A clogged toilet can be a true nightmare! If this is happening in your home, you are probably looking for an immediate solution. Many products claim to unclog toilets only to leave you with more problems.
Many DIY solutions have mixed results. A popular product for a clogged toilet is Ridex. But does it really work?
This article will help you determine if Ridex is a good alternative for your clogged toilet.
Ridex for clogged toilet is not a good idea. It will not unclog your toilet! Instead, it is a treatment for your septic tank. It is meant to dissolve solid organic waste in a closed structure such as a mound system. It’s not appropriate to clear clogs of any type.
What is Ridex?
To comprehend how Ridex works, first, you must know a bit about your septic system. Ridex is commonly used in places that are not accessible to the city’s sewer system. These types of places include old homes, RVs, and other living structures.
More About Your Septic System
It is important to learn about how your septic system works (https://www.floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/onsite-sewage/_documents/septic-folder-8×11-link2.pdf). It is a natural system where water recycling happens. The system is composed of various parts including the septic tank.
There are also several drainage pipes known as a leach field. The system is found connected to the home through underground drainage pipes. The septic tank drains all the water from your home. This is where all the waste travels to.
Anything that you flush or put down the drain goes to your septic tank. The microbes from human waste break down everything inside the tank. This process makes all the components divide into three layers.
Why Use Ridex?
Now that you know how a septic tank works, you’ll understand the role of Ridex. It is a septic tank treatment that helps to process the waste. The powerful ingredients in the formula prevent the septic tank from accumulating too much sludge and scum.
Homeowners are advised to flush Ridex down the toilet once a month. The active ingredient is cellulase (https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/cellulase), an enzyme that breaks down paper products. It also contains lipase (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537346/), an enzyme that breaks down fats.
These enzymes help to break down waste much more efficiently than natural processes. The general knowledge about Ridex is that it is a monthly treatment commonly used. However, its effectiveness to break down waste is still up for debate.
Can I Use Ridex in a Regular Toilet?
Ridex has not been found helpful for homeowners who have access to city water and the municipal sewer line. The reason is that city sewer systems typically have unique filtration processes. These systems are usually not compatible with the enzymes found in Ridex.
The enzymes are simply not needed with these types of systems. Not surprisingly, many cities advise homeowners not to use Ridex or other septic treatments. This is because these products are packed with harsh chemicals that need to be filtered at public plants.
These types of compounds are very polluting to the environment despite going through filtration plants. They can even leave traces in our public drinking water. There are better alternatives to treat clogged toilets.
In addition, Ridex requires a system that is semi-closed and settled. Experts agree and feel that using Ridex is like flushing money down the drain.
Watch the following video to learn how to unclog a toilet:
If Ridex Won’t Unclog My Toilet, Then How Should I Use It?
Ridex could be helpful in some specific applications.
Mound Systems
Instead of a traditional septic system, mound systems are a good alternative. These are utilized in the following applications:
- Places where you find the soil to be extremely permeable or impermeable
- Places where the water table is high
- Place that sit on shallow soil cover or porous bedrock
The mound is constructed with a particular sand material to fill it. It is raised above ground level. The bedrock is composed on a gravel material that creates the sand fill.
Additionally, the system also contains pipes with a small diameter. These small pipes run through the septic tank. They pump out the effluent in controlled, consistent, small quantities.
These uniform quantities are released into the soil for evenly distributed absorption.
The septic tank inside the mound system is appropriate for the use of Ridex.
Outhouses
You may think outhouses don’t exist anymore, but they are still popular in rural settings. It is a structure that houses a toilet separate from the main property. The structure normally has a hole where all the waste is deposited.
The hole or pit goes into the ground where it is treated in various ways. Nowadays, outhouses have a septic tank. It catches the waste where it can be treated before it is introduced into the soil.
This process helps prevent environmental contamination around the property and the community. The structure’s septic tank is typically shared with the main home. Thus, the outhouse has the role of a drain field.
All the waste from the main home goes into this septic tank. The enzymes in the tank digest the waste prior to the wastewater flowing out to the outhouse. By utilizing this process, contaminated water cannot leak onto the water table. That’s something that traditional outhouses are not able to do.
In this type of outhouse setup, the septic tank serves as a holding tank. It is there where the waste can be treated with Ridex before being released into the outhouse. When the waste reaches the outhouse, the water is able to drain into the soil in a safe manner.
Stay Away From Ridex Under These Circumstances
When You Have an Aeration System
If you have a septic tank with an aeration system, you’ll notice that it has an air pump. This pump works by pushing the air and oxygen until it reaches the septic drainage. It also reaches the tank. There, it increases the level of activity of natural bacteria.
By using Ridex in the septic tank, you’ll alter the bacteria’s normal ecosystem. This is due to the strong enzymes contained in Ridex.
However, when you have an aeration system, it is already achieving optimal performance. Therefore, using Ridex, in this case, is not appropriate.
With a Chemical Toilet
Another contraindication of using Redix is when you have a chemical toilet. This innovative toilet contains additives that eliminate odors. Its tank can be cleaned and the waste can be discarded following usage.
A chemical toilet doesn’t have any type of plumbing system. There are no pipes, sinks, or any other plumbing components. This means that Ridex is completely inappropriate for this application.
Bottom Line
Do not unclog your toilet with Ridex! It may be helpful for closed septic systems that you want to maintain. However, it is not helpful in systems connected to city water lines.
The product is just not effective for clogged toilets. Neither for low pressure in the system. A better alternative to Ridex is trying DIY techniques to unclog your toilet or calling a licensed plumber.
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