You should always schedule septic pumping service every 1 to 2 years (more if you have an older septic tank or problems with the septic tank). It’s also important to keep bad things out of your toilets and drains. Here are 3 things that syou hould never [...] Continue Reading]]> It’s important to know how delicate your septic system can be. One of the best pieces of advice I can give new homeowners or those running a business is to learn how to take care of your septic system.

You should always schedule septic pumping service every 1 to 2 years (more if you have an older septic tank or problems with the septic tank). It’s also important to keep bad things out of your toilets and drains. Here are 3 things that syou hould never put into your septic system.

1. Hazardous materials. If you have hazardous materials or chemicals in your home or building and need to dispose of them, don’t flush them down the toilet or pour them down the drain. Not only is this going to wreak serious havoc on your septic system by killing off the good bacteria and causing back-ups and clogs, but you will be creating a health and safety hazard. The waste can end up coming back up your drain spreading hazardous fumes and chemicals in your home. You can also contaminate the soil and the water in your leach field. Always dispose of your hazardous chemicals properly.
2. Non-natural cleaners. They may not be hazardous but harsh chemical cleaner and bleach can still cause a lot of problems in your septic system. In order for the waste to break down the right way you need good bacteria in your drains and toilet. Harsh chemicals kill the germs but also kill off the bacteria in your septic tank. Use all natural cleaners instead!
3. The wrong toilet paper. You know better than to flush things like tampons and cat litter down the toilet but did you know you should also watch out for toilet paper? Toilet paper that is made with dyes can often cause problems in the pipes and you should only buy single ply toilet paper to make sure it isn’t too thick to be broken down in the drains. This is especially true for businesses that have a high volume of people using the toilets.

Many people don’t realize how fragile the toilet and the septic system can be to the entire household. It seems like you would be able to flush anything down the toilet without any problems but with most houses that is not the case. You can find yourself dealing with serious septic back-ups, clogs, or bad odors [...] Continue Reading]]> One of the number one reasons professionals have to be called in for septic pumping service, clogs, or back- ups in the septic system is because of the household toilet.

Many people don’t realize how fragile the toilet and the septic system can be to the entire household. It seems like you would be able to flush anything down the toilet without any problems but with most houses that is not the case. You can find yourself dealing with serious septic back-ups, clogs, or bad odors from the overflowing septic system.

If you notice one or all of these things happening in your residence you should call your septic system company to come take a look right away. But the best advice is to prevent the problem before it happens. Here are 4 ways your toilet can hep maintain your septic system and help keep your toilet and your septic system in great working order.

1. Use septic system safe toilet paper. You will soon find out that not all toilet paper is the same. The best toilet paper for your septic system is single ply toilet paper which will break down a lot easier than the higher ply tissue. There is some speculation that dyes in the toilet paper actually cause problems with the septic tank so you may want to avoid colored toilet paper and stick with white..
2. Don’t ever throw anything but toilet paper and human waste down the toilet. Many people, especially those with young children who are being potty trained, believe that wet wipes and diaper wipes are okay to flush down the toilet. This is far from the truth. They are simply not made to break down like toilet paper and will soon end up clogging up your drains. Even the companies that advertise their wet wipes are safe to be flushed down the toilet are having issues with this so be very cautious.
3. Use all natural toilet bowl cleaner. Most all natural cleaning products are septic safe and won’t kill off the health bacteria in the system that is needed to break down the solids.
4. Pour bacteria additives regularly down your toilet. Even if you’re using all natural cleaners the bacteria in your septic tank is still being killed off. To counteract this process the bacteria additives will simply add that health bacteria back into the septic tank to break down the waste and prevent it from going to the leach field.

First of all let’s explain what a grease interceptor is and how it works. A grease interceptor is a trap that is placed between the drain lines and the sewer lines most often in restaurants. The grease trap’s purpose is to intercept the grease, oils, and fats from the usable water and [...] Continue Reading]]> Business owners often have to discover the ins and outs of their building’s care and one of the main things that involves are septic andor grease systems and how they can protect your business.

First of all let’s explain what a grease interceptor is and how it works. A grease interceptor is a trap that is placed between the drain lines and the sewer lines most often in restaurants. The grease trap’s purpose is to intercept the grease, oils, and fats from the usable water and then keeping the waste materials from entering the wastewater disposal system. If you don’t have a grease interceptor in your septic system you may find yourself in all kinds of trouble.

Very large amounts of oil from food production in kitchens and restaurants can overwhelm the septic system or treatment facility, causing a release of untreated sewage into the environment. Not only is this an environmental hazard but it can cause illness and clogs.

Once you’ve properly installed your grease interceptor it’s also important to maintain it. This requires having professional pumpers come out at a recommended frequency or whenever the law states that it needs to be cleaned.

You should also make sure the company pumps the septic system to remove the excess grease and does a thorough inspection. They will fully clean your grease interceptor to stop any build ups or clogs that may occur.

This is a very important part of maintaining your inside and outside grease systems and keeping the building and business safe, clean, and up to code. It’s also a good way to save money on the bottom line.

Many business owners make the mistake of ignoring the time to have their grease traps pumped and cleaned and allowing the waste to build up. This can cause serious back-ups and [...] Continue Reading]]> If you own a commercial business you will need to learn about grease traps and grease pumping services.

This is a very important part of maintaining your inside and outside grease systems and keeping the building and business safe, clean, and up to code. It’s also a good way to save money on the bottom line.

Many business owners make the mistake of ignoring the time to have their grease traps pumped and cleaned and allowing the waste to build up. This can cause serious back-ups and clogs and, in the worst cases, you to spend thousands of dollars on a new grease trap. Don’t ignore this important chore; schedule an inspection and pumping of your grease traps.

The grease needs time to cool and become more of a solid. When this happens the grease will coagulate and float to the top of the water allowing the heavier solid wastes to fall down into the trap. Then the water will flow freely through the trap. If the grease or solid waste builds on top of the grease trap you can start to have problems.

Once the grease isn’t given time to cool it will clog up the trap and the water will no longer be able to flow freely through the drains. This will end up causing you back-ups and clogs in your sinks, toilets, and drains. It can also cause bad odors like raw sewage or rotten egg smells.

Make sure you hire grease pumping professionals to clean out your grease traps and be on a routine schedule that abides by the laws and what the professionals recommended.

If you’re experiencing trouble with your septic system that might mean it’s time for septic pumping service. Having your septic system pumped is the number one preventative maintenance.

You can always have the septic company locate your septic tank cover for you but this could end up costing you extra money. To save a few bucks try to find and expose the [...] Continue Reading]]> If you’ve recently moved into a new home you might find yourself in the position of trying to locate the septic tank. Hopefully you were able to get this information from your real estate agent but many people don’t think to ask about the septic system plans until there is a problem.

You can always have the septic company locate your septic tank cover for you but this could end up costing you extra money. To save a few bucks try to find and expose the septic tank cover yourself. Here are 4 ways to help you locate your septic tank cover:

1. Head to your local Board of Health.  In the city records there will be a drawing of your property which includes the septic system. Just ask for a copy so you can give the diagram to the septic pumping technician.
2. Speak to your landscaper or contractor. If the home has recently been built you can simply call up the landscaper or the builder and ask where the septic tank is.
3. Find the pipe to the sewage outlet in your home. Pay attention to where it is inside the home and then go outside to locate where it exits. It should lead you to the septic tank cover. Make sure you have a professional open it though. Having an exposed hole in your yard is a safety hazard.
4. If your cover is under the ground ask the company about their digging policy. Usually the company will charge you a digging fee after a certain amount of inches. So if you’re septic tank cover is far down you may want to try to uncover it to save yourself some money.

But there are times, no matter our best efforts, when the septic system is breaking down and in need of repairs. It can be difficult [...] Continue Reading]]> If you own a business or home it’s important to pay close attention to your septic system. You should always be properly maintaining the septic system with regular septic pumping service and inspections as well as keeping it free of hazardous and dangerous chemicals. It’s also a good idea to reduce the amount of water consumption in the building or household.

But there are times, no matter our best efforts, when the septic system is breaking down and in need of repairs. It can be difficult for everyone to spot the trouble signs but there are red flags you can watch out for.

Here are 4 red flags that your septic system needs service. You should keep an eye out for these signs and if you see any call up your septic service company right away.

1. If you haven’t had your septic tank pumped or inspected in over two years. Even if the septic system is working well, this in itself is a red flag. There can be all kinds of leaks, back-ups and problems within the tank that you don’t notice. It’s really important to the health of your septic system, land, and your family that you have the septic tank pumped and inspected every 1 to 2 years.
2. Wet or soggy areas around the leach field. This often happens when the leach field is clogged from roots or biomat that has built up over time which causes a back up of sludge and other waste. This means the waste isn't moving through the soil like it’s supposed to and can create an environmental and health hazard in the land. If you notice any soggy or standing water call a septic service company to have it checked out!
3. Slow running or backed-up toilets. If your toilet isn't flushing or keeps flooding your home or business with sewage you have a problem. This could be a sign of clogged drains, an overflowing septic tank or the leach field  isn't leaching properly.
4. Bad odors inside and/or outside the home. This is always a sign that something within the septic system isn't functioning properly. If you notice smells like rotten eggs or raw sewage you should call for an inspection right away.

With just a couple of easy chores you can stay on top of this important part of your home. Here are 5 [...] Continue Reading]]> If you own or rent a home it’s very important that you spend the time and effort to properly maintain your septic system. Not only is this the best way to keep your property and family safe, you’ll be saving yourself hundreds or even thousands of dollars in the long run by making sure your septic system and septic tank is in great condition.

With just a couple of easy chores you can stay on top of this important part of your home. Here are 5 simple ways to maintain a healthy septic system:

1. Find out where your septic tank is. In order to make sure everything is running as it should, it’s a good idea to locate your tank and leach field as soon as you move into the home.
2. Schedule septic pumping service every 1 to 2 years. The exact timing depends on the size and age of your septic system. If you’re unsure, then schedule septic pumping service sooner than later. This is the best way to make sure everything is running as it should and to help prolong the life of your septic system
3. Use a bacterial additive. Bacteria must be present in the septic tank in order to break down and digest the organic solids. Today, households use a wide range of anti-bacterial soaps, detergents and cleaning fluids. While these ordinary household products do a great job killing unwanted bacteria in your home, they also destroy beneficial bacteria that your system needs in order to function properly.
4. Install a septic tank filter if you do not have one. It is an important tool that will protect your leach field by acting as a strainer, keeping the hair, grit, grime, and larger particles not yet broken down in your tank from getting out into your leach field lines. If you already have a filter make sure the septic technician is cleaning it out during every septic pumping service.
5. Never toss any hazardous wastes down your drains or your toilets. This is one of the biggest reasons why people have to replace septic systems which can cost thousands. Never pour chemicals or any hazardous materials down your drains, sinks, tubs, or flush them down the toilet. Not only can it cause major clogs and back-ups but you are killing off all the good bacteria that help to break down the waste in your septic tank. Plus it can contaminate the soil and public waterways which is an environmental hazard.

Not only is this an issue that can cause problems with the plumbing, drains, and septic tank, but it is also an environmental issue. If you’re not practicing good septic system maintenance you can end up with a leakage or clog which can cause sewage to seep [...] Continue Reading]]> Septic system maintenance and care is an issue that involves everyone. Whether you own a home, property, or a business you should be aware of what is happening with the septic system on your land and in your building.

Not only is this an issue that can cause problems with the plumbing, drains, and septic tank, but it is also an environmental issue. If you’re not practicing good septic system maintenance you can end up with a leakage or clog which can cause sewage to seep into the surrounding soil. Leakage could also pollute the city drains which means it could get into public waterways and contaminate them.

The best advice you can give to someone is to learn how to care the right way for their septic system. This includes having regular septic pumping service and inspections done to make sure your septic tank and septic system is in good working order. You should also be aware of any red flags from your septic system such as bad odors like rotten eggs or sewage, leaks, clogged plumbing, slow drains, or rumbling/gurgling sounds in the pipes and toilets. If you notice any of these things I would recommend calling in your septic service company to take a look.

Another thing you can do to practice good septic system maintenance is to monitor your water consumption. It’s a good idea to purchase the right kinds of nozzles to reduce the amount of water usage in your kitchen or bathroom. You can also make sure to only run the washing machine and dishwasher when they are full. This will keep from wasting water and putting undue pressure on your septic system.

Learn to spot the signs right away and you can often have a small problem fixed quickly with septic pumping, [...] Continue Reading]]> If you’re the owner of a business or home  it can be hard to see the signs that your septic system is in trouble and you need septic system maintenance. Ignoring or missing the signs can often mean big trouble. You can end up with thousands of dollars in repairs, ruined landscape from the septic system overflowing, or having to buy a whole new septic tank.

Learn to spot the signs right away and you can often have a small problem fixed quickly with septic pumping, repairs, or simply being better about your septic system maintenance.

So what should you be looking out for?

One thing is slow moving drains. If you notice that your shower drain isn’t working so well or your sinks are constantly clogged this is a big red flag. You should check and see when was the last time you had septic pumping done. If it’s been over a year call up a your septic pumping company for a quote.

You should also be very cautious if you notice any bad odors around your septic system or pipes. The odor is like rotten eggs or sewage and should be taken very seriously. Call a professional for advice.

Another large warning sign is any standing water around your tank. If you notice this you shouldn’t attempt to open the septic tank or fix the problems yourself. It can be dangerous and cause a methane gas leak. Again, call a your septic pumping company and have them some out and assess the problem right away.