Preventing Plumbing Problems

Tips For Protecting Your Automotive Repair Shop's Septic System

22 August 2018 by Calvin Simmmons

If your automotive repair shop recently moved into a commercial building that uses a septic system for wastewater disposal, then these tips will help you protect it from unnecessary problems:

Tip: Don't Use the Floor Drains in the Repair Bays

While floor drains make cleaning up your repair bays simple, they should never be used. The introduction of motor oil, bearing grease, and other automotive fluids into a septic tank is a surefire way to cause clogs in the tank outlets, leach lines, and leach field. Instead, insist that your mechanics use catchment basins and then properly dispose of all automotive fluids and oil-based products in appropriate recycling containers.

Tip: Use Only Septic-Safe Cleaners in Your Sinks and Toilets

As an auto repair shop owner, you obviously want to keep your business's bathrooms and wash sink areas clean for your customers and employees. However, using harsh chemicals or chlorine bleach-based products in sinks and toilets will kill the useful bacteria that live in the septic tank. When the bacteria die, then the solids inside of the tank will build up. With too many solids, you will have problems with blackwater backing up into your sinks and floor drains. Once this happens, if the tank isn't pumped out soon, then the leach lines will clog and need replacement.

Since replacing leach lines costs many thousands of dollars, this situation should be avoided by using only septic-safe cleaning products in your building.

If your business contracts out cleaning to a third-party company, make sure you let them know your commercial building uses a septic system and the products they use to clean must be septic-safe.

Tip: Use Only Septic-Safe Toilet Paper in All Bathrooms

The majority of the solid material in your auto shop's septic tank that isn't human waste is toilet paper. When you order toilet paper for your business, make sure you order a brand that is certified as septic-safe to prevent the paper from building up and clogging the tank's outlet. 

Tip: Consult a Local Plumber and Set Up a Regular Pump Out and Septic Tank Cleaning Schedule

Commercial septic tanks require regular pump outs and cleanings to keep them flowing well and to prevent problems with sewage backup during business hours. Now that your business is all moved into your new building, call a local plumbing company and make arrangements to have the septic tank pumped and cleaned on a regular schedule. 

For more information, contact local septic services like Ace Septic and Plumbing. 

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