What Causes Sewer Line Clogs

May 16th, 2012 Posted in Sewer Lines
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There can be all kinds of reasons for a sewer line clog, but the most common causes include deposits or build-ups of grease, oil, hair, and food waste flushed down the drain, foreign objects that get flushed down the toilet or drain, tree roots, and a collapsed sewer line.  In most cases, the clog is caused by two or more of these factors.  The good news is that no matter what the cause, your sewer-septic professional is an expert at clearing clogged sewer lines and can diagnose the problem and provide you with a cost effective solution that will get your sewer line flowing freely again.

Even if you don’t flush pure grease and oil down the drain, food waste and even human waste contains oils that adhere to the walls of your sewer line. Over time, the greasy build up accumulates other material such as hair, coffee grounds, food particles, egg shells, and other material and builds up inside the pipe.  Eventually, it blocks the pipe and causes a clog.

Foreign objects such a child’s toy or a wash cloth can also get stuck in the greasy deposits and begin to accumulate other material such as toilet paper and hair.  A clog will quickly form behind a foreign object lodged in your sewer pipe.

Tree roots are attracted to the moisture inside the sewer pipe and will infiltrate any cracks or joints in a sewer line, no matter how small.  The roots will then grow, expanding the crack and allowing more roots to enter.  Eventually, the roots will form a mat of roots inside the pipe that quickly accumulates oil, grease, hair, paper, and all sorts of other material and forms a tough clog.

Finally, your sewer line can become clogged if it fully or partially collapses.  This is a common problem with older cast iron or Orangeburg sewer lines.  These types of clogs cannot be cleared.  Instead, you will need a sewer line replacement or repair.

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Keep Your Septic System Healthy With Regular Septic Tank Inspections

May 10th, 2012 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping
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For most homes that are not connected to a municipal sewer system, a well-designed and properly installed septic system is a reliable, effective way to treat and dispose of household waste water.  Regular septic tank inspections and periodic septic tank pumping are the keys to keeping a septic system working smoothly.

A septic system should be inspected by an experienced sewer-septic professional every other year and pumped as needed.  During the inspection, the sludge level and scum level will be measured and your inspector will tell you if septic tank pumping is needed.   The average septic tank system will need to be pumped every three to five years.

In addition to measuring the sludge and scum levels, the inspection will include checking the condition of the tank and making sure any mechanical components are working properly.  The inspector will usually flush all of the toilets and run the water in the home for a short period to see how the septic system handles the water flow.

Some septic systems have a filter in the outlet line or near the distribution box that will be cleaned as part of the inspection.  Finally, the inspector will make a visual inspection of the drain field for any signs of a drain field failure.

An inspection can catch a small problem with your septic system before it becomes a serious concern.  A septic system failure that allows solid material to flow into the drain field will quickly clog the drain field.  There are some methods to attempt to clear a clogged drain field, but in most cases the drain field is just abandoned and a new drain field is installed. Regular septic tank inspections will help avoid these serious problems with you septic system.

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Warning Signs Of Septic System Problems

May 10th, 2012 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping
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Most American homes that do not have municipal sewer service use a septic system to treat and dispose of household waste water.  The waste water is routed to a septic tank where it is held for about 48 hours to allow the solid material to separate from the liquid and settle to the bottom of the tank.

The liquid effluent flows to the drain field and leaches into the soil where it is treated and purified through natural biological action.  Most of the solid material left in the tank is decomposed by bacteria, but over time a layer of sludge accumulates and must be pumped out of the tank.  The frequency of septic tank pumping varies, but every three to five years is common.

Most septic systems have no electrical components and very few moving parts.  They are usually very reliable systems unless they have been abused through overloading, failing to have the tank pumped, or flushing chemicals or non-organic material down the drain.

Raw sewage backing up into your home is an obvious indication that there is a problem with your septic system, but there are other more subtle signs that a problem may be developing.  For example, smelly, wet, mushy areas around the drain field are an indication of a clogged septic field.  Strong sewage odors in the drain lines or around the septic tank are cause for concern as are slow drains.

If you notice any of these problems, have the septic system checked out by a sewer septic professional right away.  Septic system problems usually get worse over time and you may be able to avoid more expensive repairs by addressing the problem as soon as you notice it.

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Proper Tank Size Is Critical For An Effective Septic System

May 10th, 2012 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping
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If you are building a new home with a septic system or replacing the septic system at an existing home, properly sizing the tank is important to ensure the septic system operates properly and provides many years of reliable service.   The main components of a septic system are the drain line that collects the waste water from the residence, the septic tank, and the drain field (or leach field).

The drain line routes the waste water to the septic tank where it is held for about 48 hours to allow solid material to settle to the bottom and form the sludge layer and grease and oil to rise to the surface to form the scum layer.  A series of baffles hold the sludge layer and scum layer in the tank while allowing the liquid effluent to flow into the drain field where it percolates into the soil.

Installing a septic tank that is too small will cause it to be overloaded with wastewater.  The solid material will not have sufficient time to sink to the bottom or float to the top and will instead flow out into the leach field with the effluent where it will clog the drain field and ultimately cause the system to back up or for untreated sewage to make its way to the surface of your yard.

On the other hand, installing a septic tank that is oversized does not cause much of a problem.  In fact, you may be able to go longer between scheduled septic tank pumping.  Be careful not to get complacent – have the system inspected every couple years to see if it is time to have the septic tank pumped.

 

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Understanding Septic Tanks

May 10th, 2012 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping
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Most septic tank and septic system failure can be traced to the homeowner’s misunderstanding of how their septic system works and what maintenance is needed for reliable operation.  Since they don’t know any better, they abuse their septic system and then complain when it fails.

For this reason, septic systems have earned an undeserved reputation for being unreliable.  The reality is that if a septic system is properly designed and installed, if the homeowner treats the system with care and has regular septic tank pumping, a septic system should give reliable service for 20 to 30 years or more.

Unfortunately, the old adage “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it” doesn’t apply to septic systems.  A septic system needs to be pumped periodically even though it is working perfectly.  The frequency of the pumping varies, but every three to five years is typical.  If you have the system inspected annually, your septic system professional will let you know when the tank is getting full.

If you wait until there is a problem with the septic system to have the tank pumped, it will be too late.  The damage to your septic system will already have been done.  A septic system is designed to hold solid waste material in the tank and allow the fluid effluent to flow into the septic field where it percolates into the soil.  Failing to periodically pump the solid material out of the septic tank will allow too much solid material to accumulate in the tank and it will flow out into the septic field where it will clog the leach field.

A clogged leach field or drain field is very expensive to repair if it can be repaired at all.  Avoid this problem by having the septic tank pumped regularly.

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Taking Care of Your Septic Leach Field

April 12th, 2012 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping
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The septic field (also called a drain field or leach field) is a critical part of a septic system.  A properly designed and installed septic field can last for 30 years or more, but if it is abused it will fail much more quickly.  The leach field is a series of perforated pipes buried underground that allow the liquid waste from your home to seep into the ground where it is treated through natural processes.

If the septic field is unable to handle the volume of water flowing from the house, wastewater will begin backing up into the home.  Only a little bit of care is needed to prevent this from happening.  First, have the septic tank pumped regularly.  Septic tank pumping every three to five years is usually enough.  Failing to pump the septic tank will allow solid material to flow into the septic field and clog up the system.

While a septic tank can be pumped, there is not a way to clean out a septic field.  A clogged septic field is simply abandoned and new leach field will have to be installed.  Installing a new leach field is very expensive.

Avoid disposing of paints, grease, solvent and other such materials down the drain.  These materials can flow into the septic field and clog the soil around the leach lines causing them to back up.

In addition, don’t drive or park cars on top of the septic field.  The area was probably cleared when the drain field was installed making it an attractive area for parking vehicles when there is no room in the driveway, but parking cars over the drain field can compact the soil or cause broken pipes.  The same goes for installing an above ground swimming pool, basketball or tennis court, storage shed, patio, or anything else.  Leave the area over the septic field clear.

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How Long Should a Septic Leach Field Last?

April 12th, 2012 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping
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Whether installing a new septic system or buying a home with an existing septic system, many homeowners are concerned with how long the septic system will last.  Homeowners are concerned about the entire system, but the reality is that it will probably be the leach field that fails and backs up the entire system.

A septic system is a simple concept that does a very complex job.  A septic system consists of a drain line that collects the household waste and allows it to flow into the septic tank.  A septic tank is little more than a large concrete or plastic tank with a few baffles in it.  At the other end of the tank toward the top is a pipe that is connected to a distribution box.  The leach lines are connected to the distribution box.

As mentioned, the septic tank is just a large holding tank where solid material settles out of the wastewater.  Other than cracking or disintegrating over time, there is not much that can go wrong with the septic tank as long as it is regularly pumped.  Regular septic tank pumping will remove the accumulated solid material and allow the septic tank to continue to do its work.

If the septic tank is pumped regularly, only effluent should be getting into the leach field and a properly designed leach field should be able to handle the effluent and last 30 years or more.  Where people get into problems is with poor maintenance, especially waiting too long between septic tank pumping.  If too much solid material accumulates in the septic tank, it will flow into the leach field and clog the lines and the soil beneath the leach lines.  In these conditions, the leach field can fail in just a few years.

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Clearing Sewer and Drain Lines With Hydro Jetting

April 12th, 2012 Posted in Drain Lines
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High pressure hydro jetting is a modern technique for clearing many types of tough clogs from sewer lines and drain lines.  Hydro jetting shoots water pressurized to about 3,000 psi in a circular pattern through a special spray nozzle.  The nozzle and hose is inserted into the clogged line through a clean out and sprays the inside of the pipe with the highly pressurized water.

Hydro jetting breaks up and flushes away many types of clogs including tree roots, paper products, grease, sludge, and other debris.  The high pressure jets of water break up the clog and the debris flows down the drain line. Hydro jetting is done from “downstream” of the clog so that all of the material can be safely flushed out of the sewer line.

Hydro jetting can be more effective than clearing out a clog with a plumbing snake.  A plumbing snake punches through a clog, but it leaves a lot of material behind.  This leftover material is a great place for a new clog to start forming.  Hydro jetting removes all of the foreign material without damaging the inside of the pipe.  Hydro jetting leaves the inside of the pipe in nearly new condition.

Hydro jetting will remove all of the tree roots inside a pipe, but they will immediately start growing back again and a clog will form again in a few months or year.  Your sewer-septic professional will be able to help you choose from several options including chemical treatment to prevent or impede root growth or replacing that section of sewer line.

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Sewer Line Relining

April 8th, 2012 Posted in Sewer Lines
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If your home needs sewer line repairs, one alternative to digging up the sewer line or replacing it is sewer line relining.  If your sewer line is a good candidate, a relining can be an excellent alternative to replacement or traditional repair of the existing sewer line.

There are some slightly different techniques in use for relining a sewer line, but they all create a new inner wall for your sewer line rather than replacing it.  The first step in any sewer line relining is to thoroughly clean the inside of the old sewer line using high pressure hydro jetting.

Once the sewer line is clean, it is inspected with a video camera to make sure it is in good enough condition and ready for the relining process.  Some techniques spray the inside of the sewer line with an epoxy type material that dries to create a new inner wall of the sewer line.

Other techniques insert a flexible PVC or fiberglass liner which coated with epoxy.  Once the liner is in place, an inflatable tube is inserted inside the liner and inflated which presses the liner against the walls of the old sewer line. Once the cement has dried, the inflatable tube is removed and the relined pipe is ready for use.

In order for relining to work, your old sewer line must be in reasonably good condition. A collapsed sewer line cannot be relined and if the pipe is broken, the ends must still be aligned.

Relining requires very little digging.  In some cases, your plumber or sewer septic professional may be able to get access through a clean out and no digging at all will be necessary.

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Repair or Replace Your Sewer Line

April 8th, 2012 Posted in Sewer Lines
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If you are having problems with your sewer line, you will likely have to make a decision whether to repair the existing sewer line or whether to replace it.  Replacing is sewer line is an expensive proposition, but sometimes trying to repair it is just throwing good money after bad.

Your plumber or sewer septic contractor can help you with the decision making process.  They have high tech video cameras that can be used to inspect the inside of the sewer line and provide you with information on its condition.

Repairing the sewer line will usually be much less expensive than replacing it and is the right thing to do if you have good access to the pipe and the rest of the sewer line is in good condition.  Don’t spend money on sewer line repairs for a pipe that is poor condition.

Other considerations include whether the sewer line is properly sized for the home in the first place.  If the sewer line was undersized to begin with, or if the home has been expanded and there are many more occupants than it was originally designed for, then the sewer line will be a constant source of problems until it is replaced with the properly sized sewer line.

If your sewer line is bellied or collapsed, a replacement is the better alternative.  In addition, make sure the pipe is made from the proper material.  For example, Orangeburg pipe is a type of fibrous sewer pipe that was installed in many homes around the country 40 or 50 years ago.  This type of pipe deteriorates over time and is not worth repairing.

If your sewer line is in good shape, you may be able to have it repaired without digging by having it relines. If you have to replace the pipe, trenchless pipe replacement is an alternative method of pipe replacement that requires much less digging that traditional trenching techniques.

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