ASK ROY

I’ve heard that tossing a whole, dead chicken into my septic tank lessens the need to have the tank pumped because the bacterial action created by the rotting carcass is effective at breaking down sewage. True?

Like other urban myths, this theory seems to have taken on a life of its own. I first learnt of it in the late ’80s from readers who said they knew people who’d been using the technique for decades. I’ve also heard about people throwing in rotting hamburger meat or roadkill. Then or now, adding anything to your septic tank to stimulate decomposition is liable to have the opposite effect. I suspect that there are still people who fervently believe in the chicken hypothesis, swearing that they haven’t had to pump their tank in years, if ever. Really, all they’re doing is contributing to groundwater pollution by sending bacterialaden filth out of an overburdened tank into the system’s leaching field (the buried pipes that receive the outflow, known as effluent, from the septic tank). Until evidence suggests otherwise, experts advise against using septic additives. Instead, have your septic tank inspected yearly and pumped as needed, depending on variables such as the number of people who live in the home, the size of the tank, the system’s age and soil conditions.

Will stretching copper wires across my roof help eliminate roof moss

Yes, sort of. An oldfashioned solution to rooftop moss control was to stretch copper wires spaced at 1,5-metre intervals horizontally along the roof. The tightly stretched wires were discreetly positioned right at the edge of a tile to be less noticeable. Rainwater washing over the wires leaches copper and copper oxides onto the roof, killing the moss and leaving behind residue that makes it difficult to establish itself again.

A more modern solution is to use products such as Scotts 3-in-1 Moss Control or Bayer Advanced 2-in-1 Moss & Alga killer. You spray these on your lawn, patio, or roof. They’re easy to use; the applicator attaches to your garden hose. You don’t have to mix a product at the right proportions.