What about garbage disposals for septic systems?

[RBPhilip]

I've seen conflicting observations that garbage disposals are detrimental to septic systems. I've also seen In-sink-erator has a special disposal that injects enzymes into the "mix" every time you use the disposal to keep the tank healthy...

Any hard data on this topic?

Rob

[PEW]

They are commonly used with septic systems in our part of the country without any problems. There is no doubt you are putting a little more load on the septic system as you are adding product which has not been preprocessed.

Personally, I have never gotten myself to use one with a septic.

[hj]

Technically they are garbage "disposers". "Disposal" is a GE or Hotpoint trademark. But if you took them away from people with septic systems around here you might have a "riot", starting with my wife. I have never seen any septic system problem that could be pinned to using a disposer, and my wife has been using them for decades.

[RBPhilip]

Do you add anything to your septic system to help it "cope" with the disposer? Or does the natural bacterial action do the trick?

[jadnashua]

My mother still lives in the house I grew up in - we never did anything special for the septic system and disposer except cleaning the tank out as required. 50 years now, still going.

[hj]

Just let the tank sit there and treat it almost as if it were a city sewer.

[Bob's HandyGuy]

My opinion is that a garbage disposer is yet another thing that people have convinced themselves they "need". ( Unless you're doing commercial food preparation ) I've replaced them after only a few years of use. They often become smelly, complicate your plumbing, and foolishly mix electricity and water.