Are Your Trees Attacking Your Sewer Lines?

Tree roots are the nemesis of your underground sewer lines. As your sewer lines deliver waste water and sewage through your yard to your septic tank or city sewer line, they can attract nearby trees with the moisture inside. It only takes a tiny crack at a joint in the pipes to allow a root to get a foothold into your sewer lines. Once inside, they can cause major clogs, sewer line damage and backups.

Tree roots can extend dozens of feet from the trunk of a tree. The bigger the tree, the longer their roots can extend from the base. It is their job to find water and nourishment for the tree, making your sewer lines a target. Once they find a way inside the pipe, sewer waste can collect around the roots and create a nasty clog. They can also grow inside the sewer lines and crack open your pipes, causing costly damage.

To prevent tree root clogs, beware of planting trees near your sewer lines. They may be small saplings now, but they will grow larger over the years. If you already have trees near your sewer lines, you can invest in relining your sewer lines to put a solid barrier inside to prevent tree root infestation.

If you think you have a sewer clog, call your local sewer line service company. They can use digital cameras to inspect your sewer pipes from the inside to see if tree roots are the problem. If you have tree roots attacking your sewer lines, they can offer solutions to clear out the roots and prevent further problems in the future.

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

Sounds, Smells and Sights of Septic Problems

A septic backup or failure can be an expensive and messy problem. However, most septic issues do not happen overnight. Issues begin to accumulate and there are signs when a septic system is not working correctly. Using your senses, you can identify these signs and get service for your septic system before you have a complete failure or messy backup. Here are some sounds, smells and sights to be aware of if you own a septic system.

Sounds

If you hear a gurgling sound when you flush your toilet or use the drains in your home, you could have a septic system issue. This is often accompanied by slow drains.

Smells

Odor is a common sign of septic system issues. If you smell sewer odor inside the house, it may be coming up the drains or through the septic vent. Other places that can have an odor when there is a problem is above your septic tank cover or near your drain field.

Sights

Keep an eye out for changes in your yard and drain field. Wet spots in your yard or by your septic tank can alert you to sewer pipe or tank problems. You should also be watching your drain field. If the grass becomes a vibrant green, the effluent may not be absorbing properly into the soil. A bio-mat or wet areas in your drain field are also signs of a septic issue.

When you hear, smell or see any of these issues, call your septic service company immediately. Catching the problem before it becomes a septic failure can save you hundreds, even thousands, of dollars in repairs or replacements.

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

Common Drain Field Problems

Your drain field is an integral part of your septic system, the last phase of cleansing your waste water. Most drain fields are comprised of a distribution box, outlet pipes and a soil filtration system that distribute waste water from your septic tank into the ground. When one or more component becomes blocked or damaged, it can cause a backup and a complete septic failure. Here are some of the common problems that can occur in the drain field and how to prevent them.

Broken Pipes

If any of the pipes in your drain field are damaged, the waste water will not distribute evenly. Prevent broken pipes by keeping vehicles and other heavy equipment away from your drain field. Weight can cause damage to these small pipes and cause backups and other issues.

Pipe Clogs

The pipes in your drain field are perforated to allow the waste water to flow out and into the soil. These small holes can be clogged with debris that escapes the septic tank. Pills and other small objects that do not easily breakdown should never be put down your drains to avoid these clogs. Tree roots can also create clogs; never plant trees near your drain field.

Grease Caps

Too much fat or grease in your waste water can cause a grease cap to form over your drain field. This can cut off the oxygen flow to feed the bacteria that need to break down the effluent entering the soil. Do not put fat or grease down your drains to avoid this issue.

If you notice an odor coming from your drain field or a bio-mat forming over the area, call your local septic service company. Also, have your drain field inspected annually to ensure everything is in good working order to prevent emergency backups.

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

Benefits of Hydro-Jetting for Sewer Pipes

Your sewer pipes are working 24/7 to move waste from your home or business. You can go years without any problems as long as they stay clear and are undamaged. However, inevitably a problem will occur, usually a clog. One way to mitigate sewer pipe clogs is to proactively use hydro-jetting to keep your sewer lines open and clear.

What Is Hydro-Jetting?

The best way to keep sewer lines clean is with high-pressured water. Sewer service companies use hydro-jetting to remove sludge, debris and even tree roots from the interior of your sewer pipes. This is a basic maintenance service that can prevent clogs from creating a sewer backup, something no one wants to deal with in their home or business.

The benefit of proactively scheduling hydro-jetting for your sewer lines is simple – it can save you time and money in the long run. The treatment is safe for your pipes and can make the interior like new again. Fat, grease and other debris that create sludge inside your pipes is cleared, giving you better drainage. If done on an annual basis, you can prevent most sewer clogs that can cause a backup into your building.

Hydro-jetting should be done in tandem with a video inspection of your sewer pipes. These state-of-the-art cameras can show you what your pipes look like from inside before and after your hydro-jetting service. The cameras can also detect any damage to the pipes that need repair before the problem gets worse.

Regular maintenance on your sewer pipes is a small investment compared to the cost of sewer backups, clog removal and sewer line replacements. Schedule your hydro-jetting and sewer line inspection now to keep your pipes clear and working great for years to come.

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

What to Do if Your Septic Alarm Goes Off

Many septic systems are equipped with a septic alarm to alert the owner if there is a problem. However, many homeowners may not even realize they have an alarm until it goes off. While there are many different types of septic alarms with many different features, one of the basic alarms is to alert you when the septic system is not able to handle the amount of waste water coming in. Here is what you should do if this alarm goes off and what it could mean.

When a septic alarm triggers, it is often due to high water within the system. This means the pump is unable to process the amount of water coming in. This could be due to several issues, including:

  • Too much waste water going down the drains for the system to handle
  • If your septic system is on a timer, too much water for the period has entered the septic system
  • Excess water from other sources is finding its way into your septic system, i.e. a groundwater leak into your system

The first thing to do when this alarm goes off is to stop putting any water down the drain. Cease all water activities in the house, including using toilets, showers, sinks, washers, etc. If you don’t, you will most likely have a septic backup headed your way.

In some cases, your septic system was just overloaded and needs to catch up. If you were using a large amount of water prior to the alarm, try not using drains in your home for a few hours. Also, check your circuit breaker to make sure that it did not trip the alarm. However, if nothing was out of the ordinary, it is time to call your septic professional to find out what the problem is within your system.

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

Avoid Costly Septic Issues in Your Business

When you run a business, you have a hundred different factors to keep track of during the average work week. One of the last things that may be on your mind is your septic system. However, this one area can cause major problems for your business if you don’t have a plan in place for maintenance.

Your septic system maintenance should be figured into the overhead for your business. Waiting to deal with issues as they arise can be a big mistake. A septic backup or failure can cause a disruption in your business and cost thousands of dollars in repairs and lost revenue. The best way to avoid septic issues is to set up a maintenance plan for your septic system. This should include:

  • Regular pumping. You don’t want to come in to an overflowing and backed up septic system at your business. Get on a regular pumping schedule to ensure your tank is always kept at an acceptable level. If you have a high-volume period, pumping may be needed more often.
  • Fix issues before they become expensive problems with regular inspections of your septic system. Your service company can alert you when components need to be replaced before they fail.
  • Preventive maintenance. Like any mechanical system, your septic needs preventive maintenance. Talk to your local commercial septic service about setting up a preventive maintenance schedule for your system.

Staying on top of your septic system maintenance is a good investment into your business. With regular pumping, tank cleanings and scheduled service, you can avoid most common septic issues that can cause backups and failures. Call your local commercial septic service to find out what kind of maintenance plans they offer.

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