RID-X for septic tanks, what’s the verdict ?

Just understand what is going on there. Everything runs to the tank. Solids sink and the top skim liquid seeps out the top end into a pipe into the leach field.
The solids sit, rot, and turn to liquid via bacteria enzymes heat and whatever else and also seep out into the leech field.
Too many people think that its a box that needs pumped out when it fills up with solids. Keep it healthy and let it digest your solids.
(not everyone realizes the outside pressure that can be pushing in on an older box either when you pump it out. It can collapse in on itself when you empty it so its not all roses and fertilizer in pumping it out a bunch either.)
Now figure in that your dishwasher, washing machine, and shower run into it too most likely. i.e. soaps, detergents, bleach, fabric softner, water softner discharge etc… Not the best food for bacteria, enzymes, and whatever else.
Ideally you’d have a dedicated leech lines for those drain items directly and keep them out of your tank and toilet waste solids but 99 out of 100 don’t so your no diff than anyone else.
So… depending the ratios what your putting into the tank you may need to feed the bacteria or not. Yeast and etc. That is what Rid-X does.
We never used anything like it and get our tank pumped every few years or so. As a kid on the home place we never even did that.
Didn’t really say either way I guess but I hope that helps.
p.s. tell your wife to use the trash can and that you can’t be flushing that stuff. It doesn’t break down. Or… adjust your pump out schedule accordingly. See, it just depends on what you are putting into it.

NO inspecting agency (city, county, state, tribal, or federal) agency that works with septic systems recommends this stuff. But, the law says they cant condemn it as not working, or as a waste of your money, unless they can prove it doesnt work. And since none have done any testing to prove its a waste of your money or false advertising, they simply dont.
Im sure its full of enzymes. But the first flush you make puts zillions of bacteria to work in your septic system. And enzymes, and viruses etc. A quart sized box of unproven stuff may work just fine. But so does pumping out the solids every year or so. Its the solids forming a sludge layer on top of the liquid that ends up clogging ones drainfield if you dont.
Bottom line: there is no scientific proof one way or another these products actually do what the advertising hype says they do. So it is up to you and your wallet to believe what you think works and act accordingly.

Beer or two a month will help bateria growth….. So an old fella told me. I still don’t do it as it’s not something I think about
I was having to pump my system every two years but three years ago I collapsed the dry well and put a new 300 gallon dry well in with a small drain field past it. Havnt had any issues since but it’s only been a few years

Last edited by handitrapper; 06/20/18 11:03 AM.

Not if you cut them up small enough.

I sprinkle some in the basement of my cabin outhouse, and it seems to help.

NEVER USE RID-X!!! That is an enzyme similar to yeast. What that will do is start to aggressively attack the solids. In doing so, it will stir the solids up and they will make it to the leach field and clog it. (for lack of a better analogy), it’s like fermenting wine or beer. When you first start the process and the yeast isn’t dead, you can see the solids going up and down in the liquid. Same with a septic tank but those solids will make it to the leach field since it will make it to and through the baffle. Your waste has plenty of the correct bacteria in it to digest waste in a septic tank. One gram of human waste has over 1 million bacteria in it. As long as you keep pooping, your septic tank will do fine. It will even recover from harsh chemicals such as toilet bowl cleaner. The most important thing to do with a septic system is to have the tank pumped every few years, (depending on the size of your tank and family) and keep the pipes free of tree roots if you have an old system with terracotta pipe.

Last edited by Finster; 06/21/18 11:00 AM.

I wrote that I took a class on septic system installation, inspection and monitoring because I wanted to give the impression I had some education along with owning a septic system. It is abundantly apparent education in the field is not as important on Tman as experience. That being said, Ive witnessed countless septic systems that were failing but located away from homes. It was usually the case of out of sight meant out of mind and people had no idea that their systems were failing cuz they couldnt see or smell them. Several years ago, I reviewed a study of a sanitary district where septic systems were dyed. As I recall, close to 40% were failing because the dye was seeping out near the lakeshore. And most of these property owners didnt have a clue their systems were failing.
Then there were the little subdivisions where houses were situated on small, city sized lots. Well in the front yard, septic system in the back. All went well until septic systems started failing. The setback (from neighboring wells) didnt allow new septic systems to be installed. And when it came time to sell those houses, banks wouldnt approve loans because of the failing systems. Today in Minnesota, housing lots not served by municipal sewage systems have a minimum size, which I believe is over an acre. I do recall some counties/townships requiring more. Most of this is so you have somewhere to put replacement septic systems when yours fails.

LOL you self proclaimed “turdnators” crack me up.( not all that posted ) First of all I have to take a class EVERY year on wastewater treatment for package plants and septic systems. So let me add what “LIFETIME” operators (not college kids) have proven over the years. A healthy septic will not even be noticed. RID-X works. It just adds more bacteria and enzymes that boost the natural bacteria that comes from human waste. The bacteria will feed on ANY food scraps or BOD’s added to the tank from the house or building. BOD (biological oxygen demand basically feed the bac. A septic system because it is not normally aerated has a different breakdown than waste water plants. Anaerobic bacteria (not requiring free oxygen) processes the waste. The key is to keep a healthy balance of bac in the system. BLEACH KILLS !!! Drano kills!! Rid -x helps with replenishing after a shock hits the tank. Anything sweet helps the bac to grow but sometimes it will need a boost. An even better product can be bought on-line the is a small gelatin pack with over a billion bacteria that become active after it is flushed.
We used it for years in the school system I retired from. They also make one that eats grease !!!!
As for pumping if you have no flooding, toxic kill inside the tank ,or some knuckle head driving over and collapsing the pipes, pumping every 10-15 years is quite common.
The screen on the end of the pipe leaving the tank is a problem waiting to happen. Baffles are installed now to stop that.

Last edited by jbyrd63; 06/28/18 10:54 AM.