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

December 2nd, 2015 Posted in Septic Tanks
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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

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What’s Happening Inside Your Sewer Lines?

December 2nd, 2015 Posted in Sewer Lines
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There was a time when a sewer line problem meant only one thing – you would need to dig up those sewer lines to find the problem. Not only was this time consuming and expensive, it also made a big mess of your yard. Often the issue with a sewer line is something as simple as a tree root clogging a pipe. With digital video technology, you can now see what is happening inside your sewer lines without ever disturbing the ground above them.

Sewer Video Camera Inspection

If you have a backed drains in your home or you have noticed wet areas in your lawn, you know there is probably a problem in your sewer lines. The question is where and what exactly is the issue. It could b e a clog, a broken pipe or a few different problems. With digital video camera inspections, a local sewer service company can view the inside of your sewer lines and find the problem.

Often the sewer line issue is a clog. This can be from waste collecting in the pipes or the occasional tree root that will penetrate into a sewer line. The good news is that many clogs can be removed without ever digging up the pipe with the use of hydro jetting, which removes the clog with high pressure water, or a commercial metal snake. If it is a broken pipe, the sewer repair service will know exactly which pipe needs repair and can offer the best solution.

Next time your drains start to become slow or you notice a bad odor in your yard, call your local sewer company that offers video camera inspections. They can quickly find the issue and offer a fast repair option without the expense and mess of a manual inspection of your sewer pipes.

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

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Adding a Bathroom to Your Basement Using an Ejector Pump

December 2nd, 2015 Posted in Sump Pumps and Ejector Pumps
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Many homeowners have dreamed of converting their basement into a livable family area. Often basements become dark dungeons only used for a workshop or storage but they can become much more, especially with the addition of a bathroom. The problem is that most basements are below the sewer lines of the house, making it more difficult to add a bathroom. However, by adding an ejector pump the home, that basement bathroom and living area can become a reality.

What is an Ejector Pump?

An ejector pump is similar to a sump pump in that it removes water from the basement level by pumping upwards. However, an ejector pump moves sewer water, not excess rainwater, and connects to the sewer system above. By adding an ejector pump, you can have a bathroom plumbed into your basement, add a sink and even put your laundry room downstairs, creating more space on your main level.

Ejector pumps are often installed when a house is built but can be added as an addition. If you have a home with a basement that does not already have an ejector pump, an experienced sewer service can install the pump and connect it to your existing sewer lines. Many sewer companies are also expert plumbers that can help you install your new bathroom fixtures and connect your plumbing to the ejector pump.

Don’t let all that space in your basement go to waste. Talk to your local sewer service company about the possibility of adding an ejector pump and new bathroom to your basement. With the addition of a bathroom, you can add another bedroom or a family room, adding to the size and value of your home.

Posted on behalf of:
Bynum & Sons Plumbing, Inc.
2120 McDaniels Bridge Rd SW
Lilburn, GA 30047
(770) 736-8283

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A Surprising Cause of Many Bathroom Sewer Pipe Clogs

December 2nd, 2015 Posted in Sewer Lines
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No one wants to deal with a toilet backup. There is never a good time to flush your toilet, just to watch the water and waste overflow all over your bathroom. We all know the biological reasons that toilets may get clogged and overflow, but did you know that often there are other items that can cause a major sewer line clog? The answer is what you store around your toilet.

Every see a cute basket of tiny soaps or toiletries placed on the top of a toilet tank? Or maybe it is some small decorative candles or other items. Other times, there are shelves located above or near the toilet that contain small items. And often, these small items end up in the toilet.

Whether it is by accident or a child decides to see how many of those travel-sized lotion bottles they can flush down the toilet, those small items can easily clog your sewer lines. Once stuck, they will collect toilet paper and other items until they form a solid clog that will back up your toilet and other drains in the house. The best solution is to not keep these small objects near your toilet to prevent accidental drops into the bowl and deter children from playing the flushing game.

However, if you do get a backed up toilet, always try to plunge the clog first. If that does not dislodge the clog, call your local sewer service company to have them inspect your sewer pipes. They can remove almost any clog quickly and easily and get your toilet back to working the way it should.

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

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Reducing the Frequency of Septic Tank Pumping

December 2nd, 2015 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping
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One of the larger maintenance expenses owning a home with a septic system is the pumping service that is needed every few years. While the pumping itself is often not extremely expensive, the disposal of the waste usually adds quite a bit to the labor and service costs. Most homes with septic system will need pumping every 2-3 years, depending on their waste levels. Here are a few ways to keep those septic pumping services to a minimum.

To start, you need to understand why and how often most septic tanks must be pumped. Septic tanks collect sludge at the bottom of the tank that is solid waste that has not decomposed. Most organic material will breakdown and be able to exit the tank and be filter through the drain field. So reducing the solid waste is key to reducing pumping frequency.

Tanks should be pumped when the sludge level is at or approaching 30% full, so in a 1,000 gallon septic tank you only want about 300 gallons or less before you have it pumped. Each adult will add about 40-60 gallons of solid biological waste per year. So what needs to be reduced is the addition of any other solid waste.

Any toilet paper, paper towels, hygiene products or even food waste can add to the sludge level in your septic tank. Use toilet paper that is designed for septic tanks or is easily biodegradable and keep other paper and cotton product out of the toilets. Also, to ensure your septic tank can function properly to breakdown most of the solid waste, keep chemicals out of your drains; they can destroy the bacteria needed for your septic to work properly.

Even with careful maintenance, you will still need to have your tank pumped every three to five years. An annual inspection by your local septic service can keep you informed on when you should schedule your next pumping.

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

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Is Biomat Harming Your Septic Drain Field?

December 2nd, 2015 Posted in Drain Field
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To function correctly, your septic tank and drain field need to maintain a delicate bacterial balance. For your drain field to be able to drain and filter the wastewater coming from the septic tank, the water must be able to freely flow through the soil. When the delicate bacteria balance is interrupted, a biomat can grow over the top of the drain field, leading to septic failure.

What is Biomat?

To put it simply, biomat is an organic substance that grows from the solid waste and bacteria that are allowed to leave your septic tank. This layer of organic material begins to grow from the edges of your drain field, eventually covering the entire field with a thick, organic mass that prevents waste from penetrating through into the soil. As more septic waste comes onto the biomat, it feeds it, causing it to grow. This layer has a foul odor and can often be visible as a slimy, dark film over the drain field.

How Biomat can Harm Your Septic System

Once a biomat has formed, it can begin backing up your septic waste and cause a complete septic failure. If allowed to progress, it can result in needing a new septic system installed, which can be very expensive. To prevent biomat formation in the drain field, you need to focus on caring for your septic tank bacteria balance.

If your septic tank is breaking down solids correctly, the wastewater going into the drain field should be the right bacterial balance. This allows wastewater to drain properly and will not result in a biomat. To keep your septic system and drain field running smoothly, schedule annual maintenance service and inspections for your septic system with your local septic service.

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

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