5 Ways to Make Your Septic System Last

If you have a septic system, it is likely the most expensive “system” in your home. The cost of replacing a septic system is usually much more than a HVAC, gutters or even some roof replacements. Given the high price tag, you want to ensure your septic system lasts as long as possible. The good news is many homeowners will never need to replace their septic system in their lifetime if they protect it. Here are five ways to protect your septic system and make it last for decades.

Limit What You Put Down the Drain

First and foremost, protecting your septic system starts with disposal in your home. Limiting water use with water-efficient fixtures and practices is important. You should also keep damaging substances out of your drains such as: chemicals, antibacterial cleansers, non-organic materials, feminine hygiene products and grease/fats.

Protect Your Sewer Lines

Do not let vehicles or heavy machinery drive over where your sewer lines and underground pipes are located to protect them from damage.

Pump Tank as Needed

Do not let your septic tank get too full. You should have it pumped as needed, usually every three to five years.

Routine Inspections

You should have a professional inspect your septic system once a year to check tank levels and all the equipment. Replace parts and components as needed to prevent emergency breakdown issues.

Use a Professional for Repairs

Do not try to fix septic problems on your own. Considering the value of your system, spend the money to have a professional complete all repairs.

If you keep up with maintenance on your septic system and protect it from harm, you can postpone replacement for years. It is worth the investment of time and money to make your septic system last.

Posted on behalf of:
Kiddco Plumbing Inc
Sterling, VA 20166
(703) 435-4441

Tips on How to Maintain Your Septic System

Caring for your septic system is crucial, especially if you want to avoid expensive repairs or replacement. While your septic will run fine on its own, if regular maintenance and preventive care are not completed, you can be caught off guard with a major issue. If you are new to owning a septic system, there are a few things you should know to keep it running like clockwork. Here are some simple tips to maintain your septic system.

Reduce Waste

Everything you put down the drain must be handled by your septic system. Reduce wear on your system and minimize the frequency of pumping by limiting what you put down the drain. Keep items that won’t dissolve or breakdown out of your tank, such as: coffee grounds, cotton products, latex products, “flushable” wipes, fibrous produce, fats/oils and chemicals. Also reduce water waste by using water efficient fixtures and good water reduction habits.

Protect Your Drain Field

Keep vehicles and heavy equipment off your drain field. Occasionally inspect your drain field for odd plant growth, bad odors and pooling. If you notice anything strange, call your local septic service company.

Maintain Your Equipment

Your septic system has pumps, pipes and other equipment that will need repair or parts replaced. If you are not familiar with septic systems, leave inspecting and repairing your system to the professionals. Schedule a septic tank inspection and service at least once a year to catch issues before they become big, expensive problems.

Pumping

Make sure you are on a regular pumping schedule. A full septic tank can lead to a sewer backup or septic failure. Your maintenance crew can let you know when you should have your tank pumped and get you on a regular schedule.

Posted on behalf of:
Septic Service Pro, LLC
Peachtree Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30334

(678) 292-8728

Tips for Extending the Life of Your Septic System

Replacing your septic system is one of the more expensive home improvement projects you may face as a homeowner, right up there with a new roof or furnace replacement. However, you can maintain your septic system to help extend its life for many years. Here are a few tips to reduce wear on your septic system and get the longest life possible out of your investment.

  • Reduce water use. Not only should water be conserved as a natural resource, excess use can put extra wear on your septic system. Use low-flow fixtures and appliances to reduce the amount of water you use in your home to reduce the pressure on your septic system.
  • Watch what goes down the drain. Many household items can cause problems in your septic system if allowed to be washed or flushed down the drain. Keep fats, grease, medications, bleach, paint, chemicals, anti-bacterial cleaners and anything non-biodegradable out of your drains and septic system.
  • Adhere to regular inspections and maintenance. Your septic system needs maintenance to keep it in good working order. Have a professional septic service company do a thorough inspection once a year on your entire system and do any maintenance needed, including septic tank pumping and repairs. Replacing parts like baffles and filters as they wear out helps reduce the chance of septic failure and the need for a complete system replacement.

Septic systems can last for decades if maintained at a high level. It is worth the investment of time, money and effort to reduce the wear and tear on your septic system to extend the life for many years to come.

Posted on behalf of:
A-Flo Free Septic
Lawrenceville, GA 30046
(770) 927-7926

Preparing Your Septic System for Summer

For many families, summer means more time spent at home, entertaining and overnight guests. Kids are out of school and the warm weather is perfect for hosting parties and family reunions at your home. If you own a house with a septic system, this can mean extra stress on your system throughout the summer. Before your guest rooms are full, now is the time to make sure your septic system is ready for the busy summer ahead. Here are a few tips to ensure your septic is ready for extra use.

  • Schedule an inspection. The best way to gauge the effectiveness of your septic system is to have a full inspection from your local septic service. A professional can inspect the tank and drain field to ensure everything is in good working order.
  • Considering tank pumping. Talk to your septic professional about pumping your tank. Even if you would normally not need a pumping for another six months, if you have an excessive amount of guests coming this summer, you may want to schedule the pumping now versus later.
  • Guest education. If you have family or guests that are not familiar with septic system limitations, you may want to print up a friendly reminder for your guests to put in your bathrooms. A list of what cannot be flushed down the toilet (wipes, cotton balls, cotton swabs, feminine hygiene products, etc.) could prevent a big septic mess later.

Nothing can ruin a party quicker than a septic backup – preventive maintenance can go a long way in making sure your summer soirees are not interrupted by a septic problem. Call your local septic service today to schedule your annual maintenance.

Posted on behalf of:
Septic Service Pro, LLC
Peachtree Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30334
(678) 292-8728

Benefits of Camera Septic Inspections

Although you would never want to climb into your sewer pipes, looking inside those pipes is the best way to see what is happening inside your septic system. Advanced digital technology now allows professional septic services to complete a more thorough inspection of your septic system with the use of small digital video cameras. Getting an inside view of your tank, pipes and drain field can help detect any issues, making it faster and easier to keep your septic system working smoothly.

While camera inspections can be used to diagnose a problem in your septic or sewer system, they can also be a useful tool for preventive maintenance. When used as part of your annual service, preventative measures can be used when potential issues are caught on camera. Some of the benefits of using a camera inspection include

  • Detect clogs. A video camera inspection can detect any tree roots that have begun to grow into your sewer pipes or any other type of clog that is forming
  • Deterioration. Sewer lines and pipes can become cracked or corroded, causing leaks.  Camera inspections can catch deterioration before it causes problems.
  • Evaluate the system. Using the camera inside the sewer lines, a true evaluation of the entire septic system can be performed, inside and out. This allows issue to be fixed preventatively, instead of waiting for a septic emergency.

Next time you are ready to schedule your annual maintenance and inspection for your septic system, make sure to ask about digital camera options. This can be a valuable tool to prevent expensive septic repairs down the road and keep your septic system in top condition.

Posted on behalf of:
Septic Service Pro, LLC
Peachtree Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30334
(678) 292-8728

Buying a New Home? Questions to Ask About the Home’s Septic System

You find the perfect house for your family with a beautiful yard and everything you ever dreamed of in a home. The only problem is, it has a septic system and you don’t know anything about septic systems. Don’t let the fact that a home is on a septic system scare you away from a great home. They can be easily and affordably maintained by your local septic professional. However, you do want to make sure the system is in good condition and it will be the right fit for your family. Here are a few questions to ask the current homeowner or real estate broker.

  • What is the size of the septic tank? Most septic tanks are built based on the number of bedrooms in the home. However, if you have a larger family, you need to make sure the tank is large enough to accommodate the extra load. Most tanks are between 1,000 and 2,000 gallons.
  • How old is the septic tank? If maintained correctly, a septic tank can last for decades, so age is not always a factor. However, it is good news if the tank is less than five years old.
  • Has the system recently been inspected? Most homeowners will have their septic system inspected once they decide to put their home on the market and have that information available. If they have not had the septic system inspected recently, insist on having the inspection done before moving forward with buying the home.

A licensed septic service company can provide a complete septic system inspection so you know the exact condition of the system. They can also provide you with estimates for yearly maintenance and upkeep so you can figure it into the price of your new home.

Posted on behalf of:
Hunter’s Septic Service
Nesbit, MS
(662) 429-1686

Septic Inspections: A Must When You Are Selling a Home

When you are trying to sell your home, you must jump through many hoops to impress potential buyers. You want to fix any small issues around the house that may detract from the value of your home as well as make it look as desirable as possible. But one thing that can be a deal breaker when trying to sell your home is a septic issue. Most home sales will require a septic inspection before the sale is finalized so why wait until the deal is almost done? Get a septic system inspection as soon as you decide to sell your home.                                             

Get a Thorough Septic Inspection

Nothing is worse than thinking that your home is sold, then finding out at the last minute you need thousands of dollars of septic repairs. In many cases, you may lose the buyer, even if you agree to fix the septic issues. Instead, get a thorough septic system inspection before you start putting up for sale signs. Call a local septic company that performs inspections and ask if they offer:

  • Septic tank inspections
  • Drain field inspections
  • Digital camera inspections of underground sewer and septic pipes
  • Certified septic technicians

You want to ensure the company you choose will look at every aspect of your septic to certify that it is in excellent working order. And if there are problems, you can get them fixed before putting your home on the market by the same local company. When it comes time to sign on the dotted line and sell your home, you can be assured that there won’t be any septic issues standing in your way.

Posted on behalf of:
Seagraves Plumbing Sewer & Septic
4980 Plant Atkinson Rd SE
Smyrna, GA 30080
(494) 792-2221

Give Your Septic a Spring Inspection

After a long winter, it is finally spring and time for home maintenance. Although you may be more concerned with planting beautiful flowers or improving your outdoor space, it is important to also do necessary maintenance. Spring is a great time to do a thorough inspection on your septic system to look for any problems that may have been caused by the cold weather or regular wear and tear.

Septic System Inspection Checklist

There are many different components to your septic system that should be inspected at least once per year. This includes looking for issues within the sewer pipes between the home and tank, issues within the tank and inspecting the leech or drain field. As part of your inspection, here is a checklist of areas that should be covered: 

  • Leaks. Check the ground between the home and around the tank for wet areas. These can be signs of leaking sewer pipes or a leak in the tank.
  • Excess effluent. Inspect the drain field for backed up effluent on the surface. Excess effluent can mean that the drain field is no longer viable or that you may have a septic failure.
  • Tank levels. When you inspect the tank, you will be looking at the level of effluent, sludge and scum. If the sludge is high, you may need to schedule a pumping.
  • Tank inspection. If pumping is done, a full inspection can be performed on your tank and system. This should be completed by a septic professional.

Doing an annual inspection can help identify maintenance problems with your septic. If you find any abnormalities, call in your septic service company to do a complete evaluation of your septic.

Posted on behalf of:
Metro Septic LLC
1210 N Tennessee St
Cartersville, GA 30120
(678) 873-7934

Did Summer Fun Add Extra Stress To Your Septic System?

While the warmest season is full of fun and games, there are many summer activities which may have left your septic system strained by the time Labor Day comes around. Kids are home from school, using the shower, toilets and other water appliances throughout the day for months on end. In addition, summer often is an excellent time for family and friend gatherings, adding to the stress put on the septic system. When autumn arrives. it’s time to give your system a thorough inspection, making sure it is ready for the winter months ahead. 

Fall Septic Maintenance

The heavy use of your plumbing fixtures over the summer may have taken its toll on your septic system, making fall the perfect time to schedule an annual inspection and septic maintenance. Before the winter months arrive, with more holidays and heavy plumbing use, it is prudent to ensure your septic is in tip-top shape. Some maintenance that may be needed include: 

  • Inspection. Your septic professional can perform a full inspection of your septic to ensure all the components are working properly. This can include checking the level of waste in the tank, the tank’s bacteria content and the drainfield for any issues.
     
  • Septic tank pumping. Heavy use may have added more than the normal amount of waste water to your septic tank. Although most tanks only need to be pumped about every three years, a busy summer can make it necessary to pump sooner than expected.
     
  • Filter cleaning. Most septic filters should be cleaned every year. 

Give your septic the care it needs after it has worked hard all summer. Annual maintenance can reduce emergency repairs, as well as extending the life of your septic system. A small investment in maintaining your septic now can save you thousands of dollars in the future.

Posted on behalf of Find Local Sewer Septic

Professional Septic Tank Cleaning

All homeowners whose home is on a septic system rather than a municipal sewer should make certain that have the septic tank inspected, cleaned and pumped on a periodic basis, as necessary. The typical septic tank will need to be pumped every three to five years, but every septic system is unique so septic tank pumping frequency can vary.  The size of the septic tank, number of people living in the home, kitchen waste disposal habits, and other factors affect how quickly solid material will accumulate in a septic tank and need to be removed.

Seeking the advice and service of a qualified septic specialist should be at the top of everyone’s priority list. A septic tank inspection will give you a good idea of the condition of your septic system and also tell you if your tank needs to be cleaned, or how long it is until you need it cleaned.

Whatever you do, don’t put septic tank cleaning on your own “to-do list.” Only trained and experienced professionals should come and do the job for you, whether it’s cleaning, pumping, inspecting or otherwise. A septic system creates dangerous fumes and only a trained septic system contractor should clean your septic tank.  A sewer-spetic professional will know what to check, what to look for, and how to do a safe and thorough cleaning without damaging your system.

Getting your septic tank cleaned and inspected regularly will help it continue to work at peak efficiency. It also gives a professional septic specialist a chance to spot and warn you of any problems or concerns that might arise, things that you need to be aware of before they become much more serious, or even critical. It’s important to know how full the tank is and when it needs to be pumped, so as not to overfill the system or ruin it, requiring a costly replacement.