Understanding how laundry can affect the overall health of your septic system can help homeowners know the proper way to take care of their septic system.

Did you know that the average, American family washes about 300 loads of laundry each year, and can use as few as five gallons of water per load in newer, more efficient washers? Older washers use much, much more – up to 29 to 45 gallons of water per load of laundry!

Draining large amounts of water through numerous wash cycles can throw off the balance of water in the septic tank and can cause several problems, like plumbing backups, flooding or sewage leaks. As wastewater enters the septic system, the tank needs time to accurately treat the wastewater and suspended solids.

1. Space your laundry out. Many people schedule a “laundry day” but that can cause damage to your system. Washing numerous loads of laundry in a short period of time doesn’t allow the septic system enough time to treat the waste, causing build-up and overloading the system. As a result, solids may cross into the drain field. To prevent this, do one or two loads a day, and make sure to leave some time in between loads of laundry. 
2. Set your washing machine to the properly sized load setting. Using a large setting for a small load wastes both water and energy.
3. When it’s time to replace your washing machine, look for machines that are certified energy-efficient. Not only do they use less energy, but they need about half as much water as a traditional washing machine.


Spreading out your loads of laundry can protect your tank and will help your septic system operate at its best. For septic system help or questions call Atlantic Septic today. 386-738-1005