chicken feed could clog the system and lead to more harm than good. Just don’t do this.
9. The Vinegar Vine
Household vinegar has many uses, and some people swear by adding a cup of white vinegar to their septic system. They believe the acidity helps break down waste and cleans the pipes.
The Verdict: While vinegar is less harmful compared to other substances, it’s acidic and can kill beneficial bacteria. A small amount of vinegar going down your drain won’t hurt anything but don’t pour gallons of it into your system.
10. Hot Sauce Spice-up
This one’s fiery! Some people recommend adding hot sauce to the septic tank, thinking that capsaicin (the compound that makes chili peppers hot) can boost bacterial activity. It might make the contents of your stomach more liquid but that’s different and it doesn’t work the same way in a septic tank.
The Verdict: While the idea is spicy indeed, it’s not recommended. The acidity and spice could potentially harm the microbial balance in your septic system.
Summary
We don’t know the origins of these strange septic treatments but it seems like most are just “home remedies” someone tried and then — because they happened to not have any problems for a while — the idea stuck. A lot of times, the suggestion starts with something like, “my grandfather always put…”
It’s not hard to see how the logic gets perpetuated. I mean, I eat Brussels sprouts regularly and I’ve never been abducted by aliens… so, I guess I’ll keep that up.
Of course, if you want a proven septic treatment for your system, we recommend Accelerator by Dr. Pooper Liquid or Drain Field Cleaner tablets.