Think Before You Flush: Protecting Sewer and Septic Systems

December 18th, 2013 Posted in Sewer Lines
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There is a wide array of products on today’s commercial market, all of which are advertised as safe to flush down the toilet. From personal wet wipes to feminine care items, many products tout their “flush-ability” as a selling point. Despite claims to the contrary printed on the packaging and labels, there are some things you should never flush if you want to protect your sewer and septic systems.

  • Cotton Swabs – These tiny objects may seem like they’d be relatively harmless to flush, but the truth is that they don’t break down in water the way most people think. Instead, they tend to collect in bends of the pipes leading away from your toilet, eventually causing sewer line blockages and backflow.
  • Personal Wipes – Akin to baby wipes but marketed towards adults, personal wipes are an increasingly popular product. Most brands are advertised as completely safe to flush, but they’re creating a widespread problem in sewer and septic systems across the country. They don’t break down in the same way toilet paper does, leading to major blockages and trouble.
  • Medication – You may think you’re making the safe choice by dumping unused prescription medication down the toilet, thereby keeping it out of the reach of kids and pets. Still, prescription medications can contaminate groundwater. If your home is on a septic system, some medications can cause trouble by killing the beneficial bacteria that keep your system in balance.
  • Dental Floss – The waxed string you use to keep your teeth in tip-top shape can actually be quite harmful to sewer and septic systems, because most brands are not biodegradable. Instead, floss tends to become tangled with small clogs and blockages, making them larger and more likely to become problematic.

Posted on behalf of Shawn Bynum, Bynum Plumbing

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Why You Should Install a Backflow Prevention Device

December 18th, 2013 Posted in Backflow Prevention
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The idea of a lush, green lawn is an appealing one to many homeowners. If you count yourself among this group and live in an area where rainfall is a bit sparse, you know how important a role sprinklers and irrigation systems play in the health of your grass. If have or are considering a sprinkler or irrigation system to maintain your lawn, it’s wise to consider the installation of a backflow prevention device.

In the simplest terms, a backflow preventer is a piece of equipment designed to prevent water laced with pesticides, fertilizers or other hazardous waste from contaminating the water supply. There are two types of backflow to be concerned with: back-siphonage and back-pressure. Both can result in a dangerous situation in which contaminated water seeps into the supply of potable water.

A drop in water pressure from the main line due to a pipe breakage, use of fire hydrants and other heavy drains can cause the water in your lines to flow backwards briefly, draining into the public water supply or into a well on your property. If you’ve installed properly-functioning backflow preventers, you don’t have to worry about the effect contaminated water may have on the supply of drinking water in your neighborhood. When the normal level of pressure is restored to the main water line, you also won’t be saddled with a sudden flow of similarly contaminated water into the pipes in your home.

If you’re considering the installation of a sprinkler, irrigation system or live in an area where backflow prevention devices are required by municipal law, contact a licensed sewer and septic specialist in your area today. A professional can answer any questions you may have about backflow prevention devices, and ensure the proper installation in order to prevent water contamination from originating on your property.

Posted on behalf of Kiddco Plumbing

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Common Sewer Line Problems

December 18th, 2013 Posted in Sewer Lines
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In a perfect world, your sewer system would never encounter problems or force you to consider the flow of waste away from your home. The reality of home ownership is that sewer lines do occasionally malfunction, and require the same level of maintenance as every other part of your property. There are also common causes of sewer back-up, some of which are relatively easy for a professional to repair.

Tree Root Interference

The same beautiful, mature trees responsible for boosting your property value and providing money-saving shade can also wreak a bit of havoc with your sewer lines if their roots become an interference.

Collapsed or Damaged Lines

Older homes have a charm and character all their own, but they may also come equipped with old, outdated sewer pipes. Aging pipes may begin to crack or even collapse altogether, causing serious problems on your property. Thankfully, new technological advances mean you may not have to face digging and the destruction of your landscaping plan, as no-dig and trenchless repair systems become more common.

Drain Blockage

The single most common cause of sewer line problems and water back-up into the home is a simple drain blockage. Most clogs stem from simple user error, or improper use of drains. Make sure you never flush anything other than toilet paper and human waste down the toilet, and are careful about what you pour into your drains.

A licensed and reputable sewer and septic professional can diagnose and correct these common problems, most of which are simply to complex for the average homeowner to tackle as a DIY project. Contact a sewer and septic specialist in your area to discuss any sewer problems, and to make arrangements for necessary repairs before relatively minor problems become worse over time.

Posted on behalf of Chuck Seagraves, Seagraves Plumbing

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All About Drain Fields

December 18th, 2013 Posted in Drain Field
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If you’re like most homeowners, you may have only a cursory understanding of your septic system and how it works. Making a point of learning a bare minimum about the system is one of the best ways to prevent future problems, especially when it comes to your drain field.

The drain field removes contaminants and impurities from the waste water after it flows through your septic system, the last phase of ensuring that waste water is safe to enter the supply of groundwater. The ecosystem of a drain field is a very specific and balanced one, though it’s essentially very simple. Perforated pipes in a series of trenches are surrounded by a porous material like gravel, which is then covered by soil to protect it from surface runoff and outside interference.

Signs of Trouble in Your Drain Field

One of the most common signs of a failed or failing septic system is a swampy, marshy area of the drain field that does not dry up, even in sunny weather. Unusual smells, spots of exceptionally green or healthy grass and visual evidence of organic waste emerging through the drain field are also reliable signs of septic system trouble.

Maintaining Your Drain Field

With proper attention and regular maintenance, most drain fields will still function efficiently twenty-five to thirty years after installation. In addition to making a point of keeping trees, shrubbery and other large plants away from your drainfield, you should also be sure to work closely with a licensed septic system professional for routine inspections and maintenance purposes.

An experienced septic system specialist is trained to spot trouble brewing in your drain field, and to help you prevent common problems by addressing them before they get out of hand. Contact a sewer and septic professional in your area to arrange an inspection for your system, including your drain field, and to discuss routine maintenance in order to keep your system in peak condition.

Posted on behalf of Mike Smith, A-Flo Free Septic

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How Landscaping Decisions Can Affect Your Septic System

December 18th, 2013 Posted in Drain Field
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One of the most appealing aspects of a property can be a well-designed and maintained landscape. Graceful, mature trees can have a positive impact on your home’s curb appeal and resale value. They can also have a negative impact on your septic system, depending on their location.

There’s a lot going on beneath the surface of the soil on your property. Your septic system is managing the waste flow from your home, pipes carry water inside and the roots of all those gorgeous trees and shrubs are expanding. If those roots happen to make their way into your septic system through cracks and joints in the pipes, you may find yourself facing a septic system problem or two.

Slow drainage is often one of the first signs the root system of a tree has found a way into your septic system. If root growth continues unchecked, the chances of pipe breakage and sewage leaks increases. It’s not unheard of for tree roots to contribute heavily to the complete failure of a septic system, which can be very costly and inconvenient.

One surefire way to prevent tree root interference with your septic system is to make a point of learning where your drainfield, tank and pipes are located. The only thing you should plant over the drainfield is a short-rooted grass variety; trees and even shrubbery can put down roots which may later interfere with the septic system.

In the case of existing trees, it’s important to call a licensed septic maintenance professional if you suspect possible root interference. A septic system professional can determine the scope of the problem, and safely remove any offending trees without causing further damage to your system.

Posted on behalf of Keith Lee, Metro Septic and Plumbing

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