When you live in a residential area, it is very important that you have your septic tank pumped out and cleaned every few years. This ensures that your septic tank doesn’t become too full and back up either onto your property or even into your house. Cleaning it also ensures that all of the different compartments within your septic tank are clean, thus allowing the sewage to properly flow into it. While doing this yourself is an option, it may not be the best idea. Handling waste is something that should likely be left up to the professionals because they have the experience and equipment needed to do so in a safe and effective manner. This article will discuss 2 excellent reasons to have a professional service clean your septic tank for you.

They Make Sure Your Waste Is Properly Disposed Of

When the professionals from the septic tank service are done pumping out your septic tank, there is going to be a lot of waste that needs to be disposed of. Thankfully, this is something that you aren’t going to have to worry about in the slightest because the septic tank service is going to take care of disposing of it. They will ensure that it is safely disposed of so that it doesn’t cause any harm to the environment and obeys all hazardous waste laws. They do this by taking the waste to an approved treatment facility that processes the waste. This allows some of the waste to be disposed of and allows other parts of it to be used for
things like fertilizer.

They Can Perform Any Repairs While They Are Pumping And Cleaning

While the professionals are there to pump out and clean your septic tank, they are also going to be looking for anything that needs to be repaired either inside or outside of your septic tank. This may include cracks on the interior or the exterior of the tank or bent, cracked, or other busted pipes. They will also look for rust and/or corrosion within the pipes and tank because this can mean that they are at risk for breaking. They will also look for any other issues that they may find during the process. Since you likely wouldn’t have found these issues on your own, knowing that the professionals caught them before they caused a huge problem can be very encouraging and comforting for you.

If you know that it is an old septic tank on your property that you know very little about, it is important for you to be aware that you need to proceed carefully when arranging for septic tank services under those special circumstances. Therefore, it will be a good idea to consider the following information if you have questions about pumping and removing the old septic tank when the situation for doing so is atypical.

Understanding The Risks Of The Old, Unknown Septic Tank On Your Property

Over the years, there have been many homeowners who discovered an old, abandoned septic tank on their property that they knew very little about. While it may be tempting to just call a septic tank expert and have it pumped, then removed, doing so is not always a good idea. Old septic tanks can be fragile and some very old and abandoned units, many of which featured cesspools as part of their construction, can increase the possibility of a sinkhole forming.

When organic solid waste enters your septic tank, beneficial bacteria and enzymes go to work breaking down and consuming the solid waste. These microorganisms eventually transform most of the solid waste into a combination of gases and liquids, while leaving indigestible solids to join the bottom of the septic tank as sludge.

Due to the fragility of older septic tanks and since their leaks during pumping can lead to environmental concerns, you should first make sure to have the tank inspected by an expert.

What To Expect During The Expert’s Inspection

One common way to examine the condition of an old septic tank is the use of digital photographs from a remote-controlled camera. Those photos will determine the type of septic tank that is present, its condition and whether or not it can be safely removed and pumped. It will also let you know what material it is made of, as that can impact the method with which it will be removed. Alternatively, your septic tank expert may recommend for the tank to be pumped, but left in its original space in the ground so that video cameras, mirrors, and fiber optics can determine more information about the newly cleaned tank.

Once that information has been obtained, your septic tank expert will try to establish a safe, hygienic way to pump and remove the unit from your property. If doing so is not feasible, he or she may suggest taking the necessary steps to legally abandon the unit. Abandoning the unit often requires pumping and cleaning it, before damaging it so that it can longer function and covering it with sand or concrete. It should be pointed out that many cities or counties require permits for doing so and there is frequently a time limit attached to that permit.

In conclusion, having your septic tank pumped is a common occurrence in many areas and is something that every septic tank will eventually need. Unfortunately, doing so when you cannot be sure of the age of the unit can be challenging. As a result, it is best to consider the information discussed above when making decisions about having your septic tank pumped.

If you’ve inherited an old property that is out in the country and lacking modern or city utilities, there are some things you want to do before living in the property or doing renovations. You want to make sure that the property and the home is safe and that the utilities are usable. Since the property isn’t connected to gas and sewer lines, here are some of the inspections and services you need to look into..

Septic Pump and Cleaning

If there are no records that show when the septic tank was last inspected or pumped, you want to find out before you have an overflowing sewer system that is pumping waste into your home or the property around it. Have a septic tank pumping service come so they can empty the tank, clean it, and then inspect it for any damages or issues that need addressed. If you live in the property, you’ll be able to keep track for when the next cleaning is needed, and if you want to sell, it can be a selling feature to list.

Well Water Testing and Inspection

The well water in the house should be tested to make sure that it’s safe to drink and to see if there are any mineral concerns that could affect the function of the well. A water testing company can come and inspect the well and the water lines, and they could also flush your appliances like the hot water tank to remove any mineral buildup.

Petroleum Levels Checked

When there is a petroleum tank on the property to heat the water and the home, it’s important to make sure you have enough in there for your own personal use. Have a company in the area that fills tanks come to see how much is in there and to add some if needed. If you want to sell the house, make sure there is enough so the appliances can be tested when people come through for showings.

If you have inherited an older property and you would like to live in it or fix it up to be sold, these are some of the things that have to be completed so you can make sure that the house is livable and functioning as needed. Talk with the experts that provide these services to get more information and to get these different projects completed for your home.

If you are using an old and tired septic system, then you have a time bomb on your hands. Sewer backups, failing drain fields, leaking drain pipes, and contaminated drainfields are just a few examples of emergency problems you may have to deal with if your septic system is about to fail. The following preemptive measures may keep the emergency issues at bay:

Reduce Effluent Flowing in the Tank

If you suspect that your septic system isn’t in tiptop condition, you need to reduce its load. One of the best ways of doing this is to reduce the amount of waste flowing from your house into the tank. Here are a few specific ways for doing this:

• Flush the toilet only when necessary; don’t flush superfluous materials, such as waste paper.
• Minimize running sinks and taps.
• Take shorter showers.
• Wash your clothes on full load.
• Ensure your plumbing fixtures aren’t leaking water.
• Pump the Septic Tank

Pumping the septic tank isn’t a permanent solution to your septic problems, but it will give the system a reprieve for awhile. Reducing the volume of the sludge in the tank reduces the risk of a sewage backup; as you know, a backup definitely calls for emergency measures. In addition, pumping the tank increases the ability of the system to separate solid from liquid wastes.

Rent Portable for Big Occasions

If you anticipate big gatherings, its best to rent portable bathrooms so that the inevitable extra waste don’t add to the load in your septic system. For example, if you will be hosting a family gathering or plan to have your coworkers over for a party, they will make your system more stressed. The bigger the number, the more stress your septic system will experience.

Redirect Surface Runoff

It’s not just the water or waste from your house that affects your septic system; even surface runoff such as that from rainfall or melting snow can also affect the system by clogging up the drainfield. Therefore, direct the surface runoff away from the drainfield; for example, you could dig channels to cart the water away, or you could ensure that your downspouts don’t channel water in that direction.

Note that the above are just temporary measures; they won’t do anything to rejuvenate your septic system. They may help you for a time, for example while you budget for a complete overhaul of the system. In the end, you will need a professional’s input for a proper solution.

Pumping out a septic tank is often a concept that is forgotten or overlooked by owners. Most individuals will go in with the idea of if it’s good, don’t fix it’ which is not the case with septic tanks.

Erring on the side of precaution is pertinent in these matters and pumping out one’s septic tank is crucial for its longevity. As with most system, materials will start to accumulate at the bottom and on the top of the water and create layers of excess matter in the form of ‘sludge’ and scum.

It can be an ungainly sight and ruin the condition of one’s septic tank, and more importantly your drainfield. Your Ace Sanitation, septic tank pumping is more important than you think.

Recommended Maintenance

Most tanks have space available for accumulated sludge before they stop functioning as desired. These time limits are usually designed to be within the 3-5 years range. There is no ‘perfect’ answer to when one should be looking to pump their septic tank. However, it is recommended to establish a schedule where the septic tank is being pumped well before the assigned limit.

Waiting too long could leave the septic tank in an unsalvageable condition leading to permanent damage to your drainfield, a very costly repair. It is best to be on top of one’s game and ensure the tank is being pumped out on a scheduled basis.

There are certain conditions associated to whether one should be getting the septic tank pumped out yearly or not. If one has garbage disposal systems attached to the house, it is pertinent to have the septic tank pumped out every year.

The clogging can be more severe and drastic in such houses. For houses without the garbage disposal system, sticking to the three year recommendation is enough. However, it is important to remember the reality of septic tanks and how having a regular scheduled cleaning is better than one every three years.

Prior History

Looking at the history of the tank and how sludge has accumulated is usually recommended. Prior history is the best indicator of how often one should be looking to clean out the sludge that has clogged up the tank. Most of the time, it is easy to judge whether one has gone over or under in terms of pumping out the tank.

If one goes under, the result is usually fine and one can just wait a little bit longer before the next one. However, if one goes over the assigned time limit, the sludge could cause damage to the system and cause the septic tank and/or drainfield to need replacing. It is important to remain as close to the assigned date of 1-3 years, if one wants to ensure the septic tank remains in good condition.

Household Habits

The way each household handles its waste can be a big determining factor for the scheduled pumping. If the household is more ‘wasteful’ with excess leftovers, it is usually best to have the septic tank pumped out on a more regular basis. Non-decomposable materials can lead to clogging up of the systems and that has to be taken into account.

This factor is the number one cause for most blockages that occur. It is best to remain on top of this in order to save the tank from needed a complete change that will be more costly than having it pumped out in time.

If you have any questions or concerns, leave it to the professionals at Ace Sanitation to handle all of your plumbing and septic pumping needs.