Do's And Don'ts For Cabin Septic System Usage

If you are spending the summer at your family's old cabin in the mountains, then you need to be gentile on its septic system while you are staying there. Small and seldom used septic systems require special care to keep them working well.

Following these do's and don'ts will help you protect your older cabin's septic system from unintended damage during your stay:

Do take short showers, shallow baths, and turn off the water when you are not actively using it for cleaning. While your cabin's septic system needs some water in order to function properly, every other gallon of water introduced into the system is just one more gallon that requires processing and disposal. Limiting the amount of water dumped into the septic system each day will greatly lower the chance of system problems while you are on vacation this summer.

Don't run water taps to keep pipes from freezing. Instead, you should insulate pipes with foam pipe insulation and use electric heat tapes if electric service is available. You should also shut off the water tap while you are brushing your teeth or washing dishes. Using a mug or dishpan full of water will conserve water and keep unnecessary water flow out of the cabin's septic tank.

Do limit the use of your washing machine or dishwasher to one load per day. Since both of these home appliances use a lot of water, only running a single load each day will give the cabin's septic system time to recover between uses and will prevent flooding and premature solid movement into the leach lines and leach field.

Don't use harsh soaps or bleach in your laundry. Soaps and other chemicals are damaging to the concrete that was used to make the septic tank, and they will also kill off the healthy bacteria that your cabin's septic tank needs to process solid waste matter in the right way. Always use septic-safe soaps and cleaners in a cabin on a septic system.

Do use the minimum amount of toilet paper necessary and test your brand of toilet paper to make sure that it dissolves well in water. To test the toilet paper, place a few squares into a bowl of water and let it sit on the counter for a few minutes. Stir the bowl with a spoon and check to ensure that the toilet paper has successfully dissolved into paper fibers.

Don't use any toilet paper in your cabin's septic system that does not pass the test above. Additionally, you should never flush any plastic materials, paper towels, tissues, or feminine hygiene products down the toilets in your family's cabin. These items will clog the septic tank's outlets and require professional assistance to remove. 

To learn more, contact a septic tank repair company like Sullivan Septic.