Tag Archives: septic system

Three-Year Maintenance: Inspection vs. Full Pumping Service

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Have you received notice from your county that your three years are up?  Perhaps you’ve heard about companies advertising 3-year county maintenance inspections for a fraction of the cost of pumping…  There are only a few very specific situations where this would apply.  The statewide law that requires 3-year maintenance on septic systems states that the septic tank must be “less than 1/3 full of combined sludge and scum volume” in order to allow for an inspection only without pumping.  For the vast majority of our customers, this criteria is not met and so a full pumping service is performed to check the full health of the system.

Generally, a house must be vacant for the majority of those three years in order to meet this criteria, or perhaps the system is sitting unused and is currently not hooked up to any plumbing.  Any regular usage to the system will fill the septic tank with sludge and scum waste over 1/3 of the tank capacity and would therefore require pumping.  We also have seen a great benefit to emptying the tanks completely: it allows us to get a good look at the tank and entire system, ensuring all components are in place, in good condition, and doing what they should be doing.  We also clean the filter if your system has one – something not all inspectors do!  Failing to do this can result in back-up issues.

We are able to perform these inspections for the 3-year county maintenance requirement and defer the pumping when it applies.  We understand the intrigue of wanting to get by with an inspection only – give us a call to discuss if this is something that would apply to your septic system!

Do Garbage Disposals Affect a Septic System?

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While garbage disposals may be useful to have in the kitchen, misuse can create unexpected issues.  Depending on how it’s used, it can deliver large amounts of water to the system.  But even more than that, the solids delivered through the garbage disposal don’t settle properly in the septic tank.  Bone fragments and other materials that don’t break down well, like fats, can begin to plug the lines even before reaching the tank.  We recommend limited and proper usage of your garbage disposal, as well as having the septic tank pumped more frequently due to the increased solids.

Septic System vs. Holding Tank- Part 2

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As discussed in our previous post, one of the first steps to understanding the septic service world is understanding the difference between a septic system and a holding tank.

Now we will discuss the basics of septic systems…

First of all, there are different “types” of septic systems (such as conventional, mound, at-grade, in-ground pressurized) but they all function on the same fundamental process.  Waste and water from the house’s plumbing go into a tank(s) where the solid waste & toilet paper sits(natural bacteria helps to “breakdown” that waste).  The liquids from the tank exit the tank via an outlet line and go out to a drainfield in the yard.  The drainfield is constructed with multiple layers through which the liquid filters down and is cleaned.

Septic systems are therefore a little more complicated than holding tanks, where everything sits until a pumper comes to empty it.  With septic systems, they are designed for the tank where the solids sit to be operating with a somewhat “full” level.  (Of course, you don’t want that level to get too high where the solids beginning to reach the inlet or outlet lines or even get all the way up to the cover.)  To keep an eye on the condition of the system, some states require that septic systems be pumped and inspected regularly, perhaps once every few years.  However, many customers find it beneficial to have their system pumped out (having the tanks emptied) and visually inspected, including having a licensed plumber check over the drainfield.

Compared with holding tanks, septic systems are more expensive to install.  However, they generally don’t require the frequent pumping that holding tanks do.  This in itself may be easier on the budget in the long-run.  But septic systems also have more components to them — perhaps a pump, a filter, baffles, etc. — which need to be maintained and, in time, replaced.  These are all factors to consider when building or buying a new home.

If you have questions about the type of system you have, the zoning department at your local county should be able to help you.

 

Septic System vs. Holding Tank- Part 1

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This is one of the first steps to understanding the septic service world: understanding the difference between a septic system and a holding tank.  It’s especially helpful if you’re looking to buy a home away from city sewer for the first time.  Each system type has its own unique maintenance requirements, so it’s smart to know these differences ahead of time.

In this post, we’ll discuss what a holding tank is…

Holding Tanks:   A system with a holding tank is fairly simple.  The home’s plumbing runs into a tank, or perhaps two connected tanks, that are buried out in the yard.  The covers to the tanks will generally be in the front yard because of strict guidelines allowing for close access for the pumpers.  When those tanks’ levels hit a certain point, an alarm is triggered to alert you that your holding tank is full.  The alarm can be silenced and then reset once the tanks are pumped.  When that alarm sounds, it’s time to call your pumper and get on their schedule.  They will come and empty the tanks, and you’ll be all set until next time the alarm goes off.

The biggest thing to be aware of with holding tanks is household water usage.  Keep in mind that your sinks, toilets, tubs, laundry, etc. all go into the holding tanks.  So a family is often surprised by how quickly those tanks can fill up.  We suggest learning how to conserve on water as much as possible: shorter showers, full loads of laundry, full dishwasher loads, fixing all leaking or dripping faucets, etc.  This can help you stretch out that time between pumpings a little more.

Holding tanks are very common and are less expensive to install.  The homeowner will want to keep in mind, though, that this type of system will require regular pumpings.

In our next post, we will explain how holding tanks are different from septic systems.

Going Somewhere Warm for Winter?

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Are you planning on taking a trip this winter and leaving your house empty for a few days?  Or are you one of those fortunate ones who skips Wisconsin winters altogether and heads south for several months?

If so, we’re happy for you… and a little jealous!  We hope you enjoy your time in the sun.

Keep in mind, though, that leaving winter behind is not entirely worry-free.  If your house is going to sit empty for any amount of time in the depths of our bitter cold winters, problems can occur with your plumbing and septic system.  Not only can pipes freeze if they aren’t being used, but issues can also arise with the septic system itself.  Extremely cold temps plus a period of non-use can equal annoying issues when you return home.

If you plan on leaving this winter, consider a house-sitter or having a trusted neighbor stop in and run water down the drains, flush the toilets, etc. to keep things moving in those lines.  And of course, give your local pumper a call to see what else they recommend for your particular system in order to keep everything working for you!

A Commonly Asked Question…

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In our business, a sure sign that summer is on its way begins this time of year — homeowners start receiving notice that their septic system is due for it’s regular pumping and maintenance.  (Here in Wisconsin, each county requires systems to be pumped and visually inspected at least once every 3 years.)  That means a lot of our day is spent on the phone with our customers, scheduling their system’s pumping and answering any questions they have.

One of the most commonly-asked questions is this…  “Do I have to be home when you come to pump?”  It’s a great question that plays a big part in the scheduling process.  The short answer is: no, not usually.

Why not?  Because for this kind of service (emptying the tank(s), cleaning the filter, visually inspecting the tank(s) and drainfield, etc), the access that our technician needs is outside.  We will therefore ask for the homeowner to make sure the covers are accessible and to provide a garden hose for cleaning the filter, if applicable.  But beyond that, the technician doesn’t generally need much else from the homeowner.  When he’s done with that service, he’ll leave an invoice in the door (unless the customer specifies otherwise) and then be on his way.  This is great news for the homeowner, since he/she doesn’t need to block out part of the day to run home and wait for our technician.

That being said, we perfectly understand if a customer would like to be home when our technician arrives and we will do our best to schedule accordingly.  — And as a reminder, this is mainly just for routine maintenance.  When a homeowner calls and needs quick service due to issues with their system, we often want the homeowner to be present so the technician has access to the house if needed and to be able to answer the customer’s questions right away.

So if you are one of the many who is about to schedule a pumping for your septic system, keep these points in mind.  And don’t be afraid to bring up any questions you may have when you give your local pumper a call.

A Few Basics to Septic Systems

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If you are a new homeowner, just moved away from city-sewer, or want to educate yourself on your system, here are a few basics to help you out:

  • Learn the location of your septic tank and drainfield, especially if your cover is underground.  If that’s the case, it will need to be dug up before your pumper comes.  (You can have risers installed to alleviate this problem.)
  • Your state may require that your system is pumped and/or inspected within a certain amount of time.  For example, here in Wisconsin, the requirement is every 3 years.  That maintenance is overseen by each county.  Any good local septic service will be able to explain how your county handles that requirement and what you will need to do as the homeowner.  However, each system is different and it may be wisest to pump more often.
  • Keep your system “healthy” by cutting back on antibacterial and antimicrobial cleaning products in the kitchen and bathrooms.  Using a monthly bacterial additive can also help in this matter.
  • Whenever you suspect a problem with your system, do not hesitate to call a professional.  Don’t try to fix it yourself.