Is yeast satisfactory to use regularly in septic tanks?
By Vivian from Acton, CA
Yes, you can. Just empty a few packs down your drain every month or so followed by lots of very warm water. Yeast is "good" bacteria and this will counter-act the killing of bacteria by bleach and other cleaners that are washed down your drain. As an added benefit, yeast is way cheaper than any of the commercial products you see advertised on TV.
Well, you could use yeast, but it may not actually be thrifty in the long run. Did a little Googling (and multiplying and dividing :). A 20.7 oz box of Rid-X ( essentially yeast-based) runs about $12 and has enough for two monthly treatments; that would be about 10 1/2 oz. per month at a cost of around $6.
Three ounces of yeast is about $5. If you threw three packets in per month your septic system is getting an ounce and a half less than the Rid-X and would run you about $15! I'd keep the yeast for the bread maker (been using Rid-X for years and it does the job for us, as well as doing what others have said here about making sure what goes down the drain is biodegradable).
Yes, it is old fashioned remedy to keep the septic working proper. I lived in country for 15 years and put my yeast in jar and fed it some sugar added warm water then stir, and let work, flush down toilet once per month.
Buy the bread maker yeast at Walmart for 5 something in jar keep in refrigerator only costs pennies last for ever. Use 2 tablespoons once per month. They used to use cake yeast, but hard to find and this is better. Mix, like I said in my first post.
I have had a septic tank for years. This is what the septic people told me: Don't put egg shells down the garbage disposal. (Egg shells never dissolve, they just float on the top.
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What affects does yeast have on a septic tank system, to use or not to use?
By Tom from Peculiar, MO
The bacteria in a septic system work in an airless environment and do quite well at breaking down solid matter from humans. The worst thing one can do is pour grease down the drain as it will form a barrier that eventually coats the lines. Dishwashers create another problem by making the liquid in the septic tank too alkaline.
My septic is not working properly. The soak away pipe seems to be clogged up and the water is leaking through concrete and it smells. Can I use yeast and sugar with warm water?
According to my research, yeast can be used.
There could be a variety of reasons the soakaway pipe is clogged. it could be because of roots, a person flushing down the wrong items in the toilet, there is an issue with the septic tanks. You first need to determine the problem and why the soakaway is blocked. One way to do this is to have a plumber come out if you feel the blockage is a soft blockage and not a hard blockage.
I'm sorry but most likely you are going to have to have someone check your septic system.
You can try the yeast as it will probably not hurt even if it does not help.
I dealt with septic tanks for many years (rural living - septic tanks) and from this experience, I have learned that, as a general rule, when soak away pipes/system go bad it is permanent and will have to be replaced. Hopefully that is not your case.
There are numerous reasons your problem exists but an overloaded septic tank is most often the problem.
If you are renting/leasing then your landlord will have to have this problem taken care of.
If you are the owner, then hopefully you have some type of insurance and many times this sort of problem is covered so be sure to check this out first.
Here is a link (from a company in the UK with their ads) that has some good information that might help with understanding how big a problem this can be.
www.ukdpsolutions.co.uk/
Also awhile ago we found out that our septic tank was not low enough into the ground so it could drain properly, so we had back-up a lot, so the Plummer dug up he tank and lowered it where it should be, problem solved.
