Learn More About DOWN JOHN™

DOWN JOHN™ Septic Treatment is a revolutionary 3-part septic system treatment to revive struggling septic systems, increase biological activity and restore the overall balance inside your septic tank.

• CARBON: The high surface area activated carbon that is flushed on day 1 adsorbs chemicals that are toxic to bacteria like chlorine bleach, detergents, toilet bowl cleaners, soaps, antibiotics etc., effectively removing them from the contents in your septic system. This provides a safe and stable matrix into which the live bacteria blend is safely introduced on day 2. One pack of DOWN JOHN™ will treat a standard anaerobic 1000 gallon septic tank for 12 months.

• BACTERIA: The live bacteria will grow and multiply on the carbon surface, exponentially increasing in number for 12 months until maximum digestion efficiency is reached. DOWN JOHN™ bacteria break down the sludge and waste solids in your septic tank and pipes, decreasing build up and odor within your septic system and restoring tank to empty design capacity.

• ENZYMES: The white enzymatic powder that is flushed on day 3 specifically targets and dissolves fats, oils and any grease cap present.

One pack of DOWN JOHN™ will treat a standard anaerobic 1000 gallon septic tank for 12 months. Larger tanks will require more packs, one pack per 1000 gallons or part thereof.

The billions of all-natural live bacteria growing in your septic tank will continually digest and liquefy all waste solids and sludge within the tank and lateral lines. This unclogs your lines and the absorbing soil making drain fields operational and effective once again. Waste solids should not reach your drain field.

DOWN JOHN™ starts working immediately upon application because the bacteria is live and not dehydrated. Any grease cap or septic odor will be gone in several days, backed up or blocked systems are working again in 2 - 4weeks with leach field operational. Accumulated sludge will be reduced in 4 – 8 weeks depending on its depth. DOWN JOHN™ bacteria will continually multiply till equilibrium and maximum efficiency is reached in about 8-10 weeks.

You will not see bubbles as DOWN JOHN™ eats up gas and does not contain peroxide but results will be seen in the reduction of septic smell in your house and sludge build up in your system.

Yes. Developed by a highly-qualified organic chemist, DOWN JOHN™ Septic Tank System Treatment was study tested over 16 months with positive documented results and has more than 18 years of commercial/residential use and many thousands of satisfied customers. Its primary components have also been used in other applications such as deep storage pits and in animal lagoons with astounding results. This septic tank treatment has been sold in every state in the US to customers ranging from homeowners, commercial customers, farmers, bed and breakfasts, churches and retailers.

Water back up is a symptom of a clogged septic system needing treatment or flooding in the leach field (possibly due to excessive rain) filling up the system from behind.

If you have had excessive rain resulting in water accumulation, you should wait till the rain stops and the field dries out. In normal conditions, this is a typical sign that your system needs to be treated as the leach field is clogged up with sludge preventing absorption.

No. One pack of DOWN JOHN™ Septic Tank Treatment is a once-a-year application per tank effective for your entire septic system. One pack treats up to 1000 gallons.

Yes. DOWN JOHN™ is effective in any anaerobic septic system.

No. Our DOWN JOHN™ septic tank treatment product is designed for use in regular, anaerobic septic tanks.

Yes. You can start at any time so long as the toilet is in continual use. If the septic system is left unused for longer than 1 month, the live bacteria will begin to starve and die off because of a lack of fresh waste input upon which to feed.

DOWN JOHN™ accommodates use of toilets by large groups of people because the active bacteria count will adjust for the waste input. Places such as churches, event centers, holiday homes all benefit from the strength of this unique characteristic of our product.

Probably not. DOWN JOHN™ is designed to revive struggling systems and restore balance to your system which prevents back ups that lead to clogging, pump outs and expensive repairs. Many customers who used to pump annually have avoided pumping since treating their septic system with DOWN JOHN™. One church has gone for 10 years without needing to pump out (Testimonials).

Not dental floss as it is a plastic fiber (nylon or Teflon) but DOWN JOHN™ will dissolve all cellulose-based products such as toilet paper (both septic safe and regular), vegetable fiber, paper towels, tampons and paper-based wipes.

No. The flushing process provides sufficient mixing in the tank for the DOWN JOHN™ bacteria to reach all the solid waste and sludge located throughout the tank and dissolve it.

No it doesn’t. Nor does it generate corrosive ammonia, sulfide, or other flammable or poisonous gasses. All our components are all-natural, safe and environmentally friendly. Septic effluent produced as a result of treatment from DOWN JOHN™ is nutrient-rich and full of organic nitrogen, producing excellent fertilizer to promote grass and plant growth in your drain field and is safe for animals (learn more).

Yes. DOWN JOHN™ components are biological, non-pathogenic, all-natural ingredients that are very safe to handle. Childproof caps on the bacteria blend and enzyme bottles provide increased safety around children and foster safe handling by the user as each is opened and flushed directly down the toilet, avoiding skin contact.

Yes. DOWN JOHN™ will work in any anaerobic septic system, old or new, plastic, steel or concrete.

Every 12 months is safe. If concerned, every 6 months is beneficial.

Yes, in most cases. The cesspool would need to be more than 4 foot deep.

Yes. You can continue using all antibacterial products such as antibiotics, bleach, detergents, medications, soaps and cleaning chemicals. The DOWN JOHN™ carbon is designed to bind and remove these toxins, protecting the bacteria. However, don’t put antifreeze, brake fluid or copper root killer into your septic system, these will kill the bacteria.

You need liquid flow to unclog the lines. DOWN JOHN™ does work in low temperatures but bacterial activity will be slower.

Yes. We have sold to customers who are dog breeders or run kennels. DOWN JOHN™ works the same in their systems.

That’s all you need to do if your system is sound.

For further information, call us at 1-888-529-9001 or email us at info@downjohn.com

Through assisting customers with an occasional unique situation, experience has taught us that other factors that could be impeding treatment:

-       Bacteria are dying:

Use of root killer, antifreeze, homemade treatments or combinations of treatments (that cannot be guaranteed by DOWN JOHN™) could be killing off the live bacteria and interfering with the digestion process.   DOWN JOHN™ was designed by an Industrial Scientist so the treatment is a complete kit as is.

-       Disruption to Use:

If the system has not been used in over 1 month, the bacteria are starving and dying off.

-       Obstruction:

The presence of roots in your system could cause problems. Also, missing lateral line caps could cause dirt or sand to enter the pipes. Occasionally, collapsed pipes or quick fixes are impeding flow.

Depending on how many people are in your house and how quickly waste will accumulate in your tank, at least a week should be sufficient before applying your treatment of DOWN JOHN™.

Yes, the product is stable for 5 years from the date of purchase because of the way it is packaged and stabilized.

No, it’s full potency will be preserved for 5 years.

Yes, you will need to apply 2 every year in order to properly treat the 1750 gallon volume and contents. This will provide enough carbon for the size of your tank in order to take it successfully through to next year’s treatment.

This $69 paid once-a-year (less than $6/mo) can help you avoid A LOT of stress, mess and added expenditure.  Pumping and repairs can be costly. One customer told us he was quoted $650 just to dig up and diagnose his issue. He instead chose to resolve his issue by trying DOWN JOHN™ (Click here for an idea of current repair and replacement costs). DOWN JOHN™ is scientifically designed to liquefy solids and reduce waste build up that leads to system back ups and clogged lines or drain fields.

The testimonies of thousands of satisfied customers over the last 18 years. DOWN JOHN™ is based on biological science principles that for over 20 years have been proven to work.  The technology was originally used to treat pit lagoons in hog farms (DOWN JOHN story).  At less than $6/mo, all-natural DOWN JOHN™ actually works out to be cheaper and less hassle. Scientific data shows that effectiveness increases over the course of a year, unlike monthly treatments which peak and drop between monthly applications (University Test Data page).

There is no need to pump out the tank before adding DOWN JOHN™ unless there is absolutely no liquid flow. DOWN JOHN™ is designed to remove blockages in the tank and lines while there is still flow. If totally blocked, you may need to pump out, wait for sufficient deposit of waste and then apply.

Yes, but toilet flushing actually aids in the dispersion of the carbon material down into your tank.

Symptomatic, struggling systems allow opportunity for obvious noticeable changes.  DOWN JOHN™ reverses and revives struggling systems but was also designed to maintain healthy apparent asymptomatic ones.  DOWN JOHN™ restores balance to the internal science make-up of your tank, lines and drain field.  A healthy system receiving treatment will show signs of internal improvement in digestion levels but may be less likely to display overt observable changes outside the tank. No news is good news!