Septic tanks are something that we prefer to keep out of sight and out of mind. However, septic tanks have a way of overflowing at the worst possible moment—usually just after a holiday meal—when they are not properly maintained. Since every drain in your home leads to your septic tank, it is important to know what you can and cannot put down the drain, especially if you have even the best garbage disposal for septic system connection.
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Can you really have a garbage disposal if you have a septic tank?
The short answer to this common question is “Yes, you can have a garbage disposal even if you have a septic tank.” Garbage disposals increase the amount of solid waste going down your kitchen drain.
However, if you take the right precautions to make sure your garbage disposal and septic tank work together, you can enjoy the convenience of a garbage disposal in your kitchen.If you have a garbage disposal, you will probably use it to dispose of peelings and trimmings from food preparation, and to get rid of leftovers after meals. You won’t have as much trash to take out, and you won’t be sending as much waste to the nearest landfill.
It is extremely easy to operate a garbage disposal, but certain kinds of problems come up again and again if you don’t have the best garbage disposal for your septic system connection:
- Your garbage disposal may occasionally clog or jam.
- It may not be able to handle all of your food scraps.
- It may emit an odor.
Do’s and Don’ts for Using Any Garbage Disposal
When your garbage disposal is connected to a city sewage system, your sewer service pays the bill for repairing any problems in the sewage system. When your garbage disposal is connected to a septic tank, you will pay the bill or do the work to get your septic system working normally again if you misuse your disposal.
Keeping this one fact in mind can help you avoid a lot of plumbing and septic tank repair bills:
- Food breaks down a lot slower than a lot of other things we put down the drain.
For example, suppose you were to peel a square of toilet paper off the roll and get it wet. It instantly gets softer.
Next suppose you were to take a potato peel and get it wet. It will get cleaner, but it won’t get softer.
One way to keep your septic tank flowing is to get into the habit of composting peelings, seeds, and spoiled plant foods. Meat and dairy waste do not belong in your composter or your compost pile, but plant waste can break down into free fertilizer.
Don’t use your garbage disposal as a garbage can. Keep in mind that there are certain things you always need to do and other things you always to avoid doing when your garbage disposal is connected to a septic tank.
Don’ts for using a garbage disposal connected to a septic tank
The most important thing to remember about your garbage disposal when it drains into a septic tank is to never use it to get rid of anything that bacteria cannot break down. Garbage disposals are designed to grind up biodegradable food waste, nothing else. Also keep these rules in mind.
- Never run hot water when you are using your garbage disposal to get rid of table scraps. Hot water dissolves oils so they are not broken up by your garbage disposal. They cool off and form clogs in pipes further down the drain.
- Never turn off the water until your garbage disposal has finished grinding. Then run the water another 15 seconds.
- Don’t pour fat, oil, or grease from cooking bacon or from a roasting pan into your garbage disposal. Even if your garbage disposal grinds them up, they will still form clogs in your drain pipes.
- Don’t put fibrous vegetables like celery, artichokes, or corn husks into your garbage disposal without using your slicing knife on them first. They will get tangled around the axle that drives the grinder.
- Don’t put egg shells or fruit pits into your garbage disposal
- Don’t put any kind of food that expands in water, such as noodles or rice, into your garbage disposal. They can expand in the lines leading to your septic tank.
- Don’t put coffee grounds into your garbage disposal. They form clumps when they reach greasy clogs in the lines.
- Don’t put any kind of non-food item into your garbage disposal. This includes paper towels, kitty litter, plastic wrap, Styrofoam, and anything combustible.
Do’s for using a garbage disposal connected to a septic tank
There are also some do’s for using your garbage disposal.
- Run your disposal regularly. This prevents rusting and corrosion.
- Pour of teaspoon of dish detergent into your garbage disposal and keep it running with the cold water on for about a minute every time you use it. This helps move debris down the drain.
- Use cold water when you grind your food. As explained above, this prevents grease clogs.
- Grind fish and small chicken bones in your garbage disposal to keep the walls of your garbage disposal clean.
Best Disposal for Septic System – Top Picks
The best garbage disposal for septic systems all have one thing in common: Lots of breakdown power. Even if you carefully follow all of our do’s and don’ts for using a garbage disposal that drains into a septic tank, every septic tank has a limited capacity. Better grinding means a much lower chance of having your septic tank back up of overflow under constant use.
InSinkErator Evolution Septic Assist
InSkinErator is one of the most trusted brands in garbage disposals. It invented garbage disposals in 1927, and has become the world’s largest manufacturer of them.
InSinkErator markets that all of their garbage disposals are septic friendly. It also makes a Garbage Disposal specifically designed for septic systems. This unit, the In-Sink-Erator 3/4 HP Garbage Disposal, 120 Voltage – Evolution Septic Assist utilizes a Bio-Charge enzyme bottle to help break down waste. This disposal squirts enzymes onto the double-ground food every time it runs. The breakdown process starts even before the waste food starts going down the drain, for extra protection for your septic tank. The Bio Charge enzyme bottle should be replaced every 3 – 4 months.
InSinkErator Evolution Compact Models
The InSinkErator Evolution Compact 3/4 HP Compact Garbage Disposer is perfect for tiny homes and other houses with limited space under the sink. It is easy to fit under almost any sink and equally easy to install. It features noise-reducing SoundSeal Technology, and it has a two-stage grinding process to take care of tough kitchen scraps. InSinkErator’s Evolution garbage disposals are 8-3/4″ wide, so you may have to do a little plumbing to hook them up to a small sink. If this is a problem, then you can always get one of InSinkErator’s Badger models that is 6-5/16″ across.
You will have to buy a power cord for all of the models mentioned above.
Insinkerator Evolution Excel 3-Stage Grinder
With a septic system, breakdown power is important. If you have room under your sink, and are willing to spend a little more, then you may want to opt for more powerful garbage disposal. InSinkErator makes the Evolution Excel, a 3-stage grinder with a more powerful, 1 HP motor for grinding the toughest food scraps every day. If you love eating grapefruit for breakfast and scooping out melon balls, this model will help you get rid of rinds and peels.
In addition to a generous seven-year warranty, this garbage disposal comes with some special features that many homeowners will find indispensable.
- Jam reversal, running the blades backward to send tough fibers back up to keep them from stopping the machine.
- All the connection pieces you need to connect this unit to the drain.
- Additionally, this is unit is extremely quiet, despite the extra grinding stage and the extra grinding power.
Kraus KWD100-75MBL Standard PRO
- POWERFUL PERFORMANCE: KRAUS WasteGuard Garbage Disposal offers fast and reliable grinding of the toughest food scraps – SUPERIOR 3800 RPM TO 3/4 HORSEPOWER ratio eliminates waste in seconds – EASY-INSTALL 2-step mounting assembly locks into place with ease – Mounting flange with rubber gaskets creates a perfect seal and helps prevent leaks – DIMENSIONS: 10 1/4” L x 7 1/2“ W x 15 1/4”H – 40 oz. grinding chamber – UNIVERSAL DESIGN: Compatible with kitchen sinks with standard round 3 1/2” drain opening and 1 1/2” plumbing connections
- INSTALLATION-READY KIT INCLUDES: 3/4 HP garbage disposal, drain and dishwasher connectors, power cord, sink drain stopper/plunger, mounting flange with stainless steel rim – DURABLE CONSTRUCTION: Solid stainless steel components in ABS thermoplastic housing help ensure reliable, powerful, and quiet operation – Permanent-magnet HEAVY-DUTY MagnaGrind MOTOR provides instant power to the grinder – FASTER OPERATION than induction motors which take time to reach optimal speed – QUIET OPERATION with QuietStorm soundproofing technology and anti-vibration mounting system
- MOTOR-SAVING SHUT-OFF system stops power in case of a blockage to help prevent damage; RESET BUTTON restores power after debris is removed – Activated via wall switch or air switch, CONTINUOUS FEED DISPOSAL shreds large quantities of food waste, eliminating the need to grind in batches – QUICKER AND EASIER to operate than batch-feed disposals; slide food scraps from counters or dishes into the drain and watch them disappear – SINK STOPPER allows you to fill the sink for soaking – Extended tail piece works as a plunger to push down stubborn food scraps
- PRE-INSTALLED POWER CORD INCLUDED: Designed for simple plug-in installation with a switch-operated wall outlet – INSTALLATION-READY with mounting flange, anti-vibration mount, 1 1/2"drain connection, rubber gaskets that create a perfect seal and help prevent garbage disposal leaks – OPTIONAL DISHWASHER CONNECTOR allows you to easily hook up your dishwasher to the disposal – ECO-FRIENDLY PRODUCT condenses food scraps for quicker breakdown; REDUCES WASTE sent to landfills and cuts down on plastic garbage bag use
- RELIABLE QUALITY with 5-YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY and top-rated customer service available to support your needs – SEPTIC-SAFE: Powerful garbage disposal is safe to use with most septic systems in accordance with manufacturer guidelines – CLEAN AND CONTEMPORARY design with streamlined canister and solid stainless steel flange – NOTE: If you have a septic system, avoid putting the following through the garbage disposal: Stringy foods, egg shells, pasta, rice, potato peels, pits, oils, fats & coffee grounds
Waste King L-3200
- COMPACT SIZE: Smaller and lighter ¾ HP design is 7-3/4 inches in diameter, 13-3/4 inches long and weighs 8.6 lbs
- HIGH-SPEED MOTOR: The 3/4 HP, 2700 RPM (115 volts) permanent magnet motor is sound-insulated and jams less
- EASY INSTALLATION AND CLEANING: EZ Mount for a quick and easy kitchen sink installation, removable splash guard for easy cleaning.Hertz:60
- 8 YEAR PROTECTION: 8-year Limited Warranty
- NO ELECTRICAL EXPERTISE NEEDED: Pre-installed power cord, no electrical work required
Moen GX100C Chef Series
- CHEF SERIES: Designed for those who love to get creative in their kitchen and need the strongest cleanup possible
- POWERFUL GRINDING: 2,800 RPM, 1 horsepower Vortex motor provides fast, powerful grinding of the toughest food scraps and helps reduce jamming
- NOISE REDUCTION: Designed with SoundSHIELD sound-deadening insulation
- SIMPLE SWAP: Fits most existing assemblies, including other brands; includes pre-installed power cord
- SEPTIC SAFE: Safe to use with properly sized septic tanks
Moen EXL100C EX Chef Series
- Designed for those who love to get creative in their kitchen and need the strongest cleanup possible
- 10-year limited warranty with in-home service guarantees help is there when you need it
- Integrated motion-activated lighting makes the under-cabinet space easier to use
- 2,800 RPM, 1 horsepower VORTEX motor provides fast, powerful grinding of the toughest food scraps and helps reduce jamming
- Exclusive 360° Clean Rinse eliminates odors by rinsing away food scraps more effectively
Moen GXP50C Prep Series
- PREP SERIES: Designed for those who slice, dice and peel as part of basic meal prep, and need a little more help with cleanup
- POWERFUL GRINDING: 2,600 RPM, ½ horsepower Vortex motor provides fast, powerful grinding of everyday food scraps and helps reduce jamming
- SIMPLE SWAP: Fits most existing assemblies, including other brands; includes pre-installed power cord
- COMPACT DESIGN: Compact design is lightweight for easy installation and frees up valuable space under the sink
- SEPTIC SAFE: Safe to use with properly sized septic tanks
FAQ
Can You use RidX in a Garbage Disposal?
Yes. Rid-X liquid is safe to use in garbage disposals. If you have a septic system, then you are already likely familiar with Rid-X Tank System Treatment. You may already be using it only in your toilets, but the liquid is also safe to use in your garbage disposal.
Summary
Major brands of garbage disposals advertise that they are safe to use with properly sized septic tanks. However, you must still pay attention to what you put through the garbage disposal, and only add products that bacteria can breakdown. The smaller that you can grind the food, the better. Refrain from using the garbage disposal for certain waste products, as you do not want to create septic backups.
The InSinkErator Evolution with the Easy Assist enzyme feature is designed specifically for septic systems. This is quite convenient! However, the enzyme bottles must be regularly replaced, and they can cost more than you would spend on a monthly application of a bacterial product like Rid-X.
Last update on 2023-05-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
