Is Your Toilet a Trash Can?
It is an easy mistake to make. You are in the bathroom or the kitchen. You have something small to get rid of. The drain is right there. You think, “One time won’t hurt.”
But for homeowners with a septic system, “one time” can lead to a disaster.
Unlike a city sewer system, your septic tank is a delicate ecosystem. It relies on bacteria to break down waste. It relies on pipes remaining clear to move water to your leach field (or “turkey mound”).
When you treat your toilet like a trash can, you disrupt that process. The result? Backups. Overflowing wastewater. Massive repair bills.
At Triple J Services in Lackawaxen, PA, we have seen it all. We have dug up tanks clogged with wipes. We have hydro-jetted pipes choked by grease.
We want to help you save money. Here is the definitive guide on what to keep out of your pipes, why it matters, and who to call when things go wrong.
How Your Septic System Actually Works
To understand why certain items are dangerous, you need to understand how the system works.
A septic system has three main layers inside the tank:
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Scum Layer: Fats, oils, and grease float to the top.
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Sludge Layer: Solids sink to the bottom.
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Effluent Layer: The liquid in the middle flows out to the drain field.
The Bacterial Balance Your tank is alive. Billions of good bacteria live inside it. They eat the solids and break them down. If you flush things that kill bacteria or things bacteria cannot eat, the tank fills up too fast.
When the tank gets too full, solids push out into the drain field. This ruins the soil and causes system failure.
The Top 10 Things to NEVER Flush
We have compiled this list based on years of service calls. If you want to avoid an emergency pump-out, keep these items out of your drains.
1. “Flushable” Wipes
This is the number one enemy of septic systems.
Do not believe the packaging. Manufacturers label wipes as “flushable” simply because they will go down the pipe. They do not tell you what happens next.
Toilet paper is designed to dissolve in water almost instantly. Wipes are made of synthetic fibers. They do not dissolve. They clump together in the pipes or the tank. They create massive blockages that often require High-Pressure Drain Jetting to clear.
The Rule: If it isn’t toilet paper or human waste, do not flush it.
2. Grease, Oil, and Fat (FOG)
You just finished cooking bacon. Do not pour the grease down the sink.
Warm grease flows like a liquid. However, as soon as it hits the cold pipes underground, it hardens. It turns into a waxy, solid block.
Over time, this grease builds up on the walls of your pipes. It restricts flow like a clogged artery. In the tank, excessive grease thickens the “scum layer.” If this layer gets too thick, it can clog the inlet or outlet baffles.
3. Paper Towels and Tissues
Paper towels are designed to be strong. They are designed to hold water without breaking apart.
That is a great feature for cleaning spills. It is a terrible feature for flushing. Like wipes, they do not break down quickly enough for a septic system. They add unnecessary volume to the sludge layer, requiring more frequent pumping.
4. Feminine Hygiene Products
Tampons and sanitary pads are designed to absorb liquid and expand.
When you flush them, they swell up inside the pipe. They can easily get stuck in a bend or a trap. Furthermore, the bacteria in your tank cannot break down the cotton and plastic materials. They sit in the tank forever until they are physically pumped out.
5. Harsh Chemicals and Paints
Remember the bacteria we talked about? Chemicals kill them.
flushing the following items is like poisoning your septic system:
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Paint thinners
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Solvents
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Excessive amounts of bleach
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Pesticides
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Motor oil
Without bacteria, the solids in your tank do not break down. The sludge level rises rapidly, and your system fails.
For more information on how to properly dispose of household hazardous waste, check the EPA’s Guidelines on Septic Smart Homeowners.
6. Cat Litter
Cat litter is essentially clay and sand. It is heavy.
When it enters your tank, it sinks to the bottom and forms a concrete-like sludge. It is incredibly difficult to remove. Additionally, cat waste often contains parasites that your septic system is not designed to treat, potentially contaminating local groundwater.
7. Food Scraps and Coffee Grounds
Many homes have garbage disposals. However, if you have a septic system, you should use it sparingly.
Food scraps do not break down as easily as human waste. Coffee grounds are acidic and granular. They do not dissolve at all.
Using a garbage disposal can increase the accumulation of solids in your tank by up to 50%. If you use a disposal, you will need to schedule Septic System Inspections much more frequently.
8. Cigarette Butts
Cigarette filters are made of cellulose acetate. This is a type of plastic.
They will not decompose. They float in the tank and can easily clog pumps, specifically Grinder Pumps and Effluent Pumps. Plus, the toxic chemicals in the tobacco leach out and harm the good bacteria.
9. Medications
Do not flush old pills or liquid antibiotics.
High concentrations of antibiotics kill the bacteria in the tank. Furthermore, septic systems do not filter out medicines. These chemicals flow right through the tank, into the turkey mound, and eventually into the groundwater and local water supply.
10. Condoms and Latex
Latex does not biodegrade. A condom flushed today will still be there in ten years. Like other plastics, they can clog pumps and baffles, leading to mechanical failure.
Signs Your Septic System is in Trouble
Did you flush something you shouldn’t have? Here are signs your septic system is in trouble and you need to call Triple J Today.
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Slow Drains: Sinks and showers take forever to empty.
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Gurgling Sounds: You hear a “glug-glug” noise from the toilet when the washing machine runs.
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Bad Smells: You smell a rotten egg odor (sewer gas) in the house or near the tank outside.
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Wet Spots: You see puddles of water or lush green grass over your Leach Field or Turkey Mound.
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Backups: The worst sign. Sewage comes back up into your bathtub or toilet.
If you see these signs, you need to act immediately. Ignoring them will result in sewage flooding your home.
What to Do in a Septic Emergency
If your toilets are overflowing or the drains are stopped solid, follow these steps:
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Stop Using Water: Turn off the washing machine and dishwasher. Do not flush the toilets. You want to stop adding water to an already full tank.
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Check the Cleanout: If you have an accessible cleanout pipe, check to see if it is holding water.
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Call the Triple J Today: Do not pour “Drano” or other harsh chemicals down the sink. This will likely make the problem worse by killing the remaining bacteria.
You need a certified professional to diagnose the issue. It might be a simple clog, or it might be a full tank that requires Emergency Septic Pumping.
Why Triple J Services is Your Best Defense
When you have a septic issue in Lackawaxen or the surrounding areas, you need a team that handles everything.
Some companies only pump tanks. Some only fix pipes. At Triple J Services, we provide comprehensive care for the entire lifecycle of your system.
Here is how we solve the problems caused by flushing the wrong items:
High-Pressure Drain Jetting (Hydro-Jetting)
If grease or wipes have clogged your main line, a snake might not be enough. We use hydro-jetting. This sends a blast of high-pressure water through the pipe. It cuts through grease blocks and blasts away debris, leaving the pipe as clean as the day it was installed.
Grinder Pump Repair & Installation
Did a flushed object break your pump? Many modern systems, especially those with raised turkey mounds, rely on pumps to move waste. If these fail, the alarm goes off. We are experts in diagnosing and repairing these mechanical components.
Leach Field & Turkey Mound Repair
If solids have escaped the tank and ruined your drain field, you have a major issue. We specialize in Leach Field Repair and Installation. We can assess if the field can be saved or if a new area needs to be excavated.
Excavation & Utility Trenching
Sometimes, the damage is severe. Pipes collapse, or roots invade. We have the heavy equipment needed to dig up the old lines and lay new ones effectively and safely.
You can learn more about our full range of capabilities on our About Us page.
Preventative Maintenance: The Key to Savings
The best way to avoid a disaster is maintenance.
According to the National Environmental Services Center, regular maintenance is far cheaper than replacement. A new system can cost tens of thousands of dollars. A pump-out costs a fraction of that. Read more about why septic maintenance matters here.
The Triple J Recommendation:
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Inspect: Get a professional inspection every 1 to 3 years.
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Pump: Have your tank pumped every 3 to 5 years (depending on household size).
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Filter: Clean your effluent filter every 6 months if your tank has one.
Your septic system is an incredible piece of engineering. It manages waste safely and effectively—as long as you treat it right.
Remember the golden rule: If in doubt, throw it out (in the trash).
Don’t let a “flushable” wipe or a pan of bacon grease cost you thousands of dollars. Be mindful of what goes down the drain.
But if the worst happens, know that you are not alone.
Triple J Services is here to get your home flowing smoothly again. From emergency pumping to complex repairs in Lackawaxen, PA, we are the team you can trust.
Do you have a slow drain or a septic alarm going off? Don’t wait for the backup.
