Can Your Septic Handle Your Big Summer Party?

June 16th, 2014 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping
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It is common during the summer months for many homeowners to have large gatherings at their homes. From Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, there are many beautiful weekends and holidays which present perfect opportunities to bring friends and family together. However, if you own a home with a septic system, you need to plan for more than how many hot dogs to buy for your barbecue. You should also be preparing for the extra stress these parties can have on your septic system.

Preparing For Extra Guests

Your septic system is designed to handle the daily load for your household, but not necessarily a dozen or more extra guests at one time. To offset this extra load, you should plan for the big day ahead of time. Here are a few ways to reduce stress on your septic system during a large party:

  • Water usage. Showers, laundry and other large water usages should be handled prior to the day of the party. Do food prepping and other tasks that require water in the days before the event.
  • Use disposable plates and cups. Cut down on the amount of dishes you will need to wash by only using disposal items which can be thrown away.
  • Post bathroom rules. Politely let guests know what cannot be flushed down the toilet by posting a reminder in your bathroom. If it is a very large party, you may want to consider renting a portable bathroom that can be used outside.
  • Pump your tank. If you have not had your septic tank pumped in awhile, having it pumped prior to a large party can ensure that there is room in the tank to handle the extra waste. Plan ahead to arrange septic tank pumping before the date arrives.

With a little planning, you can have a successful summer party without ending up with a septic emergency when you have a house full of guests.

Posted on behalf of Seagraves Plumbing Septic and Sewer

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What Goes In, Must Come Out – Pump Your Septic Tank

July 4th, 2013 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping
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This is good advice to remember for many types of systems, including our digestion, but it is especially important when it pertains to your septic system. Of course, this is not something that most people wish to talk about, much less dwell on; however, if you are a homeowner with a septic system, you will most assuredly want to monitor what goes into that system.

Unfortunately, people who are used to the convenience of city maintained sewer systems are generally unconcerned about what begins a journey in their home drainage piping. The old adage  “out of sight, out of mind,” is definitely applicable here. In most homes with a city sewer system, almost everything seems to be considered “flushable.” Although this should not be the case, it is true that what could safely be disposed of down a sewer system could, eventually, lead to costly repairs and maintenance to your septic system.

The reason for this is, in part, because your septic system, in essence, “sorts” solid waste from liquid waste. The solid waste settles down to the bottom of your septic tank, while the liquid waste is pumped out of the tank into a drainage field. Over time, most of the solid material gets broken down by bacteria; after which, it is also removed to the drainage field. Eventually, though, the remainder of the solid material on the bottom of the tank will build up, requiring a visit by your local septic professional to pump out the septic tank. Therefore, you do not want to flush or pour anything potentially hazardous (like chemicals) or items that are not biodegradable, such as dental floss, feminine hygiene products, diapers, cigarette butts, cat litter, Kleenex, cotton swabs or coffee grounds, condoms and household cleaners, among other things.

 

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How Does a Septic System Work?

May 21st, 2013 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping
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In many rural areas and small towns with lower populations and houses spread far apart, city sewer systems are virtually non-existent. Therefore, people install septic tanks, which are actually a private form of wastewater treatment. A septic tank is a big tank capable of holding a thousand gallons of water, made of concrete, steel or plastic that is placed underground.

Sewer water from your home flows through pipes exiting the house into the tank at one end, where it becomes separated with scum floating to the top and heavier solids sinking to the bottom. As new water enters the tank, the separated water is discharged out into the drain field where it leaches into the soil. While the discharged water contains some bacteria and chemicals (mainly nitrogen and phosphorous), it is free of solids and useful for fertilizer.  Septic tank pumping is necessary every 3 to 5 years to remove the accumulated solid material.

Because of the breakdown of organic material in the wastewater, gases are produced that need to be trapped from flowing back into the house. Special “P-trap” pipes help with this process and the gases are then vented vertically out of a pipe protruding through the roof. In the drain field, the discharged water is exited and filtered through perforated pipes set in gravel trenches. How well the soil absorbs the discharged water determines the necessary size of the drain field. A septic system is normally powered by nothing other than gravity; water follows down from the house, down from the septic tank, down into the drain field, making it a completely passive system.

If you have any concerns about the effectiveness of your home’s system, your local septic professional can inspect and service your septic system to ensure that all is working safely and properly.

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Avoid Cleaning Chemicals For The Sake Of Your Septic System

December 20th, 2012 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping
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Repairing problems with your septic tank can be expensive business so households with a septic system installed should to doing everything they can to ensure that it continues to work properly and efficiently. Good maintenance habits such as limiting the amount of water you use and regular septic tank pumping are common practices that most homeowners are aware of, but another key issue when it comes to taking care of your septic system is avoiding the use of chemicals.

Many household-cleaning products used to clean sinks and toilets contain strong chemicals, which make their way down the pipes and into the septic system. Your septic system contains a delicate balance of bacteria and microbes that break down the solid waste inside the septic tank and treat the effluent in the soil around the leach field.  Cleaning agents, bleach and detergents all affect the treatment process that is happening all of the time within the tank and in the leach field and too many chemicals will eventually begin to cause problems with your septic system.

Clog removal chemicals are similar if not worse because the chemicals are particularly robust. Also, since they are poured directly down the drain the septic tank receives a large concentration of these harmful chemicals at one time. Chemical clog removers can also be harmful to people as if the clog is not successfully removed you are left with a sink full of toxic chemicals, which will also begin to damage the piping if allowed to sit their for a significant period of time. For the sake of your septic system the next time you have a clog, use alternate methods such as plunging rather than resorting to chemicals.

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Septic System Dangers

May 22nd, 2012 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping
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A properly designed, installed and maintained septic system provides a safe and effective means of treating and disposing of household wastewater.  A well designed septic system will usually provide dependable service for years if it is inspected every year or two and pumped as needed which is usually every three to five years.

However, homeowners should not become complacent and attempt to handle the septic tank inspection or septic tank pumping themselves.  Septic tank pumping and septic tank inspections are strictly for trained, qualified septic system professionals.  Trying to do it yourself can lead to a serious injury, illness or even death.

First, an inspection or pumping involves accessing the septic tank which contains the poisonous gas hydrogen sulfide.  This gas is created by the bacterial action in fecal matter and smells like rotten eggs.   Hydrogen sulfide attacks the central nervous system. Inhaling this gas can kill you or make you very ill so you never attempt to open the septic tank or even an access port unless you have been trained in how to do it safely.

Next, the septic tank can contain methane gas which although non-poisonous, is highly flammable.  A spark, open flame, or cigarette can set off a methane gas explosion.

Finally, it goes without saying that a septic tank contains raw sewage that may contain viruses, harmful bacteria, and other pathogens.  Exposure to raw sewage can cause infections, diarrhea, and intestinal distress.

The bottom line is that any maintenance that involves opening the septic tank including septic tank inspection and septic tank pumping should only be accomplished by a professional with the training, equipment and experience to handle the job safely.

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Are Septic System Additives Necessary?

January 5th, 2012 Posted in Septic System Maintenance
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Hundreds, if not thousands of additives are on the market that claim to improve the performance of your septic system.  Some of the claims made by the manufactures and sellers of these additives include making septic tank pumping unnecessary, eliminating foul odors, improving soil percolation, and other such claims.  The reality is that a septic system is designed to work without any additional additives.

Waste water from your home collects in the septic tank where naturally occurring bacteria break down the majority of the solid material.  The wastewater (called the effluent) then flows into the drain field (also called a leech field) where it percolates into the soil.  More bacteria in the soil completes the treatment process.  Solid material that cannot be broken down settles to the bottom of the septic tank and needs to be occasionally pumped out of the tank.

At best, using a septic system additive is just a waste of money.  Pouring these additives down your toilet or sink is like pouring money down the drain.  Most of them don’t do much if anything to the septic system which already has plenty of naturally occurring bacteria to do the work of breaking down solid material.

However, some additives can be harmful to the septic system if it destroys the natural bacteria.  More solids will collect in the septic tank which will require more frequent septic tank pumping.  In addition, bacteria in the drain field can be destroyed which can lead to a clogged drain field.

Save money and avoid potential septic system headaches by skipping the septic system additives unless directed to do so by an experienced, reputable septic system professional.

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