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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.

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.

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 customers 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!

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.

Give your septic system a reason to celebrate by scheduling helpful services performed by the professional experts at Wind River. With a routine maintenance plan, your wastewater facilities will perform beautifully, and you won’t have to worry about inconvenient emergencies.

Services That Say, “Te Amo”
After perusing a menu of tacos, enchiladas, and burritos, consider our menu of services designed to keep your septic tank and lines clean so you can avoid clogs and backups. Here are some popular ones to consider:

• Septic Pumping – We’ll completely remove the sludge and wastewater from your septic tank or cesspool. This should be done every 1-2 years depending on your water consumption and tank size.
• Inspections – Periodic inspections help to detect and stop potential problems. Whether it’s a slow drain or damage to any component of your septic system, we’ll find the cause and fix it before it becomes a disastrous event.
• Drain Cleaning – To keep stubborn clogs from developing into a major problem, drain cleaning is the ideal solution. Snaking and jetting are some of our most popular services for both repairing and preventing septic issues.

Your System Will Say Gracias
While munching on chips and salsa and perhaps drinking a little Cerveza, take some time to remember your hardworking septic system. It works day and night so you can do cool stuff like take showers and flush your toilet. Pay it back with a thorough pump service, a comprehensive inspection, or a good drain cleaning. For more information on these or any of our other wastewater services, Contact Us.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!