Why Do Septic Tanks Need to be Pumped?

August 16th, 2014 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping
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Regularly scheduled inspections and pump-outs are essential in the long-term care and function of a septic system. While improper use (i.e. allowing things to go down the drain that should not enter the system) is a common cause of septic tank failures, negating the responsibility of having a septic tank pumped regularly is also a huge cause of system failure. A septic tank is meant to handle only so much waste at a time and for a specific amount of time. Proper system maintenance is the responsibility of the homeowner, and by keeping maintenance as a priority homeowners can save money on costly repairs and promote the longevity of their septic systems.

Having the septic tank pumped every three to five years is one of the best ways to ensure that a septic system will last for its projected lifetime. The frequency of septic tank pumping will depend on the usage, number of people living in a home, and whether or not a garbage disposal is attached to the kitchen plumbing. Homes without a garbage disposal can typically go three to five years between pump-outs, while homes with a garbage disposal should have their tanks pumped every year.

Septic tanks need to be pumped so that the solid wastes inside of the tanks do not exceed a certain level. The bacteria that live inside a septic tank can only break down so much waste. After a few years, the waste will begin to override the capacity of the bacteria’s function to properly breakdown and dispose of it. Septic tank pumping will empty the tank of waste so that the bacteria can start over with the amount that they are required to handle.

Only licensed professionals should pump out a septic tank to ensure that it is done properly.

Posted on behalf of Bynum & Sons Plumbing, Inc.

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Daily Tricks For A Long Lasting Septic System

July 16th, 2014 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping
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If you own a home with a septic system, the biggest fear is needing to replace that system. Having a new septic installed can be very expensive, as well as inconvenient. However, there are tricks to keeping your existing system working well for many years to come. While regular maintenance and pumping from your local septic service company are important, there are things your family can do every day to reduce wear on your septic system.

What Goes Down The Drain Must Come Out

Anything that goes down the drain must be processed by your septic system. One of the simplest ways to increase the life of a septic system is to have house rules on water usage. Never leave water running to go straight down the drain. Have a container that fits into your kitchen sink to rinse vegetables and dishes. Then dispose of the water outside or water your houseplants with it. Teach your entire family tricks to conserve water and reduce the impact on your septic system. Other tricks include being aware of:

  • Garbage disposals. Be very careful with what you put into your garbage disposal. High fiber vegetable or fruit  peels, grease, coffee grounds and other difficult to process items can wreak havoc on a septic system. Try starting a compost pile for some of these items instead of putting them through the disposal.
  • Leaks and drips. Make sure to fix dripping or leaking faucets promptly to reduce the amount of water going down the drain.
  • Water efficient fixtures. Change your water fixtures such as toilets, shower heads and faucets to water efficient options in order to reduce the amount of water you use.

Allowing less water and debris to go down the drains of your home every day can make a big difference on the longevity of your septic system. Combined with regular septic tank pumping by your local septic company, you can extend the life of septic by many years.

Posted on behalf of Bynum & Sons Plumbing, Inc.

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Septic Tank Maintenance Tips

October 10th, 2013 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping
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Annual inspection and regular septic tank pumping is essential to the continued health and performance of your septic system. Between yearly appointments, it’s still important that you understand the basics of septic system maintenance to prevent costly repairs and to lengthen the life of your system overall.

One of the most effective ways of caring for your septic system on a daily basis is to invest in low-flow plumbing fixtures, and to make an effort to conserve water whenever possible. Remember that the more water that flows from your faucets, the more that goes down the drain. Run dishwashers and washing machines with full loads, and repair leaks as soon as they’re noticed.

Make an effort to keep fats, oils and grease from your septic system by not pouring them down the drain. Also, don’t dump household chemicals down the drain or flush them down the toilet. Bleach should be used sparingly as well, as large quantities can upset the delicate bacterial balance in your septic system.

Flushing diapers, baby wipes and feminine hygiene products can have a detrimental effect on your septic system. Only flush human waste and biodegradable toilet paper down your toilet. It’s also best to skip the installation of a garbage disposal in the kitchen if your home relies upon a septic system.

With regular maintenance and careful daily use, your septic system can last for many years. If you do run into problems or have questions, consult a professional septic and sewer company in your area. Together, you and your chosen service provider can ensure a long and productive life for your septic system.

Posted on behalf of Shawn Bynum, Bynum Plumbing

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What to Do If Your Septic System Freezes

September 5th, 2013 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping
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Rarely do we ever consider the possibility of our septic system freezing until it actually happens, or your hear of it happening to someone else. If your septic system has been functioning properly, has had regular inspections and septic tank pumping, and winter presents with a heavy blanket of insulating snow with moderate temperatures, then chances are good that your system should be fine. However, caught unaware by a cold, snowless winter without having placed insulating mulch over your system, cracked or missing pipe covers, leaky faucets and running toilets, you just may discover that your septic system is frozen.

If you are experiencing a backup of wastewater into your drains, you will want to shut off all running water in your home. Frankly, the next best course of action that you can take is to call your local septic service professional right away. Dealing with a frozen septic system is not a job that you want to do yourself; this is one of the jobs that is truly best left to the professionals. To attempt to remedy this situation without a professional could cause further costly damage to either your septic system or your home.

You can rest assured that your local septic tank professional has the experience and equipment to tackle the problem. Sometimes they will try to unfreeze the tank or piping with steamers, hot water from high-pressure jets, applying heat tape to the pipes or a heater to the tank itself. Above all, do not add any anti-freeze or other chemicals to reverse the freezing, as they will harm the natural bacteria in your tank needed for the breakdown of waste.

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The All Important Septic Tank

January 31st, 2013 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping
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The size of your septic tank will vary depending on the size of your home the estimated number of inhabitants. Local regulations will dictate the size of tank required for the home based on this estimated number of inhabitants. A 1,000-gallon tank is a very common size for a standard size home.

The tank is built to be watertight and may be constructed of concrete, steel, fiberglass or plastic. The tank will also have an access cover on the top of the tank. The cover is generally buried until access is required for septic tank pumping or other maintenance issues. The tank will located several feet away from the home, as per local codes. It will also be located a proper distance from the home’s well as dictated by local health regulations.

The tank will be gravity fed through sewage lines from the house. As the waste fills the tank, the solid waste settles to the lower portion of the tank where bacteria immediately begin the decomposition process. The wastewater that has separated from the solid waste continues its journey downward through the septic system via gravity to the distribution box. From their the water is dispersed into the numerous trenches of the drain field of a conventional septic system.

The most critical purpose of the septic tank is the separation and decomposition of the solid waste. If the solid waste is not able to separate and settle to the lower part of the tank, solid waste can end up clogging the distribution box and/or drain field. The active work of bacteria in the tank to decompose the solid waste is also critical. When operating properly, bacteria can eliminate up to 90% of the solid waste that comes into the tank.

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Recognizing When Your Septic Tank Needs Pumping

December 20th, 2012 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping
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Every home that has a septic tank installed will have to go through the process of having the septic tank pumped. Regular septic tank pumping is recommended but the frequency will depend on the size of the tank and the size of the household.  It typically ranges between 2-3 years.

If you have recently moved into a house with a septic system, you may not know when the tank was last pumped so the best thing to do in this situation is have a professional sewer- septic system company come in and service your system. They will be able to ensure that it is all working efficiently and advise you on when it should next be pumped.

There are other signs that you should be aware of which indicate that your tank needs to be pumped. Many of the more modern units come with a light or alarm that goes off as soon as your tank is full. When this happens it means you need to arrange to have your tank pumped as soon as possible or run the risk of causing damage.

A bad odor is a strong indication that there is an issue with your septic tank and immediate action by a sewer-septic professional is probably necessary.  A bad smell coming from the tank can be a sign that there is a leak or damage to the drain field line but if this is not the case the small is likely down to the tank being full.

Either way a professional will be able to identify the problem and provide a solution quickly and properly. Wet patches in the drain field as well as back up of waste into the toilet are both further signs that it is time to get your septic tank pumped.

 

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Regular Septic Tank Pumping

December 20th, 2012 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping
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It is a fairly common misconception that septic tank pumping is only necessary when the septic tank starts showing signs of damage or working less efficiently than it has in the past. In reality if it is already obvious that the septic tank is full through signs such as the toilet is backing up or the drain field has an unusually bad smell, you have already waited too long for septic tank pumping. That is why it is essential to have your septic tank pumped regularly rather than waiting until the last minute.

Septic systems work by separating the waste as it enters into the tank into three sections. The solid waste known as sludge settles in the bottom and grease and other lightweight substances known as scum float the surface. The liquid waste in the middle is released into the drain field and is known as effluent. Over time the sludge at the bottom builds up leaving less and less space for new waste to be separated and for effluent to slowly seep out.

As space inside the tank decreases, it becomes easier for solid waste to escape and this can lead to the soil absorption system becoming clogged. At this point any new waste coming into the system has nowhere to go causing the plumbing inside to back up, leading to an unpleasant odor not only around the tank but also inside your house.

Hiring a professional septic tank pumper once every couple of years can help keep your septic system in good working condition. Regular septic tank pumping to prevent damage and blockages will save you a great deal or time, money and hassle.

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Extend the Life of Your Septic System

November 8th, 2012 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping
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If you are one of the millions of homeowners who rely on a septic system rather than the municipal sewer to dispose of household waster watery,  in order to keep your septinc system operation to the best of its capabilities it is important to keep it well maintained. Neglecting to do so can lead to problems and damage, which in some cases can be difficult and expensive to repair. Through practicing a few good habits you can ensure that your septic system is kept in good condition and avoid any unexpected repair costs.

First of all it’s important that the right size tank is installed and this depends on the size of the household. There is a limit to how much wastewater and sewage a system can handle, so minimizing the amount of wastewater sent through the system is beneficial. This can be achieved through the use of low flow showerheads and toilets. A clothes washer with a high efficiency function can also make a difference as well as a number of other things such as turning the tap off whilst brushing your teeth or washing the dishes.

Another way in which you can extend the life of your septic system is though careful consideration of the cleaning products that you purchase and use. Septic tanks work via the naturally occurring bacteria breaking down waste that is put into the system. Certain chemical products are harmful and can kill the important bacteria, which will have a direct effect on the functioning of the system. A professional will be able to offer advice on the best kinds of cleaning product to use to maximise the life of your septic system.

Finally regular septic tank pumping and septic system inspections are critical for the long term health of your septic system.  Have the system inspected every other year and have the septic tank pumped as needed.  Your septic system inspector will let you know when it it time for septic tank pumping, but plan on having the septic tank pumped every three to five years.

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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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Septic System Myths

January 5th, 2012 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping, Uncategorized
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Septic systems seem to generate a lot of misinformation and myths.  It’s easy to understand why this is so.  Most of the system is buried out of sight and does its magic without any input from the homeowner.  Once we flush the toilet or drained the sink it’s “out of sight and out of mind” until something goes wrong.  In addition, most homeowners don’t understand how a septic system works so it’s easy to take any information at face value.

One such myth is that septic systems are maintenance free.  Your septic system, like any other mechanical system, needs regular maintenance to stay in top operating condition.  Fortunately, a good septic system only needs to be inspected annually or every other year and usually needs to be pumped out every three or four years.

Septic tank pumping is another source of misinformation.  Many homeowners mistakenly believe that septic tank pumping is only necessary if the system starts to backup or have other problems.  The reality is that you should have your septic tank pumped before a problem occurs, usually every three to four years.  Waiting until the system fails will damage the system, leading to expensive repairs and a shorters useful life.

Healthy septic systems also don’t need any additives to work properly.  A septic system is designed to use naturally present bacteria in the septic tank and septic field to treat the wastewater.  Using additives will harm the helpful natural bacteria and reduce the effectiveness of the septic system.

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