Watch What You Flush

Summer is a time for having fun in the sun. But it's also the season when you need to be careful about what you flush down the toilet.

Don't flush anything except human waste and toilet paper. It may seem obvious, but many people flush everything from feminine hygiene products to wet wipes and dental floss — items that should never be flushed down the drain. Flushing these items could lead to significant plumbing problems such as clogs or backups. Even if you think something is biodegradable or flushable, check with your local water utility before flushing it down the toilet.

Food waste can cause clogs and backups, leading to overflows and sewage backups into your home. Let's discuss what some of the most common items that go down the drain are so you can avoid needing a septic tank repair by Septic Blue of Raleigh:

• Fats, oils, and grease (FOG). These are found in cooking oil, butter, baked goods, and other foods. They can solidify and clog pipes when they cool or mix with soap scum and other debris.
• Paper towels, facial tissue, and napkins are fibrous materials that will swell up in pipes during flushing or washing operations.
• Greasy pizza boxes, plastic utensils, and other trash. These items can clog pipes because they don't break down easily in sewers or septic systems.

Preventative Maintenance Is a Priority

A septic tank should be pumped every two to three years on average, depending on the size of the tank and usage. If you have a large family or forget to flush frequently, your septic tank may need to be pumped sooner than others in your neighborhood.