This article will help the reader better understand lateral line maintenance additives and the effects they have on septic systems. When do you know when you did something right? Some may categorize this question as under the realm of karma. In other words, if you actually DO something right, something good happens to you. On the other hand, when you do something bad, you’ll have something pretty worse coming very soon. If you have a septic system, it does really work very similar to this principle. Your septic system works efficiently when you do your responsibilities as a responsible homeowner. Your septic system fails when you are negligent and careless about maintaining it.
Many homeowners believe that you have to use lateral line maintenance additives if you want to have a smooth running wastewater treatment facility at home. These commercially produced septic products are categorized into tw0—chemical additives and biological additives.
Choosing chemical lateral line maintenance additives is like sentencing your septic system to a short lifespan or an immediate death. These additives use strong and corrosive bases and acids. They damage the physical structures of the system and kill off the resident bacteria. They also use yeast and baking soda that harm the system with prolonged use. Here are some more negative results from chemical lateral line additives that you may have used or you may be using:
1. The sulfuric acid in them kills the bacteria and corrodes the physical structure of the system.
2. Naphthalene, benzene, and alkene components are pollutants.
3. Zinc sulfate, quarternary ammonium, formaldehyde, and paraformaldehyde all kill off living organisms if used in excessive amounts.
4. Methane bubbles are produced more. These bubbles lift the solid waste particles and carry them over to the drain field, into the lateral lines.
Biological additives are those that use non-pathogenic bacteria and enzymes. If you choose the lateral line enzymes as maintenance additives, some experts may argue with you about the effectiveness of these products. They say that there is only a very small amount of enzymes in the commercial additives. This only proves that the commercially produced lateral line additives with enzymes do not provide significant improvement to the system. Many septic product manufacturers take advantage of the homeowners’ plea to avoid pumping out their system to save money. They promise homeowners that their products are so effective that their systems won’t have to be pumped out anymore. As a result, the homeowners completely depend on the lateral line enzyme additives that they buy. They do not call their septic experts to pump out their septics anymore. This only makes things worse for the system because the amount of sludge goes beyond normal levels and takes over the lateral lines. As you know, when the drain field gets completely blocked, the entire system is compromised.
The biological lateral line maintenance additives that use non-pathogenic bacteria are the most recommended and most widely-used products in many states. These additives are naturally-occurring, given in high doses, eliminate disarming odors, and do not pollute the environment. This additive is just poured into drains and after a week or two, your lateral lines are as good as new.
Even if you use lateral line maintenance additives, be sure that you still perform your responsibilities as the homeowner:
§ Use environment-friendly and bacteria-friendly household cleaners
§ Throw away grease and non-biodegradable materials into the trash bin and not into your drains, toilets, or sinks
§ Relocate the hardwood plants to an area away from the lateral lines
§ Divert the rain gutter away from the drain field
§ Remove the structures and vehicles over the drain field to avoid soil compaction damage
§ Follow the regular pump out schedule
When you decide to purchase lateral line maintenance additives, make sure that you know what you want for your system. Consult your septic expert about the right additives to use on your lateral lines so that you may be able to have your waste water treated for decades to come. It’s your investment. Take good care of it. We hope this article helped the reader better understand lateral line maintenance additives and the effects they have on septic systems.