We all have bills and have witnessed the price of groceries keep creeping up within the last five years, so when it's time to stock back up on toilet tissue, it's understandable that you'd go for a cheaper brand to help save a little money. Well while you may prefer the fluffier, cushier brands, the cheap stuff might actually be a blessing in disguise! We're here to tell you why that is and what you can do to make sure your toilet paper is both good for your body and safe for your septic tank.
Not All Toilet Paper is Safe for Your Septic Tank
Everybody knows how unhealthy grease is for drains, but not everybody knows that certain toilet papers can be just as bad for your septic tank as grease is for your drains! Since only liquid waste and water leave your septic tank while toilet paper and solid waste stay inside, it's recommended you clean or pump out your tank every few years or so to remove the buildup. Some toilet tissues dissolve faster and more completely than others, so the brand you use will actually determine how often you'll have to pump your tank.
Just as you would think, the thicker your toilet paper is, the longer it will take for the water and bacteria in your tank to break it down. So, not only will buying thinner, septic tank safe toilet paper help, but you should also be careful not to fill up your tank faster than water and bacteria can dissolve the waste. Overfilled septic tanks can potentially cause you to spend more in septic tank repairs than what you were trying to save on toilet paper in the first place! We all enjoy multiple ply toilet tissue, but single-ply options are actually the best all around!
How To Test If Your Toilet Paper Dissolves:
This toilet paper test is super easy and will allow you to see what happens when your toilet tissue travels to your septic tank without even having to go outside. Let's get started:
- Place 4 sheets of your favorite toilet paper into a Tupperware container
- Fill the container with water about 2/3 of the way full
- Carefully, shake the Tupperware container for about ten seconds, then it settle for a moment
Did the tissue dissolve? If so, congratulations—your favorite toilet paper is septic tank friendly! If it didn't, leave it in the container and see how long it actually takes to dissolve, then imagine how many flushes could take place in the meantime allowing more and more paper to pile up!
If you find your current brand didn’t dissolve quickly, mark our words: you'll be seeing us—your favorite plumber—more than you want. And while we enjoy seeing you, we'd really prefer knowing you're getting the most out of your septic tank, too!
If things are going south with your septic tank and you feel like it's more than a toilet paper issue, give us a call here at Ken's Plumbing! We are experts on finding the exact problem and helping you refrain from those same plumbing problems in the future. Go ahead and give us a call at (864) 242-5511 or click the banner below to schedule service online! You can also sign up for our Diamond Club to be sure your plumbing is getting regular check ups, and that even those small plumbing issues are caught before they turn into big ones.
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