Garbage Disposal with Septic Tank – Is It Safe?

Can You Use A Garbage Disposal With A Septic Tank

If you have been wondering whether you can attach a garbage disposal to your septic system, think no more – the answer is yes.

As per FHA, septic tank systems and garbage disposals work very well together. However, since septic tanks are usually designed to break down human waste, added measures need to be taken to ensure that they work well when paired with a garbage disposal.

For example, you will have to ensure that the waste going down your garbage disposal to your septic tank is entirely biodegradable; otherwise, bacteria cannot break it down.

You will also need to regularly maintain your tank to take out solid waste to prevent clogging.

If you pair the right size tank with the correct garbage disposal unit, these two systems can work together efficiently for a long time to rid your house of waste.

Benefits Of Combining These Systems

Your septic tank is your personal on-site sewage system that helps you get rid of water and human waste. Add to that a garbage disposal unit, and you may have found a solution to get rid of all biodegradable waste in your house.

The two major benefits you get out of combining these systems are:

Convenience

It is much easier for you to dump leftover food scraps down the drain when cleaning dishes, and not have to worry about taking out the trash later.

This food waste will grind up, and flush down to your septic system by itself to be broken down by bacteria.

Eco-Friendly Waste

Much of the food waste that goes down your drain to your septic tank will be broken down by bacteria – especially if your garbage disposal has a high grinding capacity.

This means that the food from your house will not end up in a landfill, and add to environmental pollution.

Choosing The Best Septic Safe Waste Disposer

Septic-System Ready

When you are selecting a waste disposal to work with your septic system, ensure that the disposal is septic-system ready.

Many manufacturers offer models that are septic tank friendly and come with an extra grinding capacity which grinds your waste into particle sized bits.

Often, such systems also come with high power motors compared to regular garbage disposals – this ensures that your food waste is small enough not to clog your septic system.

Size

Before purchasing a garbage disposal, you must ensure if it is the right fit for your home.

Assess the space under your sink to see how large a disposal system can fit there. If you have less space, you need to go for a more compact waste disposal system.

However, if you require a large-sized disposal unit for your home, you can consider increasing the space under your sink to fit the garbage disposal.

Horse Power

The capacity and speed of your disposal system depends on the type of motor power it has. This does not mean buying the highest available horsepower for your house.

The type of garbage disposal you choose should match your needs; for example, getting too less or too high a horsepower can be unnecessary and inefficient.

Garbage disposals usually come in four types:

Speed (RPM)

When buying a garbage disposal unit, a critical factor to consider is the grinding speed - the measure of revolutions per minute (RPM) taken by the grinding unit of your disposal system.

Garbage disposals range from 1725 RPM and can go as high as 2800 RPM. The higher the RPM, the faster your disposal system will pulverize your food waste.

Feed Types

Garbage disposal units come with two distinct feed types:

As the names suggest, continuous feed systems constantly run from when you turn on your waste disposal unit, until you turn it off. It is suitable for families or houses that produce continuous or large amounts of food waste.

On the other hand, batch feed systems work in sets. You have to put in the waste you want to be disintegrated, cover the lid, and turn on the machine for it to work. Since batch feed can only hold a limited amount of waste at one time, it’s ideal for homes that produce smaller waste volumes.

Noise Reduction Technology

Quality waste disposal systems do not produce excessive noise since they are built keeping noise levels in view.

Consider this: if you have an open kitchen or a studio apartment, it can get challenging to live with the constant sound of your garbage disposal running in the background.

Most manufacturers now make waste disposal units with soundproof materials to minimize the sound of grinders when your unit is running.

Waste Volume/Family Size

The amount of waste you produce is often related to the number of people in the house. Even if you live alone, but entertain a lot of guests, you would generate a higher waste volume than other single-person accommodations.

Therefore, the garbage disposal system you get should have a grand chamber capacity large enough to meet your waste volume quantity.

If you get a smaller unit (with a lesser HP, lower grinding capability and batch feed type) for a household that produces high amounts of food waste, you could potentially damage your disposal unit – or affect its life expectancy.

Grind Capability

The grinding capability of a garbage disposal depends on the number of grinding stages the unit has and determines how finely the waste is pulverized.

A waste disposal system can have anywhere between 1 to 3 grinding stages – typically, more grinding stages equal better grinding capability.

If you're pairing your garbage disposal system with a septic tank, try to get units with high grinding capacity, so you don't end up clogging your drain or pipelines.

Installation

Garbage disposals come with two types of mounting options:

It’s usually a good idea to consider the cost of installation before buying a new waste disposal system for your house.

If you’re replacing an old unit with a new one, check to see if your new mounting assembly will be compatible with the old one.

Disposal units are generally easy to set up; however, with systems that require extra plumbing, you may need to hire a professional.

Warranty

You don't want to invest in a garbage disposal system without getting the assurance of good service.

Garbage disposal manufacturers offer warranties for their products from 1 to up to 10 years.

Getting a product from a trustworthy manufacturer (like the ones mentioned in this review), who offer excellent customer service, and a reliable warranty can make your product worth the price.

Installing A Garbage Disposal

Each garbage disposal system comes with specific instructions for installation that can be found in their user manuals. However, here is a general guide to setting up your garbage disposal.

For a deeper understanding of the installation process, you can also refer to this video:

Taking Care Of Your Septic Systems

To ensure that your septic system keeps working efficiently, it is important that you properly maintain it. This includes:

Maintenance Of Septic Safe Garburators

Taking preventive measures to care for your garbage disposal will extend its life, and keep it working efficiently.

Here are some tips to follow for maintaining your waste disposal unit:

Conclusion

We have compiled this list for you after reviewing several manufacturers and models for septic-system safe garbage disposal units.

Our list of top 6 disposals unites should help you make an informed choice, and select the right one for your house.

As per our reviews, the best disposal to invest in is the InSinkErator Evolution Septic Assist. With its 3/4 HP motor, durable make, bio-charge injection technology, and multi-grind stages, it can take care of all your food waste.