How To Increase Bacteria In Septic Tank Naturally

Bacteria are very important components of septic tanks because they are useful in assisting the breakdown of these solid wastes.

However, there are several cases where the bacteria in the septic tank is low due to some factors, and you need to increase them for the tank to work properly. You can increase the bacteria in your septic tank by adding baking yeast or store-bought bacteria into your septic tank.

In this article, we will be looking at how to increase bacteria in septic tank naturally!

Why Are Good Bacteria Necessary In Septic Tanks?

There are several ways good bacteria are useful for your septic tanks, this includes; 

1. Breaking Down Waste 

No matter how awful these bacteria look, they play a very important role in breaking down the waste from your home, either solid or liquid. These wastes need to be broken down because if you let them go the way they are, your tank will fill up easily, and you have to pay professionals to empty the tank frequently. 

These awful bacteria increase the action of breaking down this waste into a liquid-like state, making it slower for your septic tank to fill up. This way, there are no sludges, clumps, and even blockages.

See Also: How Often to Pump Septic Tank with Leach Field?

2. Aids In Countering the Effect of Bleach 

Many homeowners do not know these, but these bleach and detergents that you regularly flush down the sinks, drain, and even toilet, kill these bacteria and break down this solid waste slower. 

You would need to replenish these wastes by introducing more healthy bacteria into your septic systems. 

How To Increase Bacteria In Septic Tank Naturally 

Increasing the number of bacteria in your septic tank is not limited to only one method. There are several ways you can easily do this. Some ways you can increase the number of bacteria in your septic tank include:

1. Making Use of Septic Tank Additives 

There are several inorganic solvents that you can use to boost the number of bacteria in your septic tank. It would help if you let a professional help you out on this one, so you do not use the wrong additive. 

Using the wrong chemicals would be doing more harm than good to your septic tanks, like corroding the tank walls and the distribution boxes. The reason why this happens is that most wrong chemicals are made of strong acids and alkalis. 

2. Natural Methods

Yoyo can choose to go natural in increasing the bacteria in your septic tanks. You can use two major inorganic additives: yeast and rotten tomatoes. 

Yeast

Using yeast is a cheaper and safer way of adding good bacteria into your septic tank. All you have to do is get a whole pack of dry yeast and empty about ½ of its content into your toilet and wait for a while before flushing it down slowly. 

If you want to get the most out of this method, ensure that you do it every once a month, it will help to increase the enzyme and bacteria production in the tank. 

Refrain from using a lot of yeast all at once to get faster results, as this would only produce gases and even further prevent the solid wastes from properly getting to the bottom of the tank.

Rotten Tomatoes

Rotten tomatoes are very useful for increasing the bacterial activities in your septic tank. All you need to do is put three to four rotten tomatoes down your septic tank every month and watch your septic tank go healthier. 

You can get rotten tomatoes from your local grocery store; if you can’t, you can get some from the store and let a few go bad. Make sure that you separate them from the ones you intend to use. 

3. Carrying Out Several Healthy Activities 

To increase the bacteria in your septic tank, the best thing to do is to carry out several healthy activities to boost your performance. Some healthy activities include; 

• Avoid using bleach and washing it down the drain. These solutions kill these healthy bacteria. 
• Avoid letting greasy, oily, and fatty food ruminants down the drain. There are not enough bacteria to break these down. 
• Use toilet-friendly tissue papers that will not eventually clog the toilet drains
• Do not flush medicines down your drain; these drugs slow down the activities of bacteria
• Do not flush materials that you shouldn’t flush down the toilet

What Materials Clog The Septic Tanks?

Homeowners let down some materials or food particles in the drains and sinks that clogs them and eventually leads to sludge development along pipes leading to septic tanks. Some of these materials include; 

Hair Particles 

The drain pipes eventually become clogged when animal fur and hair are consistently thrown into the sink. Avoid flushing any hair fragments you find in your sink, and do your best to avoid doing so to avoid.

Also, remember to cover your hair when you’re in the kitchen, so it doesn’t occasionally fall into the sink without your knowledge.

Soap 

Another common buildup that can clog our drainage is soap residue. Traditional soaps are made with oil and grease, accumulating scum more quickly. It would help if you kept large pieces of soap from the drain.

Food Waste 

It would help if you did not flush food particles down the drain because the drain was designed only for liquid waste, such as water. Even when doing the dishes, pack up pieces of solid dirt and place them in the garbage disposal before the dishes.

Mineral Build Up 

You only sometimes cause drain blockage; the water supply in your area can also cause it. If you live in an area with hard water, mineral buildup from calcium and magnesium salts is likely, to reduce the flow of water.

To avoid this, install a water softener in your home; this way, you won’t have to worry about a hard water supply. If you already have a mineral buildup, you should seek the assistance of a professional plumber.

Paper Buildup 

When used in moderation, toilet paper does not typically cause a buildup because it is biodegradable; however, when used excessively and flushed down the sink rather than the toilet, it is more likely to accumulate and cause a blockage.

When this occurs, contact a professional plumber to resolve the issue, and once resolved, ensure that your toilet paper is deposited in the toilet bowl rather than the sinks.

Small Objects 

Small objects that can get into your kitchen and toilet drains should be avoided at all costs. In this case, you must be very careful not to flush anything that you shouldn’t flush down the drain.

If you have already flushed an object down the drain, you can hire a plumber to remove it.

Toilet It is not usual for toilet paper to create a buildup easily when used in moderate amounts because it is degradable.

Still, when you start using too much toilet paper and letting it down the sink instead of the toilet, it is most likely to build up and create a blockage. 

When this happens, ensure that you get a professional plumber to fix the issue and when it is done, ensure that you let your toilet paper into the toilet bowl instead of the sinks.