Can you have a dishwasher if you have a septic system?
When we bought our home, the home inspector told us we would never be able to have a dishwasher or a garbage disposal, because it would overload the septic system. Are such things incompatible with septic systems? Does anyone else have these conveniences while having a septic system, and have you experienced any resulting problems? Is there anything particular you do to maintain your septic system? Thanks for the info!
Public Comments
- You can have both dishwasher and disposal. The only thing is I would suggest you not use the disposal to put all left over food or waste from cooking....that's what your trash can is for. If dishes are scraped off into trash you won't have any problems. Make sure you put some RidX or some other type of septic tank enzymes into your tank by flushing down the toilet each month. It may cost a little more to do this, but it breaks down solids and really pays off in the long run by not having to call septic man to come clean and pump out your overloaded system.
- You can purchase a portable dishwasher. These use connections to a water hose, or your kitchen sink. http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp;jsessionid=MRKN13SMAGB4BKC4D3EFAGI?_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1&id=pcat17071&type=page&st=portable+dishwasher&sc=Global&cp=1&nrp=15&sp=&qp=&list=n&iht=y&usc=All+Categories&ks=960
- Your inspector was full of --it The main thing to remember is you have to use detergent that is made to be safe for septic systems. i.e. no phosphates. Same goes for your washing machine. If your clothes washer has a separate line for discharge try to get the dishwasher hooked to that. For septic systems make sure to use something like RID-X regularly. Call a pluming supply company they have products that are better than RID-X but RID-X is easy to find.
- I have a septic system and a dishwasher.....no problems at all. Some people who have both need to "pump" their system more often the usual , Others need only to add bacteria to the system to help keep it clean. I have to do nothing.
- This really has to do with your septic system's ability to break down the waste. Solids are eaten by both enzymes and bacteria. A liquid waste is then disposed through your septic field. The capacity depends on both the size of the tank and of the dispersion field. The dispersion field are pipes that disperse the broken down sewage into your yard (from the tank). A marginally-sized field will not handle a great deal of waste. And....you really don't want it to overflow. Digging up and replacing the septic system can be fairly expensive.....expecially for an unplanned expense with a new homeowner.
- The main thing with having a dishwasher with a septic system is to not put any grease down the drain. Keep a container handy next to the stove to empty all your grease in when you're finished cooking. Grease rehardens when it cools and will make a really big mess in your septic tank. Even if you don't have a dishwasher you need to keep this in mind. I've lived in houses for the past 30 years that have had dishwashers and septic systems and I've never had a problem yet.
- Dishwasher, no problem. Forget the garbage disposal. Have the septic tank pumped every couple years. Do nothing to it and put no chemicals into it.
