Signs That Your Septic Tank Needs Pumping

November 22nd, 2012 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping
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If you have a septic tank installed in your home, it is essential that you are able to recognize some of the initial warning signs that your system is struggling and needs some help. In most cases what it needs is septic tank pumping, which should be done regularly on a 3-5 year periodic basis whether you have noticed signs that it is needed or not.

Having said that, it is not set in stone that your septic tank won’t need pumping more often than that and if you have recently moved into a new house you may not know when the tank was last pumped.

Many newer tanks have alarms integrated into the pump that flash red or beep to let you know that the tank is almost or already full and needs to be pumped or emptied. A smell coming from the tank is another good indication that you need to check what’s going on inside the system. It can also occur in the bathroom suggesting that the line is clogged or blocked somewhere.   If your septic system does not have an alarm, then a septic tank inspection every other year will tell you when it’s time to have your septic tank pumped.

Unusual behavior from your drains is another of the early signs that your tank needs pumping. If you notice sewage backing up in the toilet or water draining slowly you should take this as a warning sign that something is not right.

Additionally there can be signs that occur around the tank and the ground where it is buried. For instance if the ground is wetter than usual and remains wet for an excessively long time and there is a bad smell to accompany it, then you will need to call in a sewer and septic specialist to see what’s going on and how it can be fixed.

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Why You Shouldn’t Put Off Repairing Sewer and Septic Problems

November 22nd, 2012 Posted in Septic System Maintenance
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When it comes to your sewer or septic system, one of the worst things you can do is delay before fixing a problem in the system. As soon as you notice one of the warning signs that something is not right, you need to have the system checked out by a sewer septic professional to identify exactly why and where the problem is coming from and then take action to get it fixed as quickly as possible.

Problems with sewer and septic systems rarely go away by themselves.  In fact, putting off having the problem professionally diagnosed and repaired can make the problem worse and lead to more expensive repairs.

For example, a backup caused by a clogged sewer line may be relatively easy for your sewer septic professional to repair.  They may be able to clear the clog using a professional drain cleaning snake or high pressure hydro-jetting, then inspect the sewer line with a digital camera to identify the cause of the clog.  They can then address the problem and prevent future clogs from occurring.

Prompt repairs of septic systems are even more important.  If the septic tank is too full or is beginning to fail, prompt action may be able to prevent the leach field from becoming clogged, thus averting very expensive leach field repairs or a total replacement of the leach field.

The bottom line is that in many cases, sewer and septic system repair work can usually be done for a fairly reasonable price if the problem is caught quickly, but as the problem becomes more serious the cost will inevitably increase. If you leave it too long a problem that is fairly straightforward to resolve such as a blockage can end up ruining your entire septic system and you will end up in need of a new one. As you would expect replacing a septic system is a great deal more expensive than simply repairing your existing septic system.

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Improve the Life of Your Septic Tank With Good Laundry Habits

November 22nd, 2012 Posted in Septic Tank Inspections
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If you are one of the many homeowners why rely on a septic system rather than a municipal sewer to dispose of household wastewater, you probably know that taking good care of it is very important to preventing problems and prolonging the life of the system. Regular septic tank inspections and pumping are important and need to be done by a sewer septic professional.  Your sewer septic contractor will ensure the entire system is working properly and will be able to let you know whether or not the septic tank needs to be pumped. In addition to having your septic system serviced regularly there are a number of good habits that you and your family can get into that will help to keep the system in good operating condition.

One of the most important things to know about a septic system is that when too much water flows into the septic tank at one time, there is not enough space left for the waste to properly settle to the bottom of the tank and decompose. The result is that too much solid material will be suspended in the water flowing out into the leach field and after a while the leach field can become clogged with solid material.  A clogged leach field will eventually fail and cause serious problems with your septic system.   Having said that the best thing you can do is prevent this from occurring in the first place.

Taking care of your laundry habits is one way of ensuring that excessive amounts of water don’t get send through the system at the same time. Many households have a “laundry day” on which all of the laundry of everyone in the house that has been building up for the last week is done at the same time. Take care of your septic system by doing a laundry load every day rather than 10 loads all on the same day.  Similarly, try to avoid taking showers, running the dishwasher, and doing laundry all at the same time.

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Differences Between Sewer and Septic Systems

November 22nd, 2012 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping
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If you are building a new house or buying an existing home,  its important that you have a good understating of the difference between sewer and septic systems.

Sewer systems and septic systems are both involved in wastewater disposal but the two systems are very different. A sewer line takes the waste water from your home through your sewer lateral and connects to the municipal sewer system where it ends up at treatment facility to be separated and disposed of.

A septic system is installed directly into your property and disposes of household wastewater by separating solid material and allowing fluids to percolate into the ground.   A septic system includes a septic tank which is where all of the waste liquids and solids from your home are sent. Solid material accumulates in the tank and biodegrades naturally.  Liquids flow into a system of perforated pipes called a leach field that allows the liquid to percolate into the ground.

A sewer system needs relatively little maintenence unless it becomes clogged, but regular maintenance and and proper usage habits are important to keep a septic system working and in good condition.  A septic system should be inspected every two to three years and septic tank pumping is necessary every three to five years.  You should be careful not to put anything down the drains except water and household waste and try not to overload the system by running the dishwasher, washing machine, and showers at the same time.

In any house no matter whether you are renting or buying, one of the most important features will be the drains and sewer system. Whilst new homebuyers are always concerned with the number of bedrooms and bathrooms in the property, they should also be concerned with the condition of the plumbing and sewer line or septic system. It is an excellent idea to have the sewer line and/or septic system inspected prior to purchasing a home.  Problems with these sytems can be hidden and they can be very expensive to repair.

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Unclog Your Drains With Water Jetting

November 8th, 2012 Posted in Drain Cleaning
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Clogged drains and sewer lines can be a major problem but now thanks to high pressure hydro jetting it has never been easier to quickly and effectively clear problematic blockages. There are a whole number and great variety of objects that cause drains to become blocked. Just a few examples include grease, sludge, hair and debris. It is a similar situation with sewer lines, which can be affected by any kind of foreign object with one of the more common ones being tree roots.

There have been a number of methods used in the past in order to remove clogs including mechanical cutters attached to a cable but it seems as though none of them are as effective as the use of hydro jetting. In this method water is simply fired towards the area of the clog from a high-pressured hose, clearing the blockage a lot more cleanly and efficiently than has been possible in the past. The hoses used have specially fitted nozzles on the ends and can be pushed and pulled into the affected drain or sewer line. The pressure released is high enough to cut through tree roots and break up blockages caused by grease, hair, oil or whatever other substance is causing the problem.

The other great thing about the use of water jetting is that it not only breaks through and removes blockages but it also cleans the inside of the entire pipe, flushing away any left over grime. This means that it is harder and takes longer for debris to build up again and cause another clog. Drains that are regularly exposed to the debris that causes blockages, such as in large office or commercial buildings can particularly benefit from water jetting.

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Smelly Drain Solutions

November 8th, 2012 Posted in Drain Lines
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There is nothing worse than a foul smell coming from the drains in your kitchen or bathroom. If you have tried all of the common cleaning methods and are still noticing an unpleasant smell of sulfur, why not try some of these helpful hints in order to properly clean and clear your drains.

One area of the drain that often gets over looked and is particularly prone to the build up of residue and grime is the drain pop up. Release the stopper and thoroughly clean this whole section of drainage. When residue builds up excessively in this area, it can lead to further problems in more difficult to access sections of the drainage.

The next action that should be taken in order to tackle your foul smelling drains is to ensure that there are no blockages causing the problem. Carefully use a screwdriver or clothes hangers to release and pull out any hair or grime that is creating a blockage and then follow this step by flushing hot water down the pipe. Removing the grime will go along way to getting rid of the odor but hot water is necessary to kill any bacteria and push smaller gunk down and out of the drain.

In the case of particularly big blockages or ones that occur out of access to a long screwdriver, your only option may be to get under the sink and dissemble part of the piping. The elbow pipe serves an important purpose of storing water to prevent sewer gases from moving back up the pipe and into the home.  Sometimes the accumulation of gunk in the elbow is the cause of the foul odor so cleaning this area of pipe every so often can prove to be beneficial.

If your drain still has a foul odor, call your plumber or sewer septic professional to have you drain lines and sewer system inspected.  You may need professional drain cleaning or the smell could be a sign of a more serious problem.

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Recognizing When Your Septic System Is Having Problems

November 8th, 2012 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping, Uncategorized
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Every homeowner has maintenance and repair work to deal with on a fairly regular basis. One thing that most homeowners would like to avoid having to repair as much as possible is the sewer septic system. As with most things around the home noticing early warning signs that it might be having difficulties can prevent you from having a major problem or breakdown to deal with and can ultimately save you a bundle in both time and money.

A septic tank along with the sewer system that it is connected to is not a cheap nor particularly easy system to have to fix or replace. Your septic system handles all of the wastewater disposal for the entire house so as much as possible you need to be able to identify signs that something may be going wrong before the problem gets out of hand.

One of the first signs that something is not quite right with your septic system is your toilet flushing insufficiently. Maybe the flush is slower than normal or is not completing the job and emptying the bowl properly. Slow water drainage can signify a blockage somewhere down the pipe. It can also be a sign of an overloaded or backed up septic system.  Call a sewer septic professional immediately and have the problem checked out.

A clogged drain can usually be fixed quite easily but if it is left for too long it can cause more serious problems. A backed up septic system may only need septic tank pumping, but it needs to be done as soon as possible.  If the tank if too full, too much solid material will make its way into the leach lines and clog the leach field.

Another sign of problems with the septic system is foul odours coming from the tank or the leach field. Bad smells indicate a leak or crack in the tank, or a failing leach field and a professional should address this issue immediately.

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Professional Septic Tank Cleaning

November 8th, 2012 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping
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Every homeowner with a septic tank should ensure that it is pumped and cleaned on a periodic basis.  The frequency of septic tank pumping varies based on several factors, but every three to five years is typical.  A septic tank inspection by an experienced septic system professional will reveal whether your septic tank is due for pumping and cleaning.

Regular septic tank pumping and cleaning will help ensure that it continues to work efficiently and effectively and provides your sewer-septic professional the opportunity to notice any potential problems before they get too big and lead to expensive repair work or replacement. It is important that the tank is not allowed to get too full as when the water space is reduced it begin to break down waste less efficiently.

When it comes to septic tank cleaning it is definitely advisable to have a professional come in and do the job for you. Cleaning your septic tank is not a do-it-yourself job.  Septic tank cleaning and pumping takes training and experience along with the proper equipment to do the job correctly and safely. Not only is it likely that you will do an insufficient job and potentially damage the tank, but it can also be very dangerous.

When the waste products begin to decompose in your septic tank they give off dangerous gases such as methane, which build up and forces the oxygen out of the tank. Any kind of work on the tank, including cleaning it, can expose you to these gases and breathing them in could cause serious injuries or death. This is why it is essential that you never put your head inside the tank when checking for problems or for any other reason. Professional septic system contractors know how to protect themselves against the risk while performing a thorough septic tank cleaning and pumping.

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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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