Smart consumers usually do a fair amount of research about products that they buy. They always look to buy items that pass the basics in their book price, longevity and benefits. You can categorize yourself as one of the smart buyers these days because of the high quality products that you purchase. You see how reasonable the prices are for such useful and durable products so you’re happily to have them bagged up. Sand mound maintenance additives are one of the products that require a fair amount of research when deciding on the perfect product.
It’s pretty much the same for sand mound maintenance additive products. In purchasing them, you scope out several things price, longevity effects and stock life, benefits. It cannot be denied that hundreds, maybe even thousands of leach field maintenance products are ready for anyone to pull off the shelves. But what do you have to do to make sure that you will get what your leach field really needs? Would it really be favorable for the system if you purchase sand mound maintenance additives?
For the longest time, many septic researchers have spent time, effort, and money to know what really goes on in the hidden world of wastewater treatment. It’s almost considered a culture by some people. Each has his or her own way of taking care of their wastewater treatment facility at home. Their views are slightly changed by septic product manufacturers who try to convince them about the modern septic tanks need for their products. So the present consumer of septic products is swayed to believe whatever these manufacturers promise them. There are no standard tests for products like sand mound maintenance additives. They are only promoted based on the information presented by the company researchers and the independent scientists who test several products to prove a point. That’s why it isn’t fully established if sand mound maintenance additives are beneficial or not.
Chemical and biological leach field maintenance products are the main classifications of sand mound maintenance additives. Chemical additives are comprised of strong acids and bases, yeast, and baking soda. The acids and bases are very corrosive to the physical structure of the entire septic. They even kill off the resident bacteria responsible for breaking down the solid wastes. The yeast and baking soda improve the sand mound’s performance but only for a short while. If these are used for a longer period, they affect the sand mound in a negative way. Biological additives are those that use non-pathogenic bacteria and enzymes. They are recommended because they do not have chemicals that pollute the environment and they eliminate odors.
When a homeowner is tempted to use chemical sand mound maintenance additives, the following results are brought out:
1. Methane gas bubbles are produced more in the sand mound’s tank. These lift the solid waste materials into the soil absorption system and the sand filter system. Clogging and eventual failure take place.
2. The benzene, naphthalene, and alkene components pollute the environment.
3. The paraformaldehyde, formaldehyde, quaternary ammonium, and zinc sulfate components are harmful to all forms of life when used in excess.
4. The sulfuric acid component corrodes the physical structure of the sand mound and kills the bacteria, both anaerobic and aerobic.
5. The scum in the tank is broken off and all the floatables oils and grease are dispersed into the sand filters and soil absorption system.
On the other hand, when the homeowner is tempted to use enzymes, some septic experts say that they won’t even do much good to the sand mound because they are only placed in minute amounts when they are commercially produced. They argue that human wastes are better sources of the needed enzymes because these wastes are dumped every single day. The enzymes in the human wastes improve the sand mounds better than any additive could ever do.
Even if you are a smart consumer, it can still be quite confusing to make a choice between using and not using sand mound maintenance additives. It’s really up to you. If you do decide to use sand mound maintenance additives, do not depend on them. Make sure that you still pump out your system regularly as scheduled.