What's Up With All The "Additive"
Choices?
I keep seeing all these ads on the internet for
"The Latest Enzymes/Bacteria Cultures To Completely Restore Your
Drainfield!" It reminds me of those old cowboy TV shows with the traveling "Snake Oil"
salesman barking up a crowd and telling everyone what they wanted to hear. They'd bark out, "Cure
your aching back, toothache, hang-nails and live to be 110 with this little bottle of Magic
Elixir! Only $1.00 and it's so much cheaper than going to the doctor! In fact, never go to the
doctor again!"
Magic "Enzymes" don't cure your septic problems! They
basically help what's going on in your tank, NOT your drainfield! After all, a septic system works by having
microbes breakdown all the stuff you throw in it. However, what is not explained to you is that the
two major causes of septic system failure is:
-
There's something in your system that is killing all your bacteria and enzymes!
Adding more will help for a week or so, but you've still got the same problem (the condition that kills
all the good stuff that grows and eats the goo) unless you are constantly throwing the snake oil in!
And even then you're not curing the problem. You're only pushing off the day when even that doesn't
work anymore.
One of the most authoritative sources I've found that can explain just why additives won't
work for you system is Daniel Friedman, a microbiologist and author and inspector. He has a website for
building inspectors. You can read what he has to say about "additives" at his website: InspectApedia.com
Does Chemical Treatment Save You
Money?
Given the fact that you are not
going to do any real repair with a chemical or biological treatment... No! In fact that is one of the selling
points that the "Chem" companies use to sell you their treatment. And they do it with such style and fanfare
too! But in reality, even if you buy one product for $70 and it does something to open your system for a
while, you still have the same problem. Only in 2 months, you'll have to order that stuff again. And
that's if the treatment you buy is $70 or less! Sure that sounds great, but you're not curing
anything.
The Septic Saver restores you
system to a state that it was shortly after it was new. Clean sand or rock bed in the leechfield
(drainfield). Then your system can work like it did years ago... Remember that time when you didn't worry
about having a septic system problem? Sure, the Septic Saver will cost you more today, but you never
have to add another drop of chemical/bilogical potion again! Why?
Because the oxygen supplied to
your tank and drainfield will allow the fast growing aerobic bacteria to grow and clean up your
system.
Read more about adding
enzymes and chemical treatments to your
septic system from Small Flows magazine. These studies should help you make up your
mind.
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