Hey’
I’ve heard 2 different stories about garbage disposals in combination with septic systems. The first is that they are a bad combination because they add an inordinate amount of solids to the septic resulting in more frequent draining. The second is that disposals are benificial to septics as vegtable matter works as a catalyst to help break down solids from the toilet. I have a septic system and am going to remodel my kitchen next month. So I need to know: garbage disposal; Yea or Na?!!!
Replies
I don't know. But I'm an advocate of composting the majority of kitchen waste (meat being the exception). Personally, I think that using a GD loads up any septic system (tank/drainfield or city sewer). While occasional use is OK, full blown GD use has become a bit passe', I thought. Composting is such a good thing to do that not sure why you wouldn't do it. Having a septic tank and drainfield (I assume that is what you are referring to), implies you likely have a yard of sorts. Even a small yard/area can benefit from composting and you can get composting bins that take up little more than 9 sqft.
Others should chime in w/ their thoughts.
I've been using garbage disposals on septic systems for over 30 years with no problems at all with as many as 7 people in the house. . I run anything organic down the disposal, meat, peels, bones, napkins, paper towels, pineapple tops, etc. If I can get it through the drain hole it goes so I'd classify myself as a real heavy user. I've probably been through 6 or 8 disposals but only had the septic tank pumped once.
Yea.
...but our health dept. guidlines indicate that you should add an additional bedroom when calculating system loading and hence the pumping interval. We've had one since we moved in in 2005.
We built a house on a septic system. Installed a GD but really never use it beyond just getting the very small food scraps left over when cleaning out the sink. Everything went in the trash. Just thought it best not to push the septic system. In the 17 years we lived there we had it pumped three times and it looked great each time. Threw in a pack of the bacteria that eats stuff up was all we did at each pump.
If I were you I wouldn't want to chance overloading the system.
Doug