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.

If you have recently installed a septic tank system in your home, you are going to want to take the right measures to keep it clean and clean. This is going to help you avoid major repairs as long as possible while also prolonging the life of your septic tank system. One important way to care for your septic tank system is to avoid chemical cleaners and use vinegar instead. Here are four reasons why:

Doesn’t Clean the Good Bacteria: Unlike harsh chemical cleaners, vinegar does not clean the good bacteria that your
septic tank system needs to break down waste. When waste is not able to break down properly, it builds in the tank leading to possible need for repairs or excessive pumping and professional cleaning. Vinegar is one of the best ways to get rid of the bad bacteria that causes mold and odor while ensuring that everything else remains to keep
your septic tank running smoothly.

Keep the Bugs Away: Bugs, such as gnats do not like vinegar. It’s too strong for them to withstand, so it keeps them away
from buzzing around your kitchen sink and bathroom. This way, you don’t have to resort to using dangerous bug sprays that can also cause damage to the septic tank if they make their way into the drain. Keeping the bugs away from the drains also ensures that they aren’t making their way into your pipes causing other damages, such as blockage.

It’s Affordable: Not only is vinegar going to prevent damages to your septic tank, which saves you money on repairs and replacement,
but vinegar is also one of the most affordable cleaning solutions you can buy. Chemical cleaners are much more expensive
to not only purchase, but also because they cause more damage than they prevent, so overall you are getting the most for your money when you use vinegar. Breaks Up Blockages: Once a month, if you mix together vinegar and hot water and pour it down the toilet, it’s going to help break up blockages. This way, your toilets are easier to flush. If the toilet gets backed up, it’s sure to cause damage that you would otherwise want to avoid. Vinegar is going to help you do this.
When you know some of the reasons to use vinegar, you can see why it’s well worth it to toss those harsh chemical cleaners and invest in this more natural cleaner for your septic tank system. Also, schedule regular septic tank pumping services.

As you are preparing yourself, your family and your home for the holidays, the last thing that you might be thinking about is your septic tank. Although you might be thinking about trimming trees and buying decorations for the inside and outside of your home, you probably haven’t thought about hiring a septic tank cleaning and pumping company to come out to your home. However, if you haven’t had your septic tank pumped in the past few years, it is a good idea to have it done before the winter months strike. These are the two main reasons why

Ensure That Snow and Ice Don’t Cause a Problem

You might already know that heavy rains can cause your drainfield to become too saturated, but you might not have thought about the effect that ice and snow can have on your septic tank. However, if ice and snow settle on your drainfield throughout the winter, the draining moisture can cause an overflow. Even though the water might be a whole lot colder, it can still cause all of the same problems that rain water can cause.

By having your tank inspected and cleaned, you can ensure that an overly saturated drainfield won’t be a big deal this winter. This can prevent you from dealing with a sewage smell and other septic tank issues during what should be the happiest time of the year.

Prepare for Heavier Winter Use

There is a good chance that you use your septic tank and system more during the winter than usual without even realizing it.

First of all, if you like to invite family to come and stay with you during the winter, or if you have winter parties all around the holidays, then the added guests can put added stress on your septic system by using your restroom and using your shower.

Plus, you might do a lot of cooking during the holiday season. All of this added fat and food being poured down your drain and all of the added dishes – and therefore wastewater coming from your kitchen – can have an impact, particularly over the course of several weeks or a couple of months.

Lastly, you might even do more laundry during the winter. With big, bulky coats and other winter clothing, you might find yourself running your washing machine more frequently, which can have an effect on your septic tank and its accompanying system.

As you can see, it’s smart to prepare your septic tank and septic system for the holiday season. Luckily, a good septic cleaning company should be able to clean your system and look for any potential problems that might need to be repaired before the winter months.

If you’re like a lot of people, you might think that simply running clean water through your drains is a good thing for cleaning them out. Of course, this can help to keep your drain clear. However, it’s not the same as a professional drain cleaning. Having your drains cleaned by a professional is something to consider since it can cause a lot of problems. These are three of the main problems that can be prevented if you opt for this service.

1. Odors

First of all, you might have noticed strange odors coming from your drains in the past. In the kitchen, grease and small bits of food can get caught in the drain and can cause unpleasant smells. This can also be caused in the shower or bathtub, when soap scum and other things can cause odors. If you have your drains cleaned regularly, however, you can help prevent these smells from being a problem.

1. Slow Draining

Another problem that you can prevent by having your drains cleaned on a regular basis is slow draining. If you have ever drained the water out of your sink after thawing out meat or washing dishes and noticed that the water went down slowly, you could have wondered what caused it. The same problem can be a big pain in the bathtub or shower. Drain cleaning can be a good way to clear out your drain and prevent slow draining from being a problem.

1. Clogs

Perhaps the best benefit of regular drain cleaning is the fact that it can prevent clogs. Clogs can cause your drains to stop working completely, and they can be a hassle to have to get rid of once they become a serious problem. If you have your drain cleaned on a regular basis, however, you can get rid of small clogs and can prevent them from getting bigger. This can help you greatly reduce the clog-related issues that you have to deal with in regards to your plumbing.

As you can see, if you are looking to prevent a host of different plumbing problems, you should definitely consider having your drains cleaned on a regular basis. If you hire a drain cleaning service, you can have your sink, shower and bathtub drains cleaned thoroughly. This can be much more thorough than if you did the job yourself, and it is sure to be worth the money when you are able to prevent the above-mentioned three issues and other problems.