Family Rules for Your Septic System

January 6th, 2016 Posted in Septic Tank Inspections
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If you own a home with a septic system and having a growing family, you will need to have some family rules to avoid septic system problems. The fact is, if you don’t teach your kids from an early age what not to do when it comes to putting waste down the drain, it will most likely cost you a small fortune down the road. As soon as your kids are old enough to use the toilet or wash their hands themselves, they need to start learning these important rules for proper septic maintenance.

  • Flushing. Kids are known to flush items down the toilet that have no business going down the drain. This can cause problems in any home but it is even worse with a septic system. Make it very clear that nothing should be flushed down the toilet except bodily waste and toilet paper – that’s it. No cotton swabs, no ‘flushable’ wipes and certainly not an action figure!
  • No food down the drain. Teach your kids to scrape their plates and pans well before attempting to rinse their dishes. Fat, grease and many hard food items can cause harm to your septic as well as cause clogs in your pipes.
  • No chemicals or drugs down the drain. Your septic system has a bacterial balance that must be maintained in the tank for it to function properly. Harsh cleaning supplies, paint and even medications can destroy that balance, so teach your family to never dispose of chemicals or drugs down the drain.

On top of following the rules, having annual inspections and maintenance on your septic system can help prevent septic issues. Make sure to add calling your local septic service once a year to your family rules to increase the life of your septic system.

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

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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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Septic Inspections: A Must When You Are Selling a Home

October 27th, 2015 Posted in Septic Tank Inspections
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When you are trying to sell your home, you must jump through many hoops to impress potential buyers. You want to fix any small issues around the house that may detract from the value of your home as well as make it look as desirable as possible. But one thing that can be a deal breaker when trying to sell your home is a septic issue. Most home sales will require a septic inspection before the sale is finalized so why wait until the deal is almost done? Get a septic system inspection as soon as you decide to sell your home.                                             

Get a Thorough Septic Inspection

Nothing is worse than thinking that your home is sold, then finding out at the last minute you need thousands of dollars of septic repairs. In many cases, you may lose the buyer, even if you agree to fix the septic issues. Instead, get a thorough septic system inspection before you start putting up for sale signs. Call a local septic company that performs inspections and ask if they offer:

  • Septic tank inspections
  • Drain field inspections
  • Digital camera inspections of underground sewer and septic pipes
  • Certified septic technicians

You want to ensure the company you choose will look at every aspect of your septic to certify that it is in excellent working order. And if there are problems, you can get them fixed before putting your home on the market by the same local company. When it comes time to sign on the dotted line and sell your home, you can be assured that there won’t be any septic issues standing in your way.

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

September 9th, 2015 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping
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A fact of life for homeowners with a septic system is that eventually your septic tank will need to be pumped. Most septic tanks need to be pumped every two to five years, depending on the size of family, size of the tank and the wastewater that enters the septic system. To reduce the frequency of pumping, you must affect one of these factors. Since the size of your family or tank is not likely to change without major changes, the easiest way to reduce pumping frequency is to monitor the waste that you put into your septic system.

Minimize Solid Waste in Your Septic Tank

Any solid waste that goes into your septic system can increase the frequency that you will need your tank pumped. Although some waste will breakdown in the tank, there are other waste products that are difficult or impossible to dissolve, making your tank fill faster. Here are some solids to keep out of your wastewater to reduce pumping frequency:

–          Paper products. Get your family in the habit of not flushing paper products down the toilet. Although some biodegradable toilet paper is tolerable, keep feminine hygiene products, “flushable” wet wipes and other paper/cotton items out of the toilet.

–          Clothing. If your washer wastewater goes into your septic tank, make sure to shake off clothing of waste solids before you put them in the washer.

–          Food products. Be careful of what you put down the kitchen sink. Do not rinse dishes off in the sink and allow the food to go down the drain. Rinse them in a container and dump the gray water outside.

These tips can help you reduce how often you need a professional septic tank pumping at your home. If you are still pumping every two years or less, you may want to invest in a larger septic tank for your home.

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

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Staying on Top of Septic Pumping

February 24th, 2015 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping
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Your septic tank has a limited capacity, usually around 1,000 gallons, depending on the size of your home. While much of the solid waste going into your tank will be dissolved into effluent through the natural decomposition process, there’s always some solid waste left behind. This “sludge” eventually fills the tank, needing to be physically removed through pumping by a septic professional.

When to Schedule a Septic Tank Cleansing

The time to clean or pump is determined by the level of sludge in your tank. Pumping should be done once the sludge begins to approach the outlet pipe, where effluent leaves the tank for the drain field. Once the top of the submerged sludge is within approximately 12 inches of the outlet pipe, it’s time to have your septic tank pumped.

Most septic system tanks only need to be pumped every 2-5 years. The variance is due to how much solid waste is accumulated from the home and the size of the tank. Good septic practices, such as not using a garbage disposal and reducing fat and oils allowed down the drain, can reduce how often a tank needs to be pumped. Although there are commercially avialable chemicals which claim to extend the time between pumping, these are often ineffective.

The best way to stay on top of when your septic tank needs to be pumped is to have an annual inspection of your entire system. It’s very difficult for most homeowners to determine where the sludge level is within their tanks, so having a professional check the tank level each year can prevent expensive tank overflows.

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

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Caring For Your Septic Tank

September 27th, 2014 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping
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One of the most important components of your septic system is the holding tank. Used to hold your sewage water before it’s filtered out to your drainfield, your septic tank is more than just a pit to hold waste in the ground. It treats all the waste that comes from your home, allowing naturally-occuring bacteria to break down the biodegradable components, while separating solid waste from liquid. To keep the tank working efficiently, some regular maintenance and care is required. Here are a few tips to care for your tank: 

  • Annual inspections. Schedule an inspection once a year with a professional septic service company for your tank. Your technician can check the bacteria content, the moving components and ensure the tank is working effectively.
     
  • Limit solid waste. What goes down your drains or is flushed down the toilet ends up in your septic tank. Keep your tank free of non-biodegradable items to reduce the wear and tear on your tank and system, as well as reducing the amount of waste that will need to be pumped.
     
  • Limit the amount of waste water. Not all waste water needs to go into your septic tank. Divert gray water from your sump pump and other non-toxic water sources to drain elsewhere, instead of through your septic tank.
     
  • Pump regularly. How often you need to pump your septic tank depends on its size, as well as how much waste is filtered through the tank by your household. Your septic service company will check your tank level during your annual inspection to advise you about when you need to have your tank pumped. 

By caring for your septic tank, you can extend the life of your tank and septic system, plus reduce the amount of repairs and emergency septic problems you encounter along the way. It’s worth the investment in regular maintenance to save you time and money off septic issues in the future.

Posted on behalf of Find Local Sewer Septic

 

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Why Do Septic Tanks Need to be Pumped?

August 16th, 2014 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping
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Regularly scheduled inspections and pump-outs are essential in the long-term care and function of a septic system. While improper use (i.e. allowing things to go down the drain that should not enter the system) is a common cause of septic tank failures, negating the responsibility of having a septic tank pumped regularly is also a huge cause of system failure. A septic tank is meant to handle only so much waste at a time and for a specific amount of time. Proper system maintenance is the responsibility of the homeowner, and by keeping maintenance as a priority homeowners can save money on costly repairs and promote the longevity of their septic systems.

Having the septic tank pumped every three to five years is one of the best ways to ensure that a septic system will last for its projected lifetime. The frequency of septic tank pumping will depend on the usage, number of people living in a home, and whether or not a garbage disposal is attached to the kitchen plumbing. Homes without a garbage disposal can typically go three to five years between pump-outs, while homes with a garbage disposal should have their tanks pumped every year.

Septic tanks need to be pumped so that the solid wastes inside of the tanks do not exceed a certain level. The bacteria that live inside a septic tank can only break down so much waste. After a few years, the waste will begin to override the capacity of the bacteria’s function to properly breakdown and dispose of it. Septic tank pumping will empty the tank of waste so that the bacteria can start over with the amount that they are required to handle.

Only licensed professionals should pump out a septic tank to ensure that it is done properly.

Posted on behalf of Bynum & Sons Plumbing, Inc.

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Preventing Septic System Issues

August 16th, 2014 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping
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Septic systems are often taken for granted by homeowners. They flush, run water, wash laundry all without thinking about their septic systems. However, homeowners are responsible for maintaining their septic systems. With regular septic tank pumping and being aware of what goes down the drains in their home, homeowners can help protect their septic system for years and years to come.

Failing septic tanks are extremely costly to repair, so by preventing issues with their septic system homeowners can save money and a huge hassle. One of the most important things for homeowners to remember is that they should not flush chemicals down the drain. Chemicals that enter the drain can cause problems with the function of the septic system. Naturally occurring bacteria live in the system to help decompose solid materials. When chemicals are sent down the drain, they can upset the natural balance of bacteria by killing good bacteria that are there to make sure the septic tank continues to function properly.

Using too much water can also cause issues with a septic system. While septic tanks are designed to hold a certain amount of water, that water capacity is meant to be spread out over time. Therefore, it is better for a family of five to spread out their laundry washings over multiple days rather than saving all of their loads of laundry for one day. Heavy water usage can clog up the drain pipes leading into and out of the septic tank. Also, garbage disposal systems need to be designed to work with a septic system because ground food materials can also clog the drain pipes and drain field.

Properly using and maintaining a septic system can help to ensure that it will function properly for years. By taking simple measures homeowners can prevent expensive septic system issues.

Posted on behalf of Metro Septic and Plumbing

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Signs That a Septic System Needs Repair

August 16th, 2014 Posted in Septic System Maintenance
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A light flickers letting someone know that a blub is about to burn out. An electric toothbrush refuses to hold a charge long enough for a thorough tooth cleaning. A car sputters right before it runs out of gas. Most things in life give warning signs before an issue comes up; some of which are simple, and some of which are not. A septic system is one thing in life that people do not want to ignore any warning signs that an issue is about to arise. By knowing the warning signs, people can help to prevent major and costly repairs.

All septic systems are designed to remove wastewater from a home. It is designed to work on its own and to function for many years. However, there are some telltale signs that trouble is on the horizon with a septic system. Toilets that are slow to flush or do not flush all the way are signs that a drain (or drains) to the septic tank are clogged or blocked. Many times these drain lines can be cleared with a simple plumbing technique, but severe clogs or blockages may require professional help.

Foul odors coming out of the pipes within a home or from the yard where the septic tank is buried is a good indicator that the tank is cracked. Standing water in the drain field also indicates that there is a leak someone within the tank or draining pipes.

While all of these indicators are signs of trouble, by addressing them immediately people are often able to avoid extremely high costs in repairs. However, severe damage to a septic system cannot be ignored, as there are serious health concerns associated with improper disposal of waste. If any signs are apparent in a septic system that point to unwanted issues, have them resolved immediately to avoid a higher cost of repair.

Posted on behalf of Metro Septic and Plumbing

 

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Water Conservation Tips For Your Septic System

March 26th, 2014 Posted in Septic Tank Pumping
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When it comes to your septic system, too much water can mean trouble. A septic system must be able to process and filter all the water from your household, which can overwhelm the system when water is wasted. Too much water in a twenty-four hour period can overload the system, especially when the soil is not able to absorb the amount of waste water coming through the pipes. This can rush the retention time and end in a system failure. To prevent this type of problem, use water conversation methods to ensure you are not over-taxing your system.

  • Water efficient fixtures – Replace older shower heads and toilets with water efficient models that can reduce the amount of water your family uses each day.
  • Stagger showers and laundry loads – Try to stagger laundry loads over several days instead of doing several loads all in one day. In addition, try to schedule bath and showers at different times of the day.
  • Fix all leaks – A dripping faucet or running toilet can add gallons of extra water every day to your septic system. Fix all plumbing issues as soon as possible to reduce the strain of excess water flow through your pipes and septic.
  • Prepare for guests – If you know you are expecting guests, try to reduce the water load in the days before their arrival.
  • Reduce running water – Be mindful of running water for no reason. For example, instead of letting water run to get cold, keep a pitcher of drinking water in the fridge.

Any way that you can reduce the amount of water you use can help reduce the stress on your septic system. In addition, make sure you are scheduling regular inspections and septic tank pumping by your local septic service to increase the life of your septic system.

Posted on behalf of Keith Lee, Metro Septic and Plumbing

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