Septic Services

A well-installed and maintained septic system quietly manages household wastewater without contributing to local environmental degradation. However, if the system is not serviced regularly, problems can occur.

Septic

Foul odors, soggy lawns and slow draining sinks and toilets are signs of trouble. Septic tank cleaning, pumping and inspection are key services that help you avoid costly repairs and extend the lifespan of your system. Contact The Septic Guys for professional help.

Septic tank cleaning services revolve around breaking down and removing the inevitable buildup of solid waste that accumulates inside a septic tank over time. This involves using specialized agitation equipment to dislodge and separate the solid waste from liquid effluent and scum layers. Once this is done, the solid remnants can then be safely and cleanly vacuumed out of the septic system.

Tank cleaning should take place at least once every three to five years. It’s a great opportunity to also do some minor preventive maintenance. During this service, a professional septic technician can inspect the tank’s internal components and piping for any signs of serious damage or wear. This includes examining the lid for cracks or other problems, checking the baffles for wear, and making sure the drain field is free of obstructions and not over-loaded.

Keeping up with tank cleaning is the best way to protect your septic system from expensive repairs and extend its lifespan. Some things you can do to help include conserving water, fixing dripping faucets and toilets and using septic-safe products. You should also avoid pouring cigarette butts, coffee grounds, fats and oils, chemical drain openers, paints and solvents, pesticides, petroleum-based products, or any other toxic substances down your septic system drains.

As far as septic system pumping goes, it’s an essential maintenance measure that’s designed to clear out decades worth of accumulated sludge and scum. This essentially resets the entire system by flushing out the old residue and restoring the full liquid waste capacity.

Pumping is a more involved process than cleaning and relies on much larger and more powerful vacuum pump trucks. These trucks have long hose runs that connect directly to the septic tank’s opening and pump out all of the remaining liquid waste. Once this is complete, the crew will then use a high-powered nozzle to wash away any residual debris left behind in the tank itself.

While it may seem like the answer to this question is a simple one, there is no single “one-size-fits-all” solution. Many factors play into how often your septic tank and drain field need to be pumped and cleaned, including your household’s wastewater needs, the age of your septic system, and local environmental conditions. A knowledgeable septic service provider can assess your unique situation and recommend an appropriate schedule for both cleaning and pumping services.

Pumping

All of the waste that flows through your home finds its way to your septic tank where solids are separated from liquids. Liquids (or effluent) exit the septic tank and enter the drain field through the inlet and outlet baffles. Over time, the tank may need to be pumped in order to remove the excess solids that accumulate.

When your septic system is working properly, you should not experience problems such as slow draining and clogged toilets. However, if you notice these signs of a septic system emergency, it’s important to act quickly. Contacting your septic provider for an emergency service visit can help prevent the situation from getting worse and prevent costly damage to your home or property.

Foul Odors

Sewage waste is a health hazard and produces foul odors when it overflows from your septic tank or into your home. If you notice these odors, it could be a sign that the tank is nearing capacity and needs to be pumped sooner rather than later.

Standing Water

If you notice that your yard above the septic tank or drain field is wetter than the rest of the yard, this is often a sign that there is sewage in the groundwater. The nitrogen in septic effluent is a great fertilizer for your grass, so you’ll often find lush, green patches of lawn where the sewage has deposited. However, if this ponding is concentrated over your drainfield or septic tank, it may be a sign that the leach field is failing and requires repair.

To keep your septic system healthy and in top condition, address leaks and drips promptly and reduce water usage. Also, remember that your septic system is not a garbage can. Items such as dental floss, tampons, paper towels and cigarette butts should be disposed of in the trash, not the drainfield. In addition, avoid planting trees and gardens over the septic tank or drainfield area and never drive or park vehicles over it. These activities can cause damage to the pipes and create a safety hazard for your family and neighbors.

Inspection

Septic inspections allow homeowners to monitor their septic system and make sure that it’s working properly. When performed regularly, these inspections can help catch issues before they worsen and prevent costly repairs or health hazards. A septic inspector can examine a home’s septic tank, drain field, and other components to look for signs of malfunction or wear and tear.

A septic inspection starts with a visual examination of the exterior and interior of a tank and pipes. During this process, the inspector checks for surface signs of trouble like ponding water and effluent seepage. Then they flush toilets and run faucets to ensure that all water is properly draining. The septic inspector may also check the drain field to ensure that it’s absorbing wastewater and not becoming clogged.

The next step in a septic inspection is to access the septic tank itself. Using high-tech tools, they can examine the tank’s condition and structure to check for cracks or other damage. They can also evaluate the condition of the inlet and outlet baffles, and determine the operating liquid level of the septic tank. A camera can be fed through the outlet baffle to evaluate the condition of the effluent pipe and distribution box.

After completing the visual part of the septic inspection, a technician will contact the local health department to get a complete history of the septic system’s repair and maintenance records. They can then use the information to create a timeline for future maintenance and recommend any necessary upgrades.

A septic system is an integral part of a home’s plumbing and can affect the quality of water that comes out of your taps. In order to keep your septic system in tip-top shape, you should follow these tips:

Repair

We can help repair septic system components and the drain field. We’ll inspect the entire system, including the tank and all pipes, to ensure everything is working correctly and there are no leaks. Whether your septic system needs repairs or an entirely new installation, we have the skills and tools to get it done right the first time.

When your septic system isn’t functioning properly, it can lead to expensive plumbing repairs or even sewage backups into your home. Regular maintenance services will reduce the risk of these problems by keeping your septic tank and septic system clean and reducing the amount of waste that goes into it.

Septic tank repair is a common part of septic service, as the septic tanks themselves can break down over time due to wear and tear. Leaks from a broken or cracked septic tank can be extremely dangerous and must be addressed immediately, as they can cause environmental damage as well as health hazards for homeowners. Fortunately, the majority of septic tank repairs are relatively simple and can be completed quickly by experienced professionals.

A faulty septic system can also affect the surrounding environment, contaminating groundwater and polluting soil. Septic system installations and repairs should always be performed by qualified septic technicians to prevent these issues.

Your septic system is responsible for the disposal of all of your home’s wastewater, so it’s important that it gets regular professional maintenance. The most common septic system maintenance includes tank cleaning, inspections, and drainfield maintenance.

Septic tank cleaning involves removing the sludge and scum from your septic system to reduce the risk of clogs, odors, and other issues. Septic tank cleaning is typically performed by trained professionals using a special truck and vacuum equipment.

Inspecting your septic tank will help you determine the sludge levels and any potential problems with your septic system. These inspections can identify signs like a cracked tank, which can usually be repaired.

The drain field is a critical component of your septic system, as it’s where the wastewater that was pumped out of your septic tank flows into the soil. Problems with your septic system’s drain field can cause standing water, foul odors, and even pest infestation. In most cases, septic system professionals will be able to repair these problems by installing new filters or regrading the drain field.

Septic Tank

When you flush your toilet, take a shower or wash clothes wastewater enters your house’s interior plumbing and flows to the septic tank outside. The septic tank holds household waste and sewage until microorganisms break it down. Contact Septic Tank Armadale now!

The weight of solid matter and sludge sinks to the bottom of the septic tank while floatables (fats, oils and greases) rise to the scum layer. Liquid wastewater exits the tank through a buried drain field.

The purpose of a septic tank is to remove solid wastes from household wastewater. The liquid portion of the sewage, called effluent, flows from your home into a soil absorption field where secondary treatment occurs. The bacteria in the soil performs the final deactivation of any disease germs that are left behind from the sewage. To prevent the solids from clogging your leach field, it is important to limit the amount of non-biodegradable or slowly biodegradable solids that go into the system. Ideally, solids should be reduced to less than 10 percent of the wastewater stream.

It is essential that your septic tank be pumped periodically. This removes the sludge layer and any fats, oils and grease that have collected at the top of the tank. It also ensures that the septic tank’s ventilation ports are not blocked by the sludge and that gasses, such as methane, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide, can escape from the septic system.

When it’s time for pumping, a truck with a large tank and special equipment will arrive at your house. The professionals will hook a hose to the tank and then a suction line will be lowered into the septic tank. Once the septic tank is completely pumped, the professionals will replace the lid and return to their truck. The pumping process usually takes 30-60 minutes. To prepare for this, it is a good idea to clear out the area around your septic tank. This can include removing any weeds or shrubs that need to be cut back to allow the truck access to the tank. It is also helpful to have an idea when the last septic tank cleaning or inspection was performed.

When the septic tank is being pumped, you may notice that your home or yard smells like sewage. It is important that you not use any drains or toilets during this time. Using the drains or toilets forces more wastewater into the septic tank which can overload it. Also, you should not plant any trees or park any vehicles near the septic system until it has been inspected and pumped by an experienced professional.

Cleaning

The septic tank is the central part of your septic system. It receives wastewater from all the household drains that connect to it. As sewage enters the septic tank, it separates into three general layers: solids (known as the sludge layer), floatables (called the scum layer) and a relatively clear water zone. Microorganisms living in your septic tank break down and treat this incoming sewage. The oxygen-free environment also deactivates some disease germs in the sludge and scum layers.

This process is aided by baffles or tees in your septic tank that ensure that only the liquid portion of sewage flows out into the drain field. The solids remain in the septic tank, where they decompose further. If a septic tank isn’t pumped regularly, the sludge layer can build up and prevent wastewater from flowing properly through your septic system.

Besides being an ecological disaster, this can lead to costly and dangerous septic tank failures, including sewage backups into the house and health hazards from contaminated waste. The best way to avoid this is by scheduling regular septic tank cleaning and inspections.

Septic tank cleaning is a messy job, and it requires special equipment. A septic service professional will locate the tank, uncover its access lids and assess the levels of sludge and scum. This assessment will help determine the cleaning and pumping needs of the tank. It may also reveal issues that require further inspection and repairs.

Once the septic tank is pumped out, it will be transported to a government-chosen disposal site. Then, the lines leading to the septic tank will be rinsed with water and inspected for any blockages.

Some homeowners use home-based cleaners to help break down solid waste in their septic tanks. However, these cleaners can be harmful to the bacteria that naturally live in a septic tank and help it work correctly. They can also be harmful to the health and safety of children and pets. As a general rule, you should avoid flushing household chemicals, antibacterial soaps and other non-organic waste. Other items that can cause problems include baby wipes, feminine products and cooking oils. These items can overload your septic tank or clog pipes.

Inspection

When a home uses a septic tank, it relies on natural and mechanical processes to treat wastewater. The septic tank sits underground and contains a large amount of waste and sediment, called sludge. Heavy solid materials like sand and clay sink to the bottom of the septic tank, where bacteria work to break down the sludge over time. Eventually, the septic system removes all solid material from the water, leaving a clear liquid behind called effluent. This liquid flows out of the septic tank into the drainage pipes and soaks into the soil and grass above.

A septic tank must be pumped regularly to keep it in good condition. Getting it pumped removes the sludge and sediment, which helps to avoid clogs in your drains and prevents wastewater from entering your home. A septic tank typically needs to be pumped every two or three years. A professional can help you determine how frequently you should have it pumped.

Keeping the septic system in good condition will also reduce your cost of maintaining your home. Having the septic system inspected by a professional will help you spot small issues before they become major problems, saving you money and ensuring that your family stays safe and healthy.

Some local communities require that you get a septic inspection before buying a home with a septic tank. In most cases, this requirement is for safety reasons. The inspection will look for signs of a faulty system, such as leaking or clogged pipes. The inspector will also examine the septic tank and drainage field to ensure that they are in good working condition.

The inspection will also check for septic tank baffles to make sure that they are in place and functioning properly. Having the baffles in place will ensure that sewage does not flow back into the house, which could cause serious health problems. The inspector will also examine the septic vent to make sure that it is in good condition and not blocked by any trees or shrubs.

To maintain your septic system, you can add 8 to 12-inches of mulch around the septic tank and pipes. The mulch should be made of organic material, such as straw or leaves. Avoid adding any wood mulch, which can cause the septic system to malfunction and lead to costly repairs.

Maintenance

The septic tank is the heart of your septic system and removes solid waste from wastewater. The soil absorption field (also called a drain field or leach field) filters, treats and disposes of the septic tank effluent. Keeping the septic tank free of solid waste protects your home plumbing and the septic system from clogging and early failure.

A septic tank is a water-tight, underground container made of concrete, fiberglass or polyethylene. It holds the wastewater long enough for solids to sink to the bottom and form a layer of sludge, while oils and grease rise to the top in a layer of scum. Bacteria in the septic tank digest these materials and liquids, leaving behind a clear zone of liquid wastewater. The liquid wastewater leaves the septic tank through a pipe to the drainfield.

As bacteria break down the wastewater contaminants, they produce gases. The most common is hydrogen sulfide, which smells like rotten eggs. To avoid a build-up of pressure that could stop or reverse the flow of wastewater, these gases are vented through a vent in the septic tank lid. Other gasses, including ammonia, nitrates and sulfur dioxide may be produced as well.

These gases should be checked regularly for leaks. If the gas levels are too high, it may be necessary to replace the septic tank baffles and/or tees. This can also be done in conjunction with the pumping procedure.

Whether you own a septic tank or a conventional sewer system, it is important to keep the drain field free of solid waste particles. This is the best way to ensure that the septic system works as intended and prevents groundwater contamination.

If your septic tank is not pumped regularly, the septic system’s drainfield will become full of solids and clogged, resulting in the septic system failing to function as designed. To avoid clogging the drain field, keep up with pumping frequency, repair leaking toilets and faucets, use water-conserving devices in bathrooms and kitchens, and divert roof rainwater into soil or downspouts away from the septic tank and drain field area.