Will Bleach Hurt My Potomac Falls VA Septic System?

A common question we get is, “will bleach hurt my Potomac Falls VA septic system?”

The reason for the question is hardly a surprise.  After all, bleach is deadly to bacteria, and your home’s septic system requires bacteria to function properly.  At first glance, it seems like trying to mix oil and water.

You may be surprised to learn then, that the answer to the question “will bleach hurt my Potomac Falls VA septic system?” is usually no.

Usually is the key word here.  It’s true that if you were to pour two gallons of bleach down the drain, yes, it’s going to devastate your tank’s bacteria population, but who does that?  Most of the time, when bleach gets into your septic tank, it’s as a result of routine cleaning, and in those quantities, there’s just not enough to cause a notable impact.

Unfortunately, by asking the question “will bleach hurt my Potomac Falls VA septic system?” there’s a risk that you’ll be so focused on that, that you will fail to spot or account for other potential hazards that are much more damaging to your system.  Here are some of the other threats you should keep an eye out for:

• Chemical Drain Cleaners – This one’s huge. While it takes up to two gallons of bleach to harm your septic system, it only takes a teaspoon of chemical drain cleaner to devastate the tank’s bacteria population.  Avoid these at all costs.
• Excess Water – There are two ways excess water can get into your system. The first is via the downspouts connected to your home’s rain gutters.  If they’re angled toward your drain field, then it’s almost certain to impact its ability to deal with waste.  The second is dripping faucets and running toilets, which can introduce too much water directly into the tank itself, which can hurt its overall operating efficiency.  Thankfully, this is an easy fix.
• Grease and/or cooking oil – While most people know better, quantities of both wind up in your tank over time. Unfortunately, once it’s there, the only way to get rid of it is by having the tank pumped.

Honestly, besides taking sensible precautions, the best way to ensure that your septic system provides you with years of reliable and mostly hassle-free service is to have it regularly maintained.  That’s not something you can do on your own though.  You need expertise you can trust.  We’ve been proudly serving Potomac Falls and surrounding areas since 1977, and are the region’s top rated septic service company.

If you’re having a problem with your system, or if you just need routine maintenance performed, we can help!  Give us a call to schedule your appointment today.  We’ll be there when you need us.