Commercial
EarthCare’s National Program
If you own a chain of businesses that is spread out over several states, you recognize the convenience of having a single point of contact to handle all wastewater issues at all your locations. Imagine a world where a grease emergency in Maine and a septic disaster in South Carolina can be taken care of with one call. Ok, now stop imagining because EarthCare has made this a reality.
Taking Care of Business Across the Country
We call it our National Program. With this phenomenal service, EarthCare will take all wastewater-related maintenance of your businesses under our wing. There will be no need to keep track of a separate list of service providers or call around trying to find a septic company 500 miles away. We will take care of routine septic pumping, grease trap cleanings and emergency situations at all your sites with a single call to our office.
We have even mastered logistics to the point where we can tackle wastewater problems outside of our service area. It doesn’t matter if you’re headquartered in Boston and have a burger joint in West Virginia, we will make sure the grease trap in WV gets serviced even if you made a call to our Massachusetts office. That’s not all! We still offer discounts to our commercial customers, and this is not affected by our National Program. If you need help managing wastewater services for your franchise restaurants and businesses, Contact Us. We’ll save you a whole lot of time, money and headache.
Municipal
The Vital Role of Stabilized Lime in Wastewater Treatment
Have you ever wondered how wastewater is cleaned? When we pump your septic facilities and remove all the sludge, we then take it to an aerobic sequence batch reactor system to begin the process of filtration. A series of aerated tanks removes solid contaminants so that the effluent can be treated further at local wastewater plants and redistributed to homes as clean water.
The good news is that the remaining solid waste is not wasted either. By pushing it through a belt filter press and then treating it with lime, we create a Class B biosolid. The lime raises the pH of the sludge to 12, and this kills the pathogenic bacteria and viruses. The resulting biosolid can then be used for things such as fertilizer at farms.
At EarthCare we’re doing our part to minimize our environmental footprint, and we encourage you to participate. If your business or community would like to make sure its waste is being handled responsibly, Contact Us and let our guys discuss some earth-friendly options with you.
Commercial
Types of Drains that Benefit From Regular Cleaning
If you have a bathroom or kitchen clog, don’t automatically assume that it is a septic issue. It could simply be a blockage in your drain. When warning signs like foul odors or toilet backups occur, let an expert evaluate the problem. Many people make the mistake of trying to fix things on their own, but drain cleaning involves special equipment and expertise of a trained technician. Let’s take a look at what that entails.
Video Inspection
The days of guessing what’s going on in your pipes are over. With video technology, professionals can now diagnose a problem quickly and avoid a trial and error strategy. If there is a break or crack in your pipes, the video camera will see it enabling the technician to go directly to the damaged area. The same goes for clogs. The camera can pinpoint the exact location saving lots of valuable time. Imagine paying a plumber by the hour who does not have this capability.
Snaking
For soft blockages, snaking may be used to clear a drain. This is where a flexible auger is pushed through your pipes. The head of the “snake” has a helical screw blade designed to cut through waste and debris much like a screwdriver. You can manually push the snake through all that mess, but this can be very difficult and time consuming. Professionals have motorized augers of varying lengths with the ability to reach long distances.
Jetting
Harder blockages could require jetting. This is a very powerful type of drain cleaning that uses water pressure to clear drains. Concentrated water is forced out at 2000 to 4000 pounds per square inch. This is enough pressure to remove anything in your pipes like caked on debris or grease stuck to the inside walls. Believe it or not, water even has the strength to blast away a tree root. This method also serves as a great means of preventative maintenance.
All Types of Drains Need Preventative Maintenance
Whether it’s grease lines, restroom lines, or sink drain lines, all can use a good professional cleaning. The best way to avoid drainage problems is to schedule consistent preventative maintenance. With a regular maintenance plan, clogs are stopped before they can build up. A professional EarthCare technician can also offer items like filters and additives to aid your preventative routine. To learn more about professional drain cleaning services, Contact EarthCare or Request Service Now.
Residential
Why It’s Important to Have a Septic Filter
Today we’re discussing the septic filter, a gadget that attaches to your septic tank outlet. This spot is the gateway to your leach field and the last chance for effluent to be strained of harmful materials before flowing to the final stages of purification. Failure to sift out clog-causing particles can do expensive damage to your system, so it’s definitely worthwhile to invest in this inexpensive filter. Repairing a leach field can involve the inconvenience of excavating your yard along with not having plumbing use while the work is being done. Septic repairs are also not cheap.
Let Us Help
EarthCare offers a variety of septic filters so you can be sure we’ll have one perfect for your system. We can install it for you, and the maintenance is a breeze! During your regular septic pumping service, we simply clean the filter during the same appointment. With this routine service, your filter (and your septic system for that matter) should last for years to come. EarthCare can also perform inspections and drain cleaning services that will benefit your home’s wastewater flow. Allow our professionals to hook you up with a dependable septic filter as well as evaluate your water consumption and waste facilities to advise a suitable preventative maintenance plan. Contact Us to learn more!
Residential
Why Does Your Hot Water Run Out So Fast?
Unless you’re one of those crazy polar bear plunge participants, you probably aren’t a fan of cold showers. There are few things more uncomfortable than cold water covering your body, especially first thing in the morning after coming straight from your warm, snuggly bed. So why does this happen? If no other appliances have been running and no one else has used up all the hot water, the problem is likely the water heater.
What’s the Problem?
Before we consider malfunctions, let’s look at the size or quality of your water heater. Your family may have grown or you may have purchased a home from a smaller family, and the heater can no longer accommodate the hot water needs of the household. Also, a lower quality water heater with a low FHR (first hour rating) cannot supply a lot of hot water within a short time. However, if neither of these is the problem, it may be time to call a professional.
A trained technician may find build up in the tank. If you have hard water, there are minerals in it that collect in the tank and take up a lot of space over time. This sediment can also damage the tank, so it needs to be flushed out. Another problem could be a broken dip tube. This long component goes to the bottom of the water heater and releases the cold water to be heated by the heating element at the bottom. If it’s broken, the cold water doesn’t always reach the heating element before mixing in with the hot water.
Leave it to the Experts
Making repairs on a water heater is a dangerous job, so please leave it to the technicians at EarthCare. Our certified professionals have been specially trained to handle all types of water heaters and know what to do when trouble strikes. We also recommend having your water heater inspected on an annual basis to ensure uninterrupted hot water production for your business. Take advantage of our expertise, and Contact Us to inspect or service your water heater.
Residential
What’s Grosser Than Gross? Biggest Liquid Waste Disaster of the Month
The slope and landmarks on a property can really affect the way wastewater must be handled at a residence. This month’s liquid waste disaster showcases this point perfectly. One of our customers lives near a brook, and the water table is so high that their basement often floods. Naturally, their solution was to install a sump pump to prevent this.
All was well until the sump pump decided to stop working on the same night as a rain storm. The customer called us saying their basement was flooded with a few inches of standing water. We sent a team to make the repairs and had the sump pump operational in no time. Thanks to the knowledgeable experts at EarthCare, we saved these customers from paying thousands in serious water damage costs. No matter what your waste-related issue may be, Contact Us for quick and quality service.
Commercial
What is a Sugar Snake?
It sounds both sweet and terrifying. We often find these in restaurants and convenience stores that use soft drink machines or other sugary products. The sugar builds up inside drain lines and feeds bacteria living in the drain. The bacteria then colonizes and grows, forming into the shape of the drain line concealing it, which resembles a snake—hence the name. Eventually, it gets so thick that liquid cannot pass through it causing a major clog that must be removed. Typical drain products do not work on sugar snakes, so you need professional help to defeat these monsters.
We’ll Save You!
Sugar snakes don’t stand a chance against the valiant techs at EarthCare. They are armed with Pro Clean, a liquid enzyme that breaks down the sugar build up. To further simplify your life, we can attach a dispenser that automatically releases the enzyme as the soda machine is used. This keeps the drain line clean and free of pesky sugar snakes. To learn more, or to have one of our guys install a customized dispenser at your facility, Contact Us.
Residential
Learn About the Different Services Our Septic Repair Crew Provides
You already know you can rely on EarthCare for your routine septic pumping service, but did you know we also handle other aspects of your system? When it comes to septic, here are a few other reasons cu
stomers are calling us for help.
Cover: The septic cover is a prime health hazard if damaged or poorly fitted. We repair and replace covers with ease and offer a variety of shapes and sizes suitable for any model.
Build Up: Some septic systems have covers that are buried fairly deep which makes it inconvenient when it’s time to service them. Build ups, also called risers, can be fitted to raise your cover bringing it closer to the surface. This makes access easier and saves on excavation costs. We carry an assortment of these as well for customer convenience.
Line Repair: The main line is what carries waste from your home to the septic tank, so it’s important to keep it functioning. Any breaks or cracks should be handled as soon as possible by an experienced EarthCare professional.
Inlet/Outlet Tees and Baffles: All tanks have an inlet where waste enters the tank and an outlet where it exits. At each of these openings is a T-shaped piping. Some older units use baffles instead of the tees. Over time, these will rust (if made of metal) or corrode. It is important to have a professional replace these because there are too many factors at play that can ruin the efficiency of your tank. Baffles that are improperly connected can promote corrosion, tees must be correctly sealed to keep the tank watertight, and even the angle of the pipes can make a huge difference. If replacing a wall baffle with a tee, there is even more room for error so don’t entrust this to amateurs.
Let Us Help
Regrettably, there are folks that try to tackle these jobs on their own or hire a less experienced team to save a few bucks. This is not a good decision for the long term. Not only will EarthCare technicians perform repairs and replacements correctly, they can foresee problems before they develop. To ask questions or schedule service with the experts, Contact Us. We look forward to serving you!
Residential
Find Out Why Your Toilet is Flushing Slowly
We’ve all experienced the slow toilet and watched nervously after the flush, wondering if it would overflow this time. We don’t want you to deal with this type of stress, so let’s look at reasons your toilet could be flushing slowly and provide solutions.
You Need Septic Pumping
If it has been at least 1 year since you last had a pump service, it could be that time again. We’ll evaluate your household and water consumption to determine how frequently you should schedule this.
A Foreign Object
Do you have kids in your home who might think it’s great fun to watch their toy swim down the toilet? You’d be amazed at the things our guys retrieve from people’s toilet lines.
Toilet Paper and Other Items
Are you using a brand of toilet paper that is septic safe? This can make a difference, and we recommend using a 1-ply variety. You also want to throw things like feminine products, paper towels, food waste, and pet litter in the trash.
Not Using Bacterial Additives
Sometimes, harsh ingredients in household cleaning products are washed down the drains and kill that good bacteria that breaks down waste. Adding a product like CCLS helps to keep your lines clear and smelling fresh.
What’s the Fix?
For continual slow toilets, call the professionals because they have special tools to find the problem and get rid of it. Innovative companies like EarthCare even have advanced video equipment that can quickly troubleshoot and remove inaccurate guesswork from the diagnostic process. For the worst clogs, your drains could call for water jetting, where water pressure of up to 4000 pounds per square inch is used to flush out anything and everything in your pipes. However, our ideal scenario involves preventative maintenance where none of this is necessary. Contact us, and we can tailor a personalized program to keep slow drains and toilets away.
Commercial
May’s Messiest Drain Award
Imagine the surprise when an alarm was going off in a local grocery store, and no one could figure out where it was coming from. It wasn’t the security system or the smoke alarm, so the staff called us for help when they finally gave up trying to find the source. We sent one of our technicians right away to investigate.
He discovered the alarm was connected to their indirect waste pit which was almost full, so he called a crew to come and pump out the pit. While working, the guys noticed the outlet line was also clogged with heavy debris and needed to be cleaned out. This required the services of our confined space entry team who was able to safely enter the pit and use the jetter to clear the outlet pipe.
Thankfully the EarthCare team is capable of performing a variety of services, so these three tasks could be handled quickly by a single company. The manager of the store was grateful for our expertise and ability to prevent a potential disaster. We’d love to do the same for you. To learn more about our wastewater services or to schedule an appointment, Contact Us.
