Blog, Drain Cleaning, Residential, Septic Emergency
How Baking Soda Can Help Prevent Septic Emergencies
If you own a residence or business that has a septic system you know that there is no getting around septic pumping service. It’s recommended that you have your septic tank pumped and inspected every 3 years, so if it’s been a while, you should really schedule septic service today. But if you end up having issues with the pipes, drains, or the septic system itself, you may have to schedule septic pumping service and inspections much more often.
This can end up costing you hundreds of extra dollars, not to mention putting too much wear and tear on your septic system. If your septic tank or leach field ends up having to be replaced it can cost you thousands of dollars! There are many ways to help take care of your septic system and one super easy and affordable way is to simply start using baking soda.
How does Baking Soda help you avoid septic system emergencies?
Simple, using baking soda mixed with other all natural ingredients can be used as an environmentally safe and natural cleaner for your toilet, sinks, tub, and drains. Using baking soda instead of harsh chemical cleaners such as bleach will keep all that important bacteria from being killed off. The good bacteria in your septic system is necessary because it breaks down all the waste that comes through the pipes.
Without the good bacteria you will end up with clogs, back-ups and odors that wear away at your septic tank and eventually cause a septic system emergency. Using baking soda is very easy.
You can mix about a 1/4 cup of baking soda with 1/2 cup of vinegar and 2 tablespoons lemon to make your own natural cleaning agent. The baking soda will fizz up to help get the dirt and grime in your tub and drains. It’s a great cleaner and your septic system will thank you!
Blog, Residential
Septic Covers and Safety
Regular pumping of the septic tank is important to maintain a healthy septic system. All septic tanks have between 2-3 covers to allow for service and inspection. Typically, a septic cover is round in shape and about the size of a man hole cover. A damaged or unsecured cover could lead to tragedy should someone fall through into the tank. EarthCare offers septic system cover replacement services, as well as other septic system repairs.
Septic Cover Replacement and Safety at EarthCare
Last year, tragedy struck in Jacksonville, FL when 3-year old Amari Harley fell into a septic tank due to an unsecured septic cover. The town of Jacksonville spent close to $1 million to install new locking covers to approximately 200 homes.
EarthCare takes septic cover safety seriously. At each service, our technicians inspect the condition of each septic cover. Once the covers to the system are exposed they are inspected for integrity and safety.
If our technician discovers a cover which is unsafe, his first action will be to secure and block off the area. He then reports the cover to his manager and customer service and remains onsite until the customer has been notified.
Septic System Cover Types
Septic covers are available in a variety sizes and types to fit the system. Our professional technician will always be on hand to consult with you about the best onsite options for your replacement covers. For example, green plastic covers can be used to blend naturally with the yard. If the cover is in an area where it would be weight-bearing, such as a parking lot or driveway, special load-bearing covers are used to ensure safety.
Contact EarthCare Today!
EarthCare offers the full range of septic and plumbing service for residential and commercial customers, so don’t hesitate to contact us!
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EarthCare Septic Service in Holmes, New York
Holmes, NY is a little hamlet of around 3,500 people, located in the southwestern part of Pawling, NY. Located just west of the Connecticut border and about an hour north of New York City, Holmes is the home of Lake Bliss, a quiet, well-liked vacation destination. Though small, the area has served as the home of such notable historical figures as Thomas E. Dewey (ex-governor of New York and presidential candidate), the actor James Earl Jones, famed broadcaster Edward R. Murrow, and talk show host Sally Jessy Raphael.
With a median home price of a quarter-million dollars, low crime rates, and a peaceful setting, it’s a well-maintained town with well-maintained residences dotting the streets. Part of having a well-maintained residence, of course, is having your septic services handled by skilled, experienced professionals like the ones at EarthCare. Whether you own a house in the town or are fortunate enough to live by Lake Bliss itself, septic cleaning needs to be a routine part of your home’s upkeep. Not only does such maintenance ensure requisite parts of your septic system are replaced before they break, it helps limit the possibility of a badly clogged drain turning your dream home into a nightmare.
If you’re not sure how often your septic system needs to be maintained, our septic experts can advise you on an appropriate time frame based on your usage. And if you do have the misfortune of dealing with a clogged drain, EarthCare can free you from the pain quicker than any competitor or DIY solution. Our septic service covers all of Holmes and the surrounding town. Learn more about septic pumping in Holmes, NY, here.
At EarthCare, we aim to keep your septic system running at its peak for as long as you own your home. Whether you live in Holmes, NY, or elsewhere in southeastern NY and northern NJ, contact us for more information on our services and pricing.
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Our 14-point Grease Trap Inspection Keeps Your Food Service Business Open
Avoid Shutdowns With 14-Point Grease Trap Inspection
As grease hardens it can clog community sewer systems as well as causing health code violations when clogged drains cause backups to your place of business. Professional food service providers create large quantities of grease during the course of normal daily operations, and in NJ grease traps are mandatory to remain in compliance with State Code 7.9A-81, as reported in this informative article at bizfluent.
The code requires T-baffles, as well as manhole covers which are gastight and able to safely handle expected loads. Grease trap inspection can prevent problems before they occur, keeping your food service business running profitably and giving you the peace of mind that comes with knowing your grease trap is in complete compliance with state regulations.
14 Point Inspection With Every Grease Trap Cleaning
At EarthCare our commercial customers can rely on a thorough 14-point grease trap inspection. We don’t simply breeze in, skim off the topmost layer of grease and call it a day. Our experienced EarthCare professionals will inspect all of the following components:
- Inspect cover
- Inspect gaskets
- Inspect bolts
- Inspect rods
- Inspect baffle
- Inspect baskets
- Inspect for rust
- Check flow of trap
- Check for leaks
- Advise on frequency of drain cleaning services
- Inspect strainers
- Inspect screens
- Advise of frequency changes
- Compile a complete condition report on every visit
Inside Grease Trap Maintenance at EarthCare
No business should have to shut down and risk losing regular paying customers due to grease buildup. Our technicians take the time to scrape down the walls of the trap and baffles to ensure that any hidden problems with the trap’s integrity are uncovered. Our professionals are thoroughly familiar with local grease trap codes and regulations and we can advise you on the recurring cleaning frequency to remain in compliance, as well as to keep your wastewater system flowing at peak performance.
Our 14 point grease trap inspection service is the best maintenance plan available for businesses in the food industry ranging from restaurants and school cafeterias to retirement homes. At EarthCare we offer the full range of plumbing, pipelining, septic pumping, and wastewater system services for commercial and residential customers alike, so don’t hesitate to contact us.
Blog
Prevent a Plumbing Emergency With Preventive Measures
It may be cliche, but it is true – an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. If there are signs of failure in your main plumbing units, give us a call before it becomes a plumbing emergency.
Service or Replace Your Grease Trap
The grease trap in your plumbing system serves an important function. It protects against grease, as well as other insoluble fats and oil from making their way into the septic system. Over time, these compounds will accumulate inside the interceptor. There will come a point where it is fully saturated, and no longer able to do its job. If this problem is not taken care of, the fats and grease will quickly accumulate inside your septic system. Prevent a plumbing emergency by having us periodically service your grease trap, or replace it if necessary.
Clear Clogs from Your Drain Lines
Sooner or later, it happens in every household. It is none other than the annoying clogged drain line. Many clogs happen slowly, some so much so that it is not noticeable at first. Your sink or bathtub will just begin to drain slower than it did last time. There are others that happen as a result of a mishap such as too much toilet paper, or something getting down the sink that should not have. Some of these clogs can be taken care of by a homeowner. However, there are others that require the attention of professionals. If you are unable to clear a clog using simple measures, do not attempt more extreme methods yourself, as doing so can result in more damage. Your plumbing system is sensitive to force, and can be severely affected by things such as excess pressure. If you do not know what you are doing, call us to prevent a plumbing emergency.
Replace Your Hot Water Heater
Most water heaters do not need a lot of upkeep during their life, which on average is 10 to 12 years. Fortunately for home and business owners, it will most often give advance warning that it is time to replace it before it stops working completely. Look for one or more of these signs. You may notice that your hot water is not as hot as it used to be. Some of them will also develop leaks near the end of their life, resulting in a small puddle of water near its bottom. Or, its overall performance may fluctuate from satisfactory to unsatisfactory throughout the day.
Blog, Commercial, Residential
Septic Pumping Services by EarthCare: Town Spotlight on Morristown, NJ
The Rich History of Morristown, NJ
Morristown was founded way back in 1710, first as West Hanover, established as a foundry to take advantage of the local iron-ore resources nearby. In 1740 the industrious town was renamed after Lewis Morris who was the governor of the colony at the time.
Today the Morristown National Historic Park, just southwest of town, preserves the campsite where 10,000 American troops camped through the winter of 1779-1780. The infamous traitor Benedict Arnold was court-martialed in Morristown’s Dickerson Tavern in 1779.
Later on, Morristown continued to make its mark on American history when Samuel Morse worked at the Speedwell Iron Works to refine his telegraph equipment and develop his famous Morse Code, according to this article at Encyclopedia Britannica.
Today Morristown is largely residential, but still has an impressive commercial presence in the chemical, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and machinery industries, as well as research facilities. Our EarthCare team is proud to be a part of the Morristown community, and we offer the full range of residential and commercial services.
EarthCare’s Septic Pumping Services in Morristown
The most frequent and best advice we can offer to our customers to avoid septic system trouble is to have the septic tank pumped regularly. Sludge is the heavy solid layer captured by the septic tank to prevent it from flowing out and clogging the distribution of liquids to your septic system’s leach field. Unchecked sludge can lead to costly repairs and hazardous health conditions when it causes backflow to a home or business. This is why septic pumping is always the first step in our septic maintenance program.
We have a handy Septic Pumping Frequency Calculator to help you determine how often your septic tank should be pumped based on the needs of your individual household at the link above.
Residential and Commercial Septic Services at EarthCare
Our team of environmental professionals at EarthCare provides the full range of commercial and residential services to the Morristown community as well as the surrounding areas. Beyond our septic pumping services, we offer septic installation and repair, pipelining, drain cleaning, preventive maintenance, and certified septic inspections to meet local requirements. Don’t hesitate to contact us today to keep your septic system up and running.
Blog, Earth Care, Renewable Energy
Earthcare’s Contribution to Renewable Energy
Renewable energy is a concept whose time has truly come! Dwindling natural resources and the environmental impact resulting from extracting and harvesting them are not helping a crowded Earth sustain itself. Anytime we can “reuse” or transform one source of energy into a new one, we’re doing our bit to honor and care for our one and only planet!
The Benefits of Renewable Energy
- It won’t run out — ever! — unlike our current sources of energy like coal, oil and natural gas. All are finite. Renewable energy, on the other hand, is energy that we, our children, and our children’s children can use.
- Unlike foreign imports, most of the money used to create renewable energy is spent on the facilities, which are here — in the U.S. That means more jobs for our citizens.
- Besides helping create new jobs for U.S. citizens, sales of our technologies for harnessing and using renewable energy are sold overseas, adding to our export revenues.
Biomass
One form of renewable energy is biomass, which is plant and other waste broken down and used to produce electricity and fuel. When biomass is used in this way, it’s known as bioenergy. Here at Earthcare, we heat our office with bioenergy supplied to us by our sister company, Kline’s Services. They use a methane digester to help break down waste which becomes power to heat our office here in Salunga, Pennsylvania!
Septic System Care
Our mission at Earthcare is to extend the life of your home or commercial septic system through regular tank cleanings, preventive maintenance, and by making available the largest (400+ in all) — and best — fleet of vehicles providing liquid waste disposal services in the Tri-State area! We’re available 24/7 with fast, professional, environmentally compliant service when you need it!
Find your service area here or contact us today for more information about our services!
Blog, Earth Care, Septic Emergency
Septic Emergency? Baking Soda Might Help
If you have a septic tank, then you know that you don’t want to pour drain cleaner or anything else that kills bacteria into your tank when you have a septic emergency. Doing so can cause your septic tank to become less efficient, or even fail.
What to do in case of a Septic Emergency
This means when you have a drain clogged by hair or grime, you need other alternatives. One of them is something you likely already have in your kitchen: Baking soda. Baking soda loosens up the grime or hair. Then you follow up with vinegar. This causes a chemical reaction which knocks the clog loose. Yes, there should be some foaming from the culprit drain afterward. Finish off with hot water to make everything go away. The combination will not kill bacteria. Also, it does not have a bad smell and will actually clean up any bad smells.
So, baking soda is great for shower, bathroom, and floor drains where the clog is likely to be dirt, grime, hair and a bit of soap residue. However, it should never be used on kitchen drains. Baking soda is not effective for cleaning away fat, oil or grease. It simply doesn’t work – you just have fat clog coated in baking soda. For clogged kitchen drains try hot water on its own. If this isn’t effective, then consider a bacterial additive to encourage bacteria to eat the blockage. Again, you should still avoid using drain cleaner or detergent.
If all else fails, you should call a professional. If your septic emergency is not responding to these basic measures, then contact EarthCare to find out about our professional drain cleaning services.
Blog, Drain Cleaning, Earth Care
Clogged Drain? What Causes It
Do you have a clogged drain? It’s something we have all experienced at some point, and sometimes pouring drain cleaner down it doesn’t help much (and if you have a septic tank it is a bad idea anyway). Slow draining or gurgling indicate that you have a clog somewhere, and likely need drain cleaning. If multiple drains are affected, the blockage is somewhere past the point where they meet. But what causes it?
1. Hair. Humans shed. Pets shed even more. Hair is a common cause of clogs of the drain and shower, and could also clog a sink if it is being used to bathe a small dog or cat. The answer is to reduce hair buildup by using a drain strainer on your shower or tub. If you have a floor drain, consider a strainer on that one too.
2. Grease and oil. Kitchen clogs are most often caused by pouring grease and oil down the drain. Quick tip: Don’t. Pour liquid oil into a container – you can often take this in to be recycled. Hard grease should be scraped into the trash.
3. Food. Food scraps should go into the trash, not the drain. If you have a garbage disposal, use it as little as possible. (Garbage disposals should not be used with septic systems).
4. Hard paper. Never flush anything down a toilet other than human waste and toilet paper. Do not flush paper tissues, paper towels or feminine products. All of these can result in major clogs and a flooded bathroom.
If you do have a clog and nothing you have will shift it, especially if it affects multiple drains, then you need a professional drain cleaning service.
Contact Earthcare to find out about our professional drain cleaning services and how we can help you with stubborn clogs!
