One major cause of septic field failure is washing machine lint—mostly from synthetic fibers that never degrade, such as nylon and polyester, but also from natural fibers like cotton that degrade very slowly. Eventually this lint can create impenetrable mats in the soil surrounding the drain lines, preventing liquid from being readily absorbed. Fortunately, preventing this problem can be as simple as putting a high-quality filter on your laundry machine discharge hose.

Installation is simple. Mount the filter holder on the wall near the laundry tub or discharge pipe. Slip in the filter (Photo 1), lock the top down and attach the discharge hoses to the filter container (Photo 2). Remove the reusable filter bag and empty it when it’s half full (usually after about 8 to 15 loads). If you forget to change the filter, the water just drains around it, so there’s no danger of overflow. Replacement filters cost $20, but filters rarely need replacing.

Septic protector filters are available from the manufacturer (Septic Protector Filtrol 160; septicprotector.com or 888-873- 6505), local septic supply companies, and online at laundry-alternative.com and septicsolutions.net.

1-Set the mesh filter into the filter container and lock the top down with the locking clips.

2- Screw adapters to the top and bottom of the filter. Push the discharge hoses onto the barbed fittings and tighten the hose clamps.