3 Things You Should Never Flush in Arizona if You Have One of These

Learning a Lesson the Hard Way

Sometimes you learn things the hard way. This was definitely one of those times.

Picture this: It's two weeks before the Holidays. The gifts are still being purchased, and we're preparing for a joyful Christmas season.

But that's when things suddenly hit the proverbial fan. The shower isn't draining, and it seems to be backing up instead. Flushing toilets make the situation worse, and the sinks are making a hollow, gurgling noise.

It's the same noise that starts churning in the pit of my stomach.

READ: How to Use WD-40 to Keep Fall Decorations Fresh in Arizona

What to Know If You Live in Rural Arizona

I've lived in rural Arizona for decades. The upside is that we live in mostly quiet surroundings.

The chorus of crickets, goats, roosters, and other ambient sounds are a melodic symphony I've come to love. The dark skies filled with millions of stars make evenings in the desert worthwhile.

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Our family is used to living without the conveniences most city folk take for granted. One adjustment we had to make was owning a well and a septic system, rather than being hooked up to city water and sewage. We're responsible for two extremely expensive and necessary pieces of equipment.

The Great Christmas Septic System Back-Up

Not having to pay a water and sewage bill every month is nice, but not when you have to pony up for repairs, right before the holidays.

READ: Is It Legal to Collect Rainwater in Arizona?

We'd been to the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension's well and septic tank seminars. Those free community outreach events are a great source of information.

The problem is, we didn't implement the advice, and that caused a very expensive learning curve.

Avoiding Expensive Septic Problems

We learned the EXPENSIVE way what not to do when you own a septic tank. Russo Brothers Plumbing offers some ideas on a better way to maintain septic health:

1. Don't Pour Grease Down the Sink!

Grease and oil don’t break down like water and waste. As we learned, if you pour grease down the pipes, you end up with clogs all the way down the line. I kind of forgot my garbage disposal is also connected to the septic tank.

2. Don't Put Food Waste Down the Drain (Or Garbage Disposal!)

Essentially, it's better not to use your garbage disposal. It's tempting to flush and crush, but these things can cause septic damage in the long run:

• Coffee grounds
• Eggshells
• Starchy foods, like rice or potatoes
• Fibrous vegetables like celery and broccoli

3. Flushable Wipes are NOT Flushable

This was an even harder lesson to learn. Flushable wipes end up costing us even more cash from our Christmas fund.

The box reads "flushable" on the label, but watching the plumbers pull an endless number of "flushable" wipes out of our drains, pipes, and the septic system was embarrassing.

Trust me when I tell you: avoid flushing these other cotton-based products as well. For the same embarrassing reason:

• Cotton balls or cotton swabs
• Tissues
• Paper towels
• Tampons
• Sanitary products
• Diapers

Prevention is the Best Advice in Septic Care

The best advice is an ounce of prevention. Be sure to get your septic tank pumped out regularly and LONG before it threatens to ruin your holidays with a nasty backup. Regular maintenance is much more cost-effective than paying for an emergency.