With the proper care and maintenance, you can keep a septic system operating smoothly for many years. However, as with all major pieces of equipment, the system will eventually reach a point where it exceeds its useful lifespan and will need to be replaced.
So how do you know when it’s time to opt for septic system replacement in Comal County, TX instead of continuing to try to maintain and repair the system as needed? Here are some factors to consider:
The age of the system: As we alluded to already, eventually the system will get to the point where it’s so old that the issues that are causing you difficulties will continue to become more and more common, even if you stay on top of routine preventative maintenance. If you have an older home with a septic system that’s been in place for decades, and you notice the problems with the system becoming more frequent, then it’s probably a good idea to move forward with replacement instead of sinking money into septic system repair in areas around Comal County, TX.
It’s draining slowly: If you regularly have issues with long draining times for bathtubs or sinks, this could simply be a sign of a clog. However, if all of your sinks are draining slowly, there’s probably a larger issue causing the problem. There could be a major sludge buildup in the tank that causes water to move more slowly through the system. This could mean it’s time for you to pump the tank, or it could mean you need to replace the system—you should have a professional take a look.
You have standing water in your yard: Standing water in your yard generally means there’s an issue with your drain field. You need to address the issue as soon as possible to prevent it from getting worse. If the drain field is clogged up with roots or if the soil is compacted in the area, this could prevent the water from draining properly in the soil. You might be able to get away with making some repairs, or even replacing the drain field without having to replace the rest of the septic system.
The system no longer meets your needs: In some cases, you might have a septic system that’s functioning just fine, but it simply no longer meets the needs of your household. Perhaps you put on an addition and now are using more water in your house. Perhaps you have kids, or have a parent who has moved in with you, which has increased your water usage. If the tank is too small for your needs, you’ll want to upgrade the system to better suit your needs and lifestyle.
These are just a few examples of some of the circumstances in which you might consider septic system replacement in Comal County, TX instead of getting repairs done on the equipment. For more information about our septic system services, we encourage you to contact the team at Countryside Construction Inc. today.
Living the country life is a lot of fun—and a lot of hard work. If your home isn’t connected to the municipal sewer system, you likely depend on a septic system to handle your home’s wastewater needs. While most modern septic systems are fairly safe, easy to use and relatively self-contained, they still need a bit more attention than you might expect if you’ve never lived on a property with its own septic system in the past.
The best way to ensure that you’re caring for your septic system correctly is to work with an expert. Countryside Construction specializes in septic system inspections in Canyon Lake and surrounding areas, to come and examine your system. They’ll be able to help you determine the best course of action regarding maintenance and repair for your home’s septic system.
The State of Texas Mandates and many Counties require septic system maintenance plans.
In the meantime, there are plenty of things you can do to reduce the strain on your septic system and help it operate smoothly and effectively, including the following actions:
Only flush what you’re supposed to: There are plenty of things that you may be tempted to flush down the toilet that could wreak havoc on your septic tank. Avoid flushing dead fish, paper towels, cotton balls, diapers,baby or sanitizing wipes, condoms and other foreign objects down your toilet and drain. Only use toilet paper in the bathroom.
Do laundry carefully: If your drain field is looking a little soapy, chances are you’re using too much soap and detergent while doing the laundry. Only use the manufacturer-recommended amount of laundry soap when cleaning your clothes, and
consider switching to a less aggressive foaming agent.
Read the grass: You can learn a lot about the status of your home’s septic system simply by checking the grass between your home and your drain field. If there’s a line of yellow grass, it could indicate leaky pipes. If the grass is splotchy and brown, there could be other issues at play. And if the grass over the drain field is looking overly lush, this could also be a sign of a leak.
Never dump grease: If you’re wrapping up breakfast and find yourself with a large griddle full of butter and bacon fat, don’t dump it down the drain. Instead, let it cool down and scrape it off into the garbage can. As grease and fats cool, they harden, forming blockages in your pipes and your septic system.
Call when you suspect a problem: Anytime you think something may be wrong with your home or business septic system, don’t try and figure it out on your own. Instead, call the technicians at Countryside Construction specialize in septic system inspections in the Foothills of Texas and can accurately diagnose the problem.
Since 1981, Countryside Construction Inc. has been a proud and trusted provider of septic system installation & maintenance in Comal, Bandara, Bexar, Blanco, Guadalupe, Hays, Kendall and Medina Counties.
To learn about the ways we can help you control and care for your home’s wastewater management system, reach out to one of our friendly and knowledgeable representatives at Countryside Construction, Inc.
Water is a precious resource, and it is essential to maintain the quality of the water that enters into rivers, streams, lakes and groundwater reservoirs. To prevent contaminants and pollutants from seeping into water sources, and to increase public health and safety, wastewater processing and treatment is important. One type of water treatment system that a lot of home and business owners rely on is an aerobic septic system in Canyon Lake, TX. This system is designed to treat water as effectively as municipal treatment systems using several types of bacteria.
Basics of aerobic treatment system
An aerobic treatment system utilizes natural bacteria to break down waste and treat water. When bacteria are exposed to waste, they reproduce rapidly to quickly eat away at waste and purify the water. Using aerobic treatment systems, wastewater can be purified enough to be used to water landscaping. The four primary types of bacteria that are used in aerobic septic systems are bacillus, mycobacterium tuberculosis, nocardia and lactobacillus.
Here’s a closer look at how these systems work:
Pre-treatment: The first step of the aerobic treatment process is pre-treatment. During this phase, the wastewater passes through a trash tank to filter out the debris that can’t be degraded by bacteria and microorganisms. This includes wipes, feminine hygiene products and plastic garbage that might have been flushed down the drain.
Aeration: After pre-treatment, wastewater passes through an aeration chamber where bacteria begin decomposing the waste. This chamber is consistently aerated to supply bacteria with the air that they need to survive. Because of how important aeration is to the aerobic septic system in Canyon Lake, TX, it’s essential to maintain this system properly and invest in professional repairs when necessary.
Diffuser: Your system’s diffuser is responsible for breaking up water bubbles and dissolving oxygen in the system. Dissolved oxygen provides bacteria with the air that it needs and promotes proper mixing in your system to help dissolve waste.
Settling chamber: After aeration, wastewater becomes agitated and mixed up. The settling chamber allows sludge and debris to settle out of your wastewater before it passes through to your pump tank.
Pump tank: Your pump tank is the last place that wastewater goes in your system before it is dispersed through irrigation or sprinkler lines. In some cases, water is treated with a final chlorine disinfection. In other cases, there is no pump tank attached to the system, and treated water is simply allowed to seep out of the system.
Get help with your aerobic septic system in Canyon Lake, TX
You can find out more about how an aerobic septic system in Canyon Lake, TX works and whether this is a good option for your needs by giving Countryside Construction Inc. a call. Since 1981, our team has been providing a wide range of septic system services to commercial and residential customers in the area. From septic system installation to regular maintenance and repairs, our team is equipped to handle comprehensive septic system services that are designed to meet your specific needs. Give us a call to schedule a consultation and get a service quote!
Aerobic septic systems differ from your standard septic systems in that they introduce oxygen into the process. Conventional systems only use the septic tank to separate out the greases, fats and solids, whereas aerobic systems push oxygen into the system to allow aerobic bacteria and microbes to go to work on cleaning the wastewater.
What exactly makes this so beneficial, and what else do you need to know about aerobic septic systems in Canyon Lake, TX? Here’s some information to consider.
Why you might opt for an aerobic septic system
There are a variety of situations in which you might decide to go with an aerobic septic system rather than a standard anaerobic tank.
The biggest reason is that aerobic septic systems clean the wastewater better than a standard system. Aerobic bacteria do a much better job than anaerobic bacteria of cleaning the wastewater to the fullest extent, and it does so more quickly. This means that the water that seeps out into the drain field after it’s gone through the system is going to be cleaner.
What makes this so important? After all, the wastewater still needs to get filtered even more after it’s been pushed out into the drain field, right?
Well, if you have a high water table on your property, or if your septic system is located anywhere near a well or an aquifer, there’s a much greater potential for contaminating that water if you have a standard septic system than if you have an aerobic septic system. Because the water from an aerobic septic system comes out into the drain field much cleaner, you don’t have to worry quite as much about the effects it could potentially have on water surrounding your property.
In addition, a higher water table on your property could also result in a conventional gravity system malfunctioning, which could force sewage back on to your property. With an aerobic treatment unit, this isn’t going to be an issue you have to concern yourself with.
What to know about switching to aerobic
Now, if you’re interested in switching from a conventional system to an aerobic system (as people are doing in increasingly large numbers all across the United States), you do need to be aware of the differences in how the systems are installed and designed, and not just the differences in how they operate. Aerobic septic systems have more parts than conventional systems because they need electrical components, pumps and compressors to be able to introduce air into the system and allow the aerobic bacteria to do its job.
The systems work in much the same way aside from the introduction of air—the entire purpose is to separate the water from the solids and to send the treated water back out into a nearby drain field for further filtering.
For more information about the differences between aerobic and conventional septic systems and what you should know about aerobic septic systems in Canyon Lake, TX, contact the experts at Countryside Construction Inc. today.
Most people understand that saving water is important when it comes to conserving valuable natural resources, but water conservation is especially important for home and business owners who rely on septic systems in Canyon Lake, TX. Overloading a septic system with excessive water usage can cause all kinds of issues that may require extensive repairs and potentially even a full replacement. The good news is that it doesn’t take a significant amount of effort to reduce your water usage and promote proper function in your septic system. By taking several small steps to curb water waste, you can greatly improve your system’s overall health and longevity:
Time your showers: You might be surprised by just how much time you spend in the shower if you actually start using a timer. Having some kind of indicator of time while you shower allows you to be mindful about how long your showers take and can help you work to shorten the time you spend using water. If you want to take extra steps to conserve water, consider turning the shower off while you lather your shampoo.
Spread out your appliance use: Running several water-using appliances at once can put undue strain on your system. Try running a single load of laundry every other day instead of doing it all at once one day a week. You should also stagger your use of different appliances like washing machines and dishwashers.
Retrofit your home with eco-friendly fixtures: Installing low-flow showerheads and faucets can greatly reduce your overall water consumption. Newer products are able to limit water usage while providing sufficient water pressure for washing dishes or bathing.
Curb outdoor water waste: Homeowners often waste water on excessive lawn and garden irrigation to support plants that have a low tolerance for dry conditions. Consider replacing some of your plants with drought-tolerant succulents or plants that don’t require a significant amount of water. You should also limit the amount of times that you water your lawn during the summer.
Keep up on regular maintenance and inspections: Preventative maintenance and professional inspections can make a huge difference when it comes to the function of your septic system. A professional can check for leaks in your plumbing and inspect your septic system to ensure that it is operating as efficiently and effectively as possible. Investing in regular maintenance now allows you to avoid major repairs and premature replacement down the road.
For more preventative maintenance and water conservation tips, contact the experts at Countryside Construction Inc. Since 1981, we have been providing comprehensive services for septic systems in Canyon Lake, TX. We specialize in working with builders to design, install and maintain septic systems that are carefully planned to meet their specific needs and offer decades of safe operation. We can walk you through every step of the process, from initial soil testing to the permitting process and final installation. To find out more about everything we have to offer, take a look at our website and give us a call to schedule a consultation.
