Category Archives: questions about septic systems

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!

What type of toilet paper should I choose?

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The softer the toilet paper the more chemicals were used to make it soft. These chemicals can be harmful to your system’s biological activity, just like anti-bacterial soaps and other harsh chemicals are. Pick a brand of toilet paper that is in-between for softness. Look for a brand that is “Septic Safe”. These brands are normally made with fewer chemicals and are better for your septic system. As a reminder, overuse of any paper can lead to blockage in your septic. NEVER flush wipes, even if they are labeled “flushable.”

Bath Bombs

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In recent years, bath bombs have become a popular product to add essential oils, scent, bubbles, and color to bathwater.  But how do the ingredients in these bath bombs affect your plumbing and septic system?

Frequent use of bath bombs can potentially cause issues by plugging the lines themselves.  There are often solid particles in bath bombs, which include lavender buds and flower petals or glitter and confetti.  None of these items will dissolve.  So, for example, if some of these items get hung up in your lines, toilet paper could then catch on them and begin to plug the lines.  The fats & oils in bath bombs can also solidify as they cool in the pipes and create a blockage.

Even if these ingredients make it through the plumbing lines without causing any issues, they can still accumulate in the septic tank itself and clog the filter.  We therefore recommend using this product only occasionally, and always following up with a monthly bacteria additive for your septic system.

 

 

Based on the article “Another Product That Could Harm Septic Systems” by Sara Heger, Ph.D., Pumper Magazine.

Can Cat Waste Be Flushed?

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While this is perhaps a common question in more urban areas, cat-owners may wonder this in rural areas as well.  There are even products out there that claim to “toilet train” your cat!

Environmental, waste disposal, and water & sewer professionals agree that flushing pet waste is not a smart idea.  An animal’s digestion and biology are of course different than a human’s, so the waste is different.  The extra usage could potentially overburden a septic system unnecessarily.  An even greater risk occurs for city-dwellers, as municipal treatment technology can’t eliminate all parasites that are carried by cats.

In an effort to keep our water safe for everyone and to keep waste-treatment systems working properly, it is recommended that cat waste not be flushed.

 

Based on the article “Cat Waste: To Flush or Not to Flush” in Pumper Magazine.

 

Your Septic System and Iron Filtration Systems

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If you have a high iron content in your water at home, you most likely have some sort of treatment or filtration system.  While you rightly want to address this issue, don’t forget how it affects your septic system.  These filtration systems discharge into the septic tank and suppress the good bacteria your system needs, as well as causing poor separation of the solids in the tank.  This means more frequent pumping is a requirement to keep any major issues at bay.  Using a monthly bacteria additive for the septic system is also a necessity!  Give us a call if you have one of these filtration systems and would like to know how to protect your septic system.

What Causes Occasional Odors in the House or Yard?

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A common statement we hear from our customers, especially in the winter-time, is “We’re getting really strong sewer-like smells in the house.”  They usually follow by asking if their septic tank needs to be pumped.  While at times this can be a sign of the tank & system needing attention, odors often have nothing to do with the level in the tank itself.  When a customer calls with this complaint, there are two things we recommend they do.

First (and especially important in the winter), run some water down any sinks or drains that aren’t being used on a regular basis.  This includes floor drains in the basement.  In Wisconsin, our cold and dry winter air can cause the P-traps in the home’s plumbing to dry up, allowing odors from the septic tank to escape through sinks and drains.  If odors are very bad, and the P-traps seem to be the issue, some customers will add a small amount of a cleaner, like Pine-Sol to the water.

Second, check the plumbing vent on the roof.  Leaves and other debris can clog these vents throughout the year.  During winter, the vents can also freeze shut.  Put simply, with a plugged or frozen vent, the flow of air in the plumbing is interrupted and causes odors to remain in the house.  (The roof vent can also cause occasional odors in the house or yard, anytime throughout the year, due to the direction of airflow around the house and wind direction.  A steep roof and low vent location can contribute to this problem.)

If you’re experiencing occasional odors at your home, try these suggestions.  Feel free to give us a call if you have further questions!

COVID-19 and Your Septic System

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In this new era of COVID-19, of course the most important thing is to help keep ourselves and our family healthy.  At the moment, this includes extra cleaning and sanitizing at home.  You may find yourself using more bleach and anti-bacterial cleaners & sanitizers.  Keep in mind that these products do affect your septic tank and system, which needs healthy levels of good bacteria to function properly.  If you feel that frequent use of strong cleaners is a necessity in your home, please use a monthly bacteria additive for the septic system.  And please remember to never flush sanitizing wipes!  Contact us for more information and to order a year-supply of a beneficial and cost-effective bacteria additive!

We at Kuettel’s Septic Service sincerely hope your families are safe and healthy!

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!