Maintenance of aerobic septic systems has always been a significant issue of concern that multiple homeowners have voiced. There are some major challenges and techniques that individuals have to consider as they look to maintain such systems. Here’s how to maintain an aerobic septic system.
1. Monitor What Goes In
In some extreme situations, homeowners don’t usually know what goes in their septic tanks. Being aware of what goes in the septic system allows you to monitor and control the substances that go through the system. You can also respond quickly if there is a need for any repair or replacement.
2. Pump It Regularly
An aerobic septic system must be pumped regularly to ensure its functioning properly. Depending on the system’s size and the number of people in your household, you may need to pump it every 3 to 5 years. Pumping removes the solid waste accumulated in the tank, which can clog the system and cause it to fail. This will ensure that your system lasts for a long time.
4. Have It Inspected Regularly
To keep your aerobic septic system in good condition, you should have it inspected regularly. This will allow you to identify any problems early on and take corrective action before they become serious. An inspection should be done at least three times a year, but more often if you have a large family or your system is used heavily. This is something that individuals must keep in mind.
5. Be Careful With What You Flush
One of the most common causes of septic system problems is flushing things that should not be flushed. This includes grease, oil, gasoline, paint thinners, and other chemicals. These can clog the system and cause it to fail. Only flush things that are biodegradable and will break down quickly.
6. Keep It Free of Debris
It is important to keep your aerobic septic system free of debris, such as leaves and branches, that can clog the drain field and prevent the system from working properly. You should also avoid driving over the drain field, which can compact the soil and damage the system. Some huge debris has the potential to damage the septic tank. You should keep an eye on this.
7. Work With Certified Companies
It’s common for homeowners to try to save money by doing their septic system maintenance or repairs. However, this is not recommended, as septic systems are complex and require special training and knowledge to work on them. Only allow certified companies to work on your system to ensure that it is done properly and that your warranty remains valid.
Conclusion
These are some things you need to do to maintain your aerobic septic system. If you follow these tips, you can be sure your system will last longer. You can also avoid costly repairs or replacements. Contact Countryside Construction Inc. if you need help with your septic system.
Summer is quickly approaching, and those of us that have septic tanks need to take note. A septic tank is a great way to help you make sure your waste is gone, but you do have to ensure that it is clean and well cared for. Here are some summer septic system tips to keep your tank working well this summer season.
Be Mindful of Rain
With summer and spring comes more rain. This means that your leech field around your septic tank might be wetter than normal. If you are dealing with a septic tank field that is very wet, you can always do things to help avoid making it worse. If it is actively raining, and you are dealing with water standing in the yard, you want to avoid doing things that put extra water into the system.
This means you want to avoid showering or bathing, avoid doing dishes in the dishwasher, and avoid doing laundry. These will put grey water into the system and make that leech field even wetter.
Keep Up With Septic System Maintenance
Summer is a great time to get your maintenance taken care of as it is warmer and easier for the technician or company you are using to access your tank. Warmer months are a good time to get your tank pumped and to remove all that waste that has the potential to clog things up.
You want to make sure that you have your cleaner come and pump your tank to get rid of any waste that might be clogging the tank and take the time to look for things like roots that might be growing into the tank. As summer comes, the trees will be more likely to grow into the tank as well.
Be Mindful of What You Flush
Be mindful of what you are putting into your tank. You want to avoid flushing large amounts of toilet tissue, you are going to want to avoid things like wipes, even if they claim to be flushable, and you want to be certain you are using septic tank prep to help keep the tank working well.
Your septic tank is a very important part of your home. Keeping it working well all year is a must. While summer does come with unique challenges, you can pay just a little extra attention and keep it going.
If you are not a trained plumber, it can be tricky to know if there are issues with your septic tank. And if you stay in a rural area, you depend on the septic tank to dispose of any wastewater from your family. When septic water has an issue, your whole plumbing system can get compromised. Here are some common signs that your septic system has an issue:
The sinks and bathtubs do not drain water quickly like they used to.
Your toilet is slow to flush.
Toilets or drains are backing up.
Standing water near the septic tank or drain field.
You start smelling a foul smell near the septic tank or drain field.
Common Septic Tank Problems
Here are the common septic issues you need to watch out for.
Clogs in the Septic System
When was the last time you had your septic tank pumped out? Septic tanks need to be pumped every one to two years depending on the people living in a home and the amount of wastewater generated. If your septic tank has been pumped out within the last year or two and you still have septic tank problems, you may have a clog. A clog can be a huge inconvenience in a home. So, if this is the problem, consult with a plumber for professional advice.
Tree Roots Infiltrating the Pipes
Tree roots can also be the cause of issues with your septic tank. If you notice sewage has started backing up into your drains, some wet patches or puddles in your lawn, or mysterious cracks in your driveway, tree roots could be the issues. As roots grow over time and get to the drain pipes, it can cause them to crack. If the issue is not detected and addressed immediately, the roots will infiltrate the pipes and cause a clog. Installing pipes that can withstand damage from roots will prevent this problem.
Leaks in Sewage Lines or Tank
All homeowners desire luscious green grass. But if the grass is only green in one area while the surrounding greenery looks dead, you may have a leak in the septic tank. This means sewage water from the pipes is leaking, sending nutrients to the grass in that area. Consult with a plumber immediately if you notice this to prevent a potential health hazard.
Improper Septic Tank Installation
When a septic tank has been installed well, your whole plumbing system will run efficiently with no issues. But when the installation is done incorrectly, plumbing issues are bound to arise. Some common installation mistakes include installing the wrong size or not burying the septic tank deep enough. A plumber will know how to fix a septic system and rectify the issues.
Increased Water Use
There is only so much water that your septic tank can hold before it overflows. If too many people depend on a septic tank, it may fail. Consider having a plumber check its size and determine whether it is the right size depending on the number of people using it.
A septic tank issue is not something you can DIY. You need professionals to handle the issue. If you want your septic system checked, contact Countryside Construction Inc. We do septic design, installing and servicing. Give us a call today. We will go and check what the issue is and rectify it immediately.
While it’s not exactly a conversation that you’d want to have at the dinner table, it’s something we all have in common: keeping clean in the bathroom. During the events of the past two years, people have gotten more adventurous with their choices, as they’ve spent more time at home than they’ve ever dreamed of. We’ve heard of many more people learning about the magic of bidets, but others still like to use traditional wet wipes—sometimes called flushable wipes.
The problem arises when people believe that these wipes can go into your pipes, regardless if you’re connected to municipal sewage systems or have a septic system of your own. Flushable wipes in particular are the scourge of many a plumbing system. Read on for the reasons why.
Misleading marketing
Wet wipes in North America are a $2-billion+ industry, and with good reason. They’re a versatile product that does everything from cleaning babies’ bottoms to scrubbing off makeup. The problem arises with flushable wipes, specifically. (You might also see wipes that bill themselves as septic-safe.)
It’s quite unsettling for homeowners to think about having to put used wipes into the garbage can, where they’ll rest until trash day. To that end, it’s not hard to see why marketing folks dreamed up the very idea of flushable wipes—who could disagree with the idea of a wipe specifically engineered to be flushed? The problem is that such a thing doesn’t exist. No wipe will fully break apart in your pipes, no matter what a manufacturer claims.
Backups snowball quickly
One deceptive thing about your plumbing is that you simply can never see about 99 percent of it. Many people make the assumption that if it flushes away or goes down the drain, then it’s gone. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, it’s possible that your problems are just beginning and that you’re underestimating the dangers of flushable wipes.
People who pour cooking oils and grease down their drains have likely gummed up the works already from this solidifying waste. Flushable wipes can grab onto these preexisting pipe obstructions and create something that’s colloquially called fatbergs. These massive blockages in your pipes can cause serious problems and require hours of plumbing work.
Flush only paper down the pipes
The one unassailable rule if you’re hoping to avoid the dangers of flushable wipes is to never flush anything down your pipes besides toilet paper (and your own business, of course). Anything else—from feminine products to flushable wipes to cooking oils—can be a troublemaker, so avoid disposing of them in this manner and your pipes should be running clear for years to come.
Both sewage connections and septic systems can bear the brunt of uneducated users flushing down things like wipes and damaging their pipes. To that end, it’s important to learn about what you can and can’t flush, and it’s critical to have regular maintenance on your septic system to ensure that everything is working properly. Call the pros at Countryside Construction Inc. today to schedule your appointment.
Sometimes a hot bath is the best way to relax after a long day. One way to elevate your bath is with a bath bomb. The calming essential oils and delightful fragrances in bath bombs help melt your cares away. Plus, the salts found in some products can soothe sore muscles.
But before you plop a bath bomb in your tub, consider the toll it can take on your septic system. This post will cover the basics behind bath bombs and septic systems.
Are bath bombs bad for your septic tank?
We hate to be the bearers of bad news, but septic systems and bath bombs usually don’t mix. Here are the reasons why bath bombs are bad for your septic tank:
Oils and fats: Shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil and essential oils are common ingredients in bath bombs. Those ingredients (along with perfumes and other fragrances) combine to form a layer of fat that causes blockages in the leach field. These blockages cause a variety of septic problems and are expensive to fix.
Decorative solids: Many bath bombs contain decorative flowers and glitter that look nice in the water. While they’re pretty to look at, they cause some not-so-pretty issues once the bathwater goes down the drain. Again, these solids float to the top of your septic tank and can clog up the pipes in your leach field.
Salts: Epsom salt or sea salt are other common ingredients in bath bombs. They’re beneficial in soothing sore muscles in joints, but they often don’t dissolve completely. When salts don’t dissolve, they can cause clogs in your home’s plumbing or in the tank itself. In high concentrations, they can even harm the bacteria in your septic system.
Can bath bombs be septic friendly?
We certainly don’t recommend using bath bombs, but if you can’t stop, try following these tips:
Reduce frequency: Treating yourself to a bath bomb once in a while isn’t the end of the world. Once or twice a month is probably fine, but if you start noticing any plumbing issues, stop using them and call a septic repair company ASAP.
Keep potency low: The more the merrier might be true with having friends over for a dinner party, but that’s far from the case with bath bombs. Large quantities can lead to large septic system complications. Read the product label, and use the right bath-bomb-to-water ratio to avoid complications.
Make sure salts dissolve: If your bath bomb contains Epsom salt or sea salt, make sure they completely dissolve before draining your tub. As we mentioned, leftover salts are a leading cause of clogs and can kill the helpful bacteria in your tank.
Hire our team if you notice any issues
When your septic system acts up, hire our pros at Countryside Construction Inc. to make repairs. With over 40 years of industry experience, you can trust that your system is in good hands when we’re on the job. Call today to schedule an appointment or to learn more about bath bombs and septic systems.
