Do septic tank additives work, and what does the EPA say?
The EPA's Septic Tank Additives Fact Sheet says that using bacteria or chemical additives is not recommended for domestic wastewater treatment, because there is already a significant presence of bacteria, enzymes, yeasts, fungi and other microorganisms in these systems. It adds that additive products can be ineffective or even harm system operation and the environment, and that any operational issues should be assessed by a septic system professional or local regulator.
The EPA's SepticSmart homeowner guide is blunter about the pumping part. Some makers claim their products break down sludge to eliminate the need for pumping, but the guide says the effectiveness of additives has not been determined, that many studies show no significant effect on a tank's bacterial populations, and that periodic pumping is the only true way to ensure a septic system works properly.
Washington State University Extension makes the same point from the other side: additives claiming to eliminate the need for pumping usually re-suspend solids and move them to the drainfield, clogging lines and leading to system failure.
Why a working tank does not need help
A healthy tank is a small, slow digester. Wastewater flows in, solids sink to form sludge, oil and grease float to form scum, and bacteria that arrive with ordinary household waste break down part of the organic matter. You do not have to seed it, because every flush brings in more of the same organisms.
What bacteria cannot do is make everything disappear. Grit, hair, lint from the laundry and the fibers in anything that is not toilet paper pile up as sludge however active the tank is. The EPA describes sludge and scum as accumulating naturally over time, and the way to remove them is a truck with a hose. That is why pumping on a schedule exists, and our guide on how often to pump a septic tank places your house inside the EPA's window.
Do septic tank treatments such as Rid-X, tablets and pods work?
Shelf products fall into a few groups, and the EPA fact sheet addresses each.
Biological additives, tablets and pods
These contain bacteria and enzymes, often mixed with other chemicals or nutrient solutions, and they are sold under words like natural, bioactive or biobased. The EPA's table says some biological additives can reduce septic tank scum and sludge, but that the impact of long-term use on the soil's ability to treat wastewater is unknown, and some studies suggest the material they break down may change the quality of the liquid leaving the tank. The label often does not name the bacteria strains. Septic cleaners such as Rid-X are in this category. The fair summary is that they may do something to the layers, nobody has shown it is good for the drain field, and the EPA still does not recommend them.
Line cleaners and drain field cleaners
The EPA says these usually contain strong acids or alkalis, similar to the ingredients in popular drain cleaners (sulfuric acid and lye are the examples it names). It says they can negatively affect how bacteria break down waste and can damage pipes, septic tanks and other system components. Hydrogen peroxide was once promoted as a drain field reconditioner, but the EPA says it was found to break down soil structure and compromise the life of the system.
Degreasers and odor control products
Degreasers often contain organic solvents. The EPA says these pose significant risks to groundwater, can destroy the decomposers and other helpful microorganisms in the system, and are banned in many states. Odor control products, it says, are advertised to work by killing bacteria, which the system needs. If odor is a problem, the EPA says the source should be investigated by a septic professional.
Baking soda and other home remedies
The EPA lists baking soda in its flocculant group, products that make particles stick together and are marketed to clear the liquid leaving the tank. It says research has not demonstrated that this class of additive performs, and that a properly designed system lets settling happen naturally in the tank. Pouring something from the kitchen cabinet into the toilet does not give the tank anything it lacks.
What can you put in a septic tank to break down solids?
Nothing you pour in is needed, and none is recommended by the EPA. The tank already contains the organisms that do the work, and the solids that remain are removed by pumping. If you want a cleaner tank, the useful moves are the ones that put fewer solids in: a garbage disposal used sparingly or not at all, grease kept out of the sink, and nothing but toilet paper and human waste in the toilet.
Are natural drain cleaners safe for a septic system?
A drain opener is for one clogged pipe in the house. The EPA's advice is to avoid chemical drain openers on a septic system, and its guide says that pouring toxins down the drain can kill the living organisms that digest and treat the waste. It points to a drain snake instead. Enzyme-based cleaners such as Green Gobbler are sold as the gentler option, but the same EPA caution about unproven additives applies, and they do nothing for a full tank or a failing field. A slow sink is better handled with a plunger or a cable than with repeated doses of anything.
A drain field is a buried bed of trenches or a chamber system where the liquid soaks into soil. When the soil is clogged with a biological mat or the pipes are crushed, nothing poured into the house can restore it. A field that is failing needs a professional evaluation, and sometimes drain field replacement.
What helps a septic tank, step by step?
The EPA boils maintenance down to four elements: inspection and pumping, water efficiency, proper waste disposal and drain field care.
1. Pump on schedule. The EPA says household tanks are typically pumped every three to five years and the system inspected at least every three.
2. Flush only human waste and toilet paper. The EPA's rule of thumb is not to flush anything besides those two, and its never-flush list includes wipes, dental floss, cat litter, coffee grounds and paper towels.
3. Keep grease out of the sink. The EPA says never to pour cooking oil or grease down the drain.
4. Spread out the laundry. The EPA says doing all the laundry in one day can be harmful, because it does not give the tank time to treat waste and could flood the drain field.
5. Keep large volumes of toxic cleaners out. The EPA says never to pour oil-based paints, solvents or large volumes of toxic cleaners down the drain. Normal household cleaning is a different matter from dumping a large quantity.
6. Protect the field. Never park or drive on the drain field, keep roof drains and sump pump discharge away from it, and plant trees at the distance a septic professional advises.
What goes wrong when people rely on a septic additive?
The usual story goes like this. The drains slow down, someone pours in an additive, the problem seems to ease for a week, and the tank keeps filling. By the time the backup comes, solids may have reached the drain field. A pumped tank is a routine visit. A saturated field can mean replacing a large part of the system.
The EPA's fact sheet also notes that many states and localities have their own rules on septic additives, including lists of approved products. Check with your local or state health department, which in the Treasure Valley means Central District Health for Ada, Boise, Elmore and Valley counties, or Southwest District Health for Canyon, Payette, Gem, Owyhee, Washington and Adams counties.
Never lift a lid to look at what a product is doing. Septic tanks produce hydrogen sulfide and methane, and health agencies warn against entering a tank without proper training and equipment. Leaning in is part of that warning. Keep children and vehicles off the lids and the drain field.
When should I stop buying cleaners and call?
- Drains are slow throughout the house, not at one fixture.
- Gurgling in the pipes, or a sewage smell indoors or over the tank.
- Wet, spongy or bright green grass over the tank or the drain field, even in dry weather.
- Sewage at the lowest drain or fixture in the house. Stop using water and call.
- You have added a product and the symptoms came back within days.
- You cannot remember when the tank was last pumped.
For a pump-out, see our septic pumping page or the general septic pumping service page. Our guide to the signs your septic tank is full lists the symptoms in order, and the guide to sewer smell in the house separates a tank problem from a house line problem.
What does it cost to skip the additive and just pump?
Septic pumping with American Septic & Sewer is $395 flat for a 1,000-gallon tank, and larger tanks and deep lids cost more. We confirm your tank size and lid depth on-site, in writing, before we start. If you decide not to move forward after that on-site confirmation, you pay nothing.
Is baking soda good for a septic tank?
The EPA lists baking soda among flocculant additives and says research has not demonstrated that this class of product works. A properly built tank lets solids settle on their own, so baking soda is not a substitute for pumping.
What can I use for septic tank smell?
Find the cause. The EPA says odor control products are advertised to work by killing bacteria, which the system needs, and that the source of an odor should be investigated by a septic professional. A strong smell over the tank or in the house can mean a full tank or a field problem.
How do I know if my tank needs pumping instead of a treatment?
Slow drains throughout the house, gurgling, a sewage smell, or wet, spongy, bright green ground over the tank or field all point to a full tank or a field problem. A treatment will not clear those, so call for a pump-out and an inspection.
Where we work
American Rooter & Drain was established in Caldwell, Idaho in 1945 and has worked the greater Treasure Valley since 1945. American Septic & Sewer provides septic pumping at $395 flat for a 1,000-gallon tank, the size most Treasure Valley homes have, priced by size for other tanks, across Boise, Nampa, Caldwell, Meridian, Kuna, Star and the surrounding Treasure Valley, for homes and rural properties alike. See what we do in Boise, Nampa, Caldwell and Meridian. Call (208) 366-5771, days, nights, weekends and holidays.
