Septic Maintenance Basics for New Homeowners

August 21st, 2019 Posted in Septic System Maintenance
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If you are a new homeowner, you have a long list of maintenance items that come with your property purchase. Owning a home is a wise investment, but it also requires preventive care to help maintain the value and minimize unexpected repair costs. One system that may be new to you is a septic system. While it may seem daunting to be in charge of your own waste disposal system, if you keep up with maintenance, you may be able to avoid many costly repairs. Understanding the basic of septic maintenance is key to avoiding expensive septic repairs and replacements.

Avoiding Unnecessary Disposal

One of the main aspects of maintaining your septic system is reducing the waste that goes down your drains. Make water efficiency a priority, using water conservation fixtures and techniques. Also, the items that go down your drain impact your septic system. Practice keeping chemicals, grease, non-biodegradable items and solid food products out of your drains to reduce stress on your septic system.

Protect Your Underground Plumbing

The majority of your septic system is underground. You need to protect the tank, pipes, drain field and distribution box from damage. Keep vehicles and heavy machinery off your lawn or property where septic equipment resides underground. Also avoid planting trees too closely to septic pipes; root invasion can cause serious sewer pipe damage.

Routine Inspections, Pumping and Repairs

You do not need to do much of your septic maintenance on your own. Hire a septic professional to come out at least once a year to inspect your system, perform pumping when needed, and repair/replace components. This can prevent expensive septic emergencies and keep your system working reliably throughout the rest of the year. It is a wise investment and one that will help protect the value of your home.

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

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Pre-Holiday Tips for Your Septic System

August 21st, 2019 Posted in Septic Tank Inspections
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Before you start planning your holiday parties and feasts, there is one area of your home that may need preparation. If you own a home with a septic system, it is important to consider how the holidays may affect your system. Extra cooking, cleaning and people all put stress on septic systems – you don’t want a septic failure to occur in the middle of your festivities. Here are some tips to limit stress on your septic and help prevent unexpected problems over the holidays.

Spread Out Water Use

Holiday preparations can mean extra loads of laundry, many dishwasher cycles, more toilet flushes and extra people taking showers. Excessive water use can impact your septic system. When possible, spread out water use. Try to stagger use of the dishwasher, showers and loads of laundry throughout the day; do as much as possible before your guests arrive.

Septic Tank Pumping and Maintenance

When was the last time your septic tank was pumped or inspected? If it has been a year or more, it can be worth the investment to schedule an inspection before your first big party or holiday event. A quick inspection and pumping if needed can prevent problems when you have friends and family to your home for the holidays.

Use Disposable Items

Many holiday traditions revolve around food. Every dish and fork you need to wash adds to the food, grease and water that goes down your drains. Consider using disposable plates, napkins and silverware to reduce the stress on your septic.

Give yourself of a holiday season free from septic emergencies. Plan and prepare to reduce stress on your septic system to minimize the chance of any backups or failures during the holidays.

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

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Questions to Ask When You Schedule Your First Septic Pumping

January 18th, 2019 Posted in Septic System
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Is it time to schedule your first septic tank pumping? Before you call the first septic professional you come across on Google or in a business listing, there are some things to consider. First, you want to make sure you hire a licensed, trusted professional with a excellent reputation in your area. Secondly, there are some questions you should ask when scheduling your pumping service. Here are answers you need to ensure your pumping service goes smoothly.

What is the cost and what does it include?

There are some septic companies that have a flat fee that includes everything – the pumping, inspection and disposal. Others may use separate fees for each service. One way is not necessarily better than the other, but you want to know exactly what to expect and what is covered in the quoted price.

What type of access do you need?

It can save time and trouble to make sure there is room for the septic tank truck to park at your home. Ask how close they need to be to your tank and how much room they need.

How long will the service take?

Make sure you know how long to expect your septic contractor to spend cleaning your septic tank. A decision maker for the home should be present in case there are any repairs or issues that need to be resolved.

Septic pumping service is usually needed every 2-3 years for most homes, depending on the size of the tank and the amount of waste created in the home. If you know what to expect by asking a few questions, this service can go smoothly and quickly.

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

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Is Adding Yeast to Your Septic Tank a Good Idea?

September 6th, 2018 Posted in Septic System Maintenance
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If you own a septic system, you may be looking for ways to help keep it in good working condition. This is a good idea – septic failure and replacement can be very expensive. There are many tips you can read online on how to maintain your septic system – some good, some not so good. One you may come across is using baking yeast to help the bacteria in your tank breakdown solids.

The theory behind using yeast in your septic tank is simple. Baker’s yeast contains bacteria that does not need oxygen to thrive. When added to a septic tank, it can help breakdown starches, one of the many components in waste that is added to your tank. If solids are broken down more effectively, you may need to have your tank pumped less frequently.

So, can adding yeast be beneficial? In some cases, yes. But it needs to be done correctly and not too often. Like all good things, a little is good, too much can be a problem. To add yeast to your septic tank, follow these steps:

  • Put about 4-5 teaspoons of yeast in about 3 cups of warm, not hot, water.
  • Add 2 cups of sugar and 2 cups of cornmeal
  • Stir until yeast is dissolved. Cover and let the mixture become “frothy”
  • Flush down the toilet – flush twice to make sure everything goes down

You can do this about every 6 months. However, this does not replace regular maintenance and pumping on your septic system. Schedule regular service with your septic service company to maintain the equipment in your septic system and to perform regular pumping for the best care and maintenance of your system.

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

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Tips on How to Maintain Your Septic System

July 25th, 2018 Posted in Septic System Maintenance
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Caring for your septic system is crucial, especially if you want to avoid expensive repairs or replacement. While your septic will run fine on its own, if regular maintenance and preventive care are not completed, you can be caught off guard with a major issue. If you are new to owning a septic system, there are a few things you should know to keep it running like clockwork. Here are some simple tips to maintain your septic system.

Reduce Waste

Everything you put down the drain must be handled by your septic system. Reduce wear on your system and minimize the frequency of pumping by limiting what you put down the drain. Keep items that won’t dissolve or breakdown out of your tank, such as: coffee grounds, cotton products, latex products, “flushable” wipes, fibrous produce, fats/oils and chemicals. Also reduce water waste by using water efficient fixtures and good water reduction habits.

Protect Your Drain Field

Keep vehicles and heavy equipment off your drain field. Occasionally inspect your drain field for odd plant growth, bad odors and pooling. If you notice anything strange, call your local septic service company.

Maintain Your Equipment

Your septic system has pumps, pipes and other equipment that will need repair or parts replaced. If you are not familiar with septic systems, leave inspecting and repairing your system to the professionals. Schedule a septic tank inspection and service at least once a year to catch issues before they become big, expensive problems.

Pumping

Make sure you are on a regular pumping schedule. A full septic tank can lead to a sewer backup or septic failure. Your maintenance crew can let you know when you should have your tank pumped and get you on a regular schedule.

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

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Is it Time to Back Flush Your Septic Tank?

July 25th, 2018 Posted in Septic System
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If you own a septic system, you know that regular pumping is required to keep your tank from overflowing. A full septic tank can ruin your drain field and backup sewer waste into your home. Pumping your septic tank removes the solid waste that accumulates over time that doesn’t breakdown into liquid form or effluent. But what about the solid waste that does not leave your tank after a pumping service?

Back flushing a septic tank is essentially a cleaning service for your septic system. Pumping will remove most solids, but some waste can be more difficult to remove. This thick sludge will not easily be pumped out of the tank. If your septic tank is not back flushed after pumping, this dense solid waste will continue to build. This can mean more frequent pumping and could eventually cause harm to your septic system.

To avoid this waste building up on the sides and bottom of your septic tank, a back flushing should be done after each pumping. This can break up those solids and allow them to be effectively pumped from your septic tank. This leaves the tank completely clean and empty, reducing the amount of time needed before your next scheduled tank pumping.

Some septic services may include back flushing with their pumping service, but not all do. Make sure to ask your septic professional before your next scheduled pumping whether back flushing is included in the price or if that is a separate service. It is worth the investment to back flush your tank – it will keep your septic system clean and extend the time before you need another pumping service.

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

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Beware of Hidden Costs of Septic Tank Pumping

June 24th, 2016 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping
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If you own a home or business with a septic tank, you already know that pumping your tank will be required. Solid waste that cannot be broken down in the tank will need to be removed periodically. While this is an expense, it should be a reasonable fee that can be added into your budget. However, there are some companies that may advertising low cost septic tank pumping, then hit you with hidden fees and costs that may be more than you expected. Here are some tips to avoid being overcharged for this service.

  • Choose a reputable septic company. Unfortunately, almost every home service industry has a few companies that make money from dishonest pricing scams. Septic service is no exception. You can avoid these issues by choosing a local, reputable company that has been in business for many years and has excellent customer reviews.
  • Ask for a written estimate (and read the fine print). Get a written quote or estimate for your septic service before the work begins and read any disclaimers. While any repairs may be extra, make sure that all expenses for pumping is included in the estimate.
  • Too good to be true. See a super low advertised price for septic pumping? Make sure that is a flat fee with no additional costs, fees or “taxes” that are not included. As with most services, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Avoid unexpected expenses when it comes time to pump your septic tank. Hire a reputable, local septic company that offers flat-fee septic pumping with no hidden costs to keep the expense of maintaining your septic system within your budget.

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

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