Can You Run A Home Salon With A Septic System?
Posted on: 28 September 2015
If you're a stylist tired of paying high chair rental rates or frequently moving from salon to salon, you may be considering opening a salon out of your home (or detached garage). This arrangement can allow you to keep your entire hourly rate while deducting most of the costs of setting up and running your home salon from your federal income tax return. However, if your home currently has a septic tank rather than sewer hookup, you may be concerned about how an influx of additional "grey water" and hair treatment chemicals may affect the health of your septic system. Read on to learn more about which chemicals and other substances are potentially harmful to your septic tank, as well as what you can do to help extend the longevity of your home's septic system while still running a thriving home business.
What salon chemicals are not advised for use in septic tanks?
While most shampoos, conditioners, and styling agents are safe for septic use, chemicals like bleach and permanent solution can harm the small ecosystem inside your septic tank to make it less efficient at breaking down waste. You'll also want to avoid flushing or draining fat- and oil-based ingredients (like cocoa butter), as these fats can stick to your pipes and lead to increased wear and tear. If not properly maintained, a septic tank can back up into your home's (and salon's) drains or even burst in your yard, while clogged pipes may burst inside your home and cause flood damage.
Fortunately, there are several ways to prevent these scenarios from happening. You may be able to have contaminated water diverted into a separate holding tank by having one or two sinks devoted for treatments involving bleach, perm solution, or other harsh chemicals. You'll then be able to have this holding tank periodically cleaned while allowing your septic system to operate normally, with minimal maintenance. (Many of the other chemicals you use for salon treatments may be specifically labeled as "safe for septic use" or "not safe for septic use" -- you should always check before routing them into your septic tank.)
If this isn't a feasible option for your home salon setup, you'll likely need to resign yourself to more frequent septic tank cleanings or switching to natural hair products that are septic-safe. The frequency with which you should have your septic tank inspected and cleaned depends upon the size of the tank and the number of occupants using it. When estimating the additional burden on your tank caused by your home salon, you'll want to be fairly liberal to ensure that you err on the side of having your tank cleaned too frequently.
What can you do to help preserve your septic tank while running a home salon?
Even if you use only natural products in your hair salon and meticulously clean up after each appointment, your drains will likely get a workout from the extra hair being funneled into them. There are several types of straining filters and hooks that can attach to the underside of your drain and prevent any hair or solids from making their way through. You'll still want to inspect your drains periodically (using a drain snake or flashlight) to help prevent a badly-timed clog.
You may also want to periodically treat your septic system with a probiotic solution. These tiny bacteria help break down waste in your septic tank, reducing the amount of space this waste fills and helping purify the grey water that may leach out through your tank. A probiotic solution can also help neutralize the chemicals you use on a daily basis.
Click for more info about how to keep your septic tank safe from strong salon chemicals.
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