Category Archives: Septic Tanks

Troubleshooting The Septic Tank Situations

If you have a septic system within your home, you need to know how to treat it and what to watch for. Septic tank pumping in Novato, CA is something you are going to want to have done on a regular basis. Between those times, watch for other things that might be going wrong and that can help you to figure out what you need to do to keep things healthy.

Why Is The Toilet Gurgling?

If your toilet normally flushes smoothly, but now is making a gurgling noise, the septic tank might be getting full. Check your records and see how long it has been since you had the tank pumped out. If it has been several years, have the professionals come out for a consultation. They can test the tank and advise you as to whether or not things need to be pumped out at that time.

Why Are The Drains Backing Up?

Drains can back up for a variety of reasons. You might have a clog, for example. You could snake the drain and see if you can get the clog to free up. It’s best not to use the drain clog chemicals that you find in the store as they can harm your septic tank. If snaking the drain doesn’t work, or if you notice that lots of different drains are backing up at once, then you probably need to have a septic tank pumping done. Things are filling up and they have nowhere to go—that’s why they are backing up into the house.

Why Do The Drains Stink?

You don’t want unpleasant smells in your house and you know the things in the septic tank aren’t friendly in the scent department. When the drains start to stink, it could mean that there is waste in the pipes that can’t fit into the septic tank. Have professionals take a look and see if you need to have the tank pumped out. It can alleviate the bad scents and prevent back ups from occurring.

What Am I Doing Wrong?

If you seem to have one or more of the above issues quite frequently, you are going to want to figure out what you are doing wrong so you can prevent the need for service as often. You will need to examine what you put into the tank. You only want to flush waste and toilet paper, for example. What are you putting down the sinks? Anti-bacterials are bad and kill off the things in the tank that eat the waste. Talk to the professionals and get tips from them about what you want to do, and how you need to treat the system, to prolong the septic tank pumping ritual for as long as possible.

Even if you treat your system well and in all the right ways, you will still need septic tank pumping in Novato, CA every few years. The experts recommend that you pump the tank out every 5 years or more frequently, depending on tank size and usage habits.

When Is Septic Tank Pumping A Good Idea?

Septic tank pumping in Sonoma, CA is something every septic system is going to need from time to time. However, if you are new to having a system, you might not know when you need to go about having that done. Every system is different and it’s a good idea to know what the signs are so you can move forward in the right manner. Here are a few signs that it’s time to get septic tank pumping done.

When It’s Been More Than Five Years

Every septic tank is going to need to be pumped out every five years, or even more frequently. When you get into your new house, find the paperwork or talk to the professionals about the last service. If it’s been five years or more since the tank was pumped out, it’s a good idea to move forward with the process to prevent issues from arising.

When The Drain Field Floods

The drain field is the portion of your yard where the waste is let out of the tank as it is processed. IF you notice that the drain field is flooded with visible water, or if the grass is simply a lot mushier than normal, talk to the professionals about pumping out the tank. If there’s not enough room in the tank, it might be releasing more than the yard can handle.

When Drains Slow Down

You might notice that the drains are draining slow, that’s a sign you need to pay attention to. When you’re standing in the shower and the tub backs up and you have standing water, for example. Or when you are washing off a dish and you turn the water off and the sink gurgles as the water tries to make its way down the drain. If one drain is running slow, there could be a clog. But if every drain is slow, it might be because the septic tank needs to be pumped out. Call the professionals for a consultation and go from there.

When Sewage Backs Up

Sewage backup is something you don’t want to have happen, but when it does, you need to address things fast. Septic tank pumping is something you are going to want to do as soon as possible to prevent taking the system out of commission, or to prevent a larger mess than you already have.

When Drains Emit Scents

You never want to have foul scents coming from the drains, but it can happen when there is waste lingering in the pipes because the septic tank is too full. If you notice scents, have the professionals run a septic tank pumping so you don’t have a backup that could create more of a mess in your home.

If you think you might need septic tank pumping in Sonoma, CA, the professionals are there to help at any time. You can also call them for advice, suggestions, and tips on how to treat the septic system attached to your home.

What To Do About Drain Odors

There are lots of things that can cause drain odors in your home and there are certain things you can try in order to rid your home of those scents. You might need septic tank pumping in Petaluma, CA, for example, or there could be something else at play that could cause you to have those smells wafting around the drains. Here are some of the things you can try to get things in order within your home.

Clean The Overflow In The Sink

Many sinks have an overflow area and it might have some things stuck in it that are causing foul scents from coming up and into your house. Clean out that drain and make sure it’s clear and ready to roll. That could clean up the smell and help you to prevent back ups from occurring at the same time.

Snake The Drains

Drains can capture things that stink instead of letting them go all the way down into the septic tank. Eventually, that might cause the drains to back up, and that’s an even bigger problem. Before you have a huge clog, you could try running a snake through the drain to disperse any clogs. You might pull some things out, or you could push things along into the septic tank. Either way, it could help you to get rid of the bad smells you are noticing around the drains.

Look At Leak Possibilities

If you have a leak somewhere in the pipes, that could cause odors of many kinds in lots of areas. Have your water bills been getting bigger even if you haven’t used more water? Inspect the pipes for leaks or have a professional come take a look so you can address scents and possible leak issues all at the same time.

Have The Septic Tank Pumped

Septic tanks need to be pumped out every 5 years, at the most. You might need to have yours done more often if you have a smaller tank or use more water due to having a lot of family members in the house. If you notice smells around the drains, check and see how long it’s been since you have had the septic tank pumped out. If it’s been awhile, it might be time to have that checked out and pumped. You can also simply call the professionals and let them come inspect your whole system. They might find a clog and suggest pumping at the same time. It’s something you can’t prevent, even if you treat the septic system well. You are going to need things pumped out at some point or another.

When you notice something amiss with your septic system, even if it seems like a small thing, it’s important to address it sooner rather than ignoring it and allowing it to possibly get worse later. Have septic tank pumping in Petaluma, CA done on a regular basis and you can prevent backups and hopefully even unpleasant drain scents.

Installing A Septic System

When you move to a property, perhaps outside of city limits and beyond city water and sewage’s reach, you might have to install a septic system. You are going to have to learn the ropes, understand how to maintain the system, and get septic tank pumping in Sonoma, CA done on a regular basis. But before you worry about any of that, here are some of the tests and steps you will need to take to get the installation done in the first place.

Have Tests Done

Your property is unique and the professionals are going to have to come out and do some soil tests and other such things. They will want to put the septic system in the right location and that takes some testing and investigating. Make sure you allow for proper amounts of time so you can ensure the septic system installation can be done in a timely manner.

Obtain The Proper Permits

When you put a septic tank onto your property, you are likely going to need permits. The company you are working with on the job can help you obtain and fill out the paperwork so you can get the permits you need to move forward. You should not have the septic system installed until you are able to secure those permits so you can move ahead legally without recourse in the future.

Go Through The Design Process

The professionals are going to have to design the septic system for your property. Where will the tank lie? How large will it be? How will it connect to your house? And so on. This process takes a little time and you are going to want to make sure you have experienced, reputable professionals working on it so you have peace of mind that everything will work out to your advantage as you move forward with the process.

Have The Installation Done

After you have the permits and design in order, you can have the installation done. Make sure you have professionals on the job for this part of the process as well. It might feel like the last step, but it’s one of the most important ones that you will go through. Improper installation can lead to a whole host of issues later on so it’s best to make sure things are done right upfront.

Get Maintenance Recommendations

Once the septic tank is installed, you are going to want to have some discussions with the professionals about maintenance. There are certain things you need to do for a septic system in order to keep it healthy and working well for your family. You can’t put certain things down the drain that you might be used to using, for example, and you are going to need to run regular maintenance.

One thing that will have to be done every 5 years (or more often) is septic tank pumping in Sonoma, CA, even if you treat the septic system well and follow all of the rules in the in between times.

Septic Tank Mis-Truths

Not everyone has grown up with a septic tank and when you move into a house that has one, there are certain things you might think about them that just aren’t true. All septic tank systems are going to need septic tank pumping in Novato, CA, for example, and that’s a truth that will always be the case. Here are a few mistruths you will want to watch out for as you care for your septic tank over the years.

Septic Tanks Take Care Of Themselves

You won’t have to do all that much for your septic tank over the years, but it isn’t something that completely cares for itself, either. You are going to want to make sure you treat it right. You won’t flush things you shouldn’t and you don’t want to use way too much water at once, either. Plus, septic tanks are going to fill up, no matter how well you treat them, and septic tank pumping is necessary every few years.

Household Cleaners Are Harmless To The Tanks

It’s normal for homeowners to use things like bleach, anti-bacterial soap, and other such things. But when you have a septic tank, those products can be harmful to the system. They can kill off bacteria and that bacteria has a job to do in the septic tank. If there aren’t enough bacteria, the tank will fill up a lot faster and that can cause you to have to pump the tank out a lot more often. Keep those bacteria thriving and that can help the system to run better as a whole over the years.

Septic Tanks Can Handle Endless Water

There are plenty of things a septic tank can handle, but you are going to want to ensure you don’t use a ton of water all at once, or it won’t have time to filter through to the tank in the right manner. Don’t do laundry while you take a shower, for example, and space out your water usage throughout the day and even throughout the week.

You Can Put Anything Down The Drain And The Tank Will Take It

It’s easy to dump things down the drain, but you can’t put anything down there that you want to if you have a septic system. You don’t want to place oil down the drain, for example, or anything else that won’t break down. Those things will gum up the pipes and make the tank fill up faster, which will cost you more on pumping fees as the years go by.

If you are trying to figure out what you want to do with your home, learn the truth about the septic tank and that can help you to move in the right direction as you adjust the way you live around the septic tank pumping in Novato, CA and other things that can become a part of your life as you live and enjoy your home. Teach the family those truths as well and it can help everyone get along well with the septic system.

Septic Tank Mistakes—Avoid Doing These Things

If you have a septic tank that serves your home, there are certain things you are going to have to do to maintain it over the years, like getting septic tank pumping in Petaluma, CA from time to time. If you don’t have that much experience with septic tanks you could very well make mistakes on its care over the years. Here are some things you are going to want to avoid doing in order to keep the septic tank in good working order long-term.

-Flushing The Wrong Items

You should make a commitment to only flush waste and toilet paper. When you flush anything else, even flushable wipes or other things you think you should be able to flush, it can cause issues in the system as a whole. These things might clog the pipes, or they might simply not break down in the tank, causing it to fill up faster than it should. Flushing the wrong items is a bad habit that should be broken right away.

-Doing Tons Of Laundry/Dishes/Showers At Once

Perhaps in a different home, you can do laundry, take a shower, and run the dishwasher all at once, but not with a septic system. Instead, you are going to need to space out the way you use things so the septic system has time to process the water. It can get overwhelmed when you use too much at a time. Do your best to space things out. Shower in the morning and do the dishes at night and so on.

-Using Chemicals On The Drains

It’s also common to use things like bleach in cleaning as well as antibacterial soaps, but you can’t do that with a septic system. Anything that kills off bacteria is something you shouldn’t use in your home. These chemicals can take the bacteria levels in the tank down, and those bacteria are the things that eat away at the waste that goes into the tank. If their levels get too low, that can fill the tank up quickly.

-Not Getting Septic Tank Pumping Regularly

Any septic tank is going to fill up eventually, even if you do everything right. You are going to need to get the septic tank pumped out at least every five years, if not more often. If you don’t get it pumped out regularly, things are going to back up into your house that you would rather not have in the home. Have professionals inspect your tank every few years to keep advised of how often you are going to need to pump things out to keep everything working well.

If you have never had a septic tank before, you are going to want to know the details on how to treat the system and what septic tank pumping in Petaluma, CA can do for you. The experts are there to give you advice whenever you need it. And they can offer pumping and inspections are regular intervals in the future as well.

Safeguarding Septic Tank Health To Help Avoid Pumping

Septic tanks are efficient and straightforward. They are necessary for people who are in the country or not on city water systems for any other reason. But they are also sensitive to damage and need to have septic tank pumping in Sonoma, CA done every 3-5 years. Regular maintenance and care can help you to avoid having to have the tank pumped out more often than is average.

How The Septic Tank Works

Liquid is going to enter into the septic tank from lots of different sources in your home. It comes from the sink, bathtub, toilets, washing machine, dishwasher, and so on. The tank has bacteria within it along with organic matter and it will break items down and put them back out into the environment. In order for things to work properly, it’s important for you to safeguard the way things operate.

What Not To Put In The Tank

There are some things that you should not put into your septic tank in order to protect the ecosystem that is operating within that tank. It’s easy enough to forget what you can and cannot put down the drain. For the toilet, it’s a good idea to have the rule of flushing only waste and toilet paper—nothing else. That means no flushable wipes, paper towels, facial tissues, or anything else you think would be reasonable to flush. Keeping the rule of just toilet paper and waste will help prevent clogs and will help prevent the tank from filling up faster than average.

In the kitchen, there are certain things that you don’t want to put down the sink, either. For example, grease or oil is something that can harden in the pipes. You will want to catch fats and frying oils and not allow them down the drain. Cool them and throw them away instead.

Another thing you are going to want to be careful about is bleach and other antibacterial items. Anything that will kill of bacteria is something you are going to want to keep out of your house. Don’t get toilet cleaner with bleach, for example, or hand soap with anti-bacteria in it. Those things are going to break down the bacteria in the tank, which are the elements that break down the waste in there. The tank will fill up and you will have to pump it out more regularly.

If you have any question as to what you might do to safeguard your septic system and tank as best you can, the professionals are there to help. They can give you advice by phone or come out and do an inspection and assessment to ensure there aren’t any repairs necessary. You might also need septic tank pumping in Sonoma, CA and the professionals are there to help you figure out when that needs to be done and how often based on the tank size, your usage, your family size, and other such things. Contact the pros at any time for help.

Where Is Your Septic Tank?

Any homeowner with a septic system is going to want to go through septic tank pumping in Novato, CA every 3-5 years. That will help to maintain the system and prevent expensive backups and huge messes. But it is always a good idea for any homeowner to understand where their septic system is located so they can spot leaks or flooding along with other issues that need to be addressed. Here are a few ways to help you to locate the septic tank and watch out for those things.

Locate The Sewer Line

Your main sewer line is going to be located in your basement or crawl space. IT’s about 4” around and is made from either PVC pipe or cast iron. The pipe will exit your home and go outside, so you can walk around the home and see where it comes out. Drain pipes are usually straight lines so you might be able to find the septic tank by tracing the system straight from the drain pipe to the tank. You may be able to see a divot or hill or patch areas in the yard that will indicate where the septic tank is. It may also smell a bit. The tank could have one or two lids, which you can find with a probe.

Utilize A Soil Probe

Any probing object like a piece of rebar can be pushed into the yard, but not too hard. You don’t want to damage any septic tank or lid areas. Tap the probe into the ground to search for the tank. They are generally buried four feet deep and the lid will have to be uncovered with a shovel.

Watch For Clues

There are many clues that can help you to find the septic tank, like public records. The septic permit may be on file somewhere as well and you could find it with that. Neighbors might also know as their systems might be similar to yours.

Mark The Spot

Once you have the septic tank located, you may want to mark the spot so you don’t have to rely on your memory as much. Put a lawn ornament there to keep the lawn looking nice buy to mark the spot. You can also measure from your home to the septic tank and write that down somewhere.

Get Help From Professionals

If you can’t figure out where the tank is yourself, the professionals are always there to help you. As mentioned, you are going to need to have your system pumped out ever 3-5 years. You can also have regular inspections done between to make sure everything is running properly. You don’t want the system to go unmaintained and to maintain it, you need to know where the tank is. The professionals are happy to locate the system and let you in on where it is whenever you need those details.

If you need advice, or are ready for septic tank pumping in Novato, CA, contact the professionals and they can help you with anything pertaining to your septic system. They want things to stay in good working order so you don’t have any large messes to deal with within your home.

Is Your Home In Need Of Septic Tank Pumping?

There are lots of things you are going to want to know about your septic system so you can treat it well and maintain it right without a lot of emergency visits from the professionals. You will want to know what you can put down the drain and what you should avoid, what you can and cannot flush, and so on. You will also need to know how to tell when your system needs septic tank pumping in Petaluma, CA. Here are some of the signs that this process is something you might want to have done rather soon.

The Drains Are Running Slow

When the drains are running slow, it could mean that you have a clogged pipe. But it could also mean that your septic tank is getting rather filled up and needs to be pumped out. When the tank is getting full, things aren’t going to flow into the tank as easily, which means the sinks and drains might run slower than you are used to. This is a warning sign. Things are only going to get worse from here until you have a full back up into your home. Address the issue sooner rather than later.

The Yard Stinks

You spend enough time around your house to know what’s normal and what’s out of sorts. When you notice an odd smell coming from the yard, that’s not a good sign. There’s a certain way of the septic tank operating and when it is letting too much into the yard too fast without giving it a chance to soak in, that’s because it is getting too full and is allowing things out that perhaps shouldn’t be.

The Grass Is Getting a Little Too Green

You want your yard to have nice, green grass, but if there are certain portions of the yard that are overly green, it could be because the septic tank is getting too full. If there are mushy parts in the yard, that’s a bad sign as well. You want the tank to operate well, but when it lets too much out, that’s a sign that it’s filling up too quickly.

The Plumbing Backs Up

The worst sign you could get within your home is when the plumbing backs up completely and things that are supposed to go down actually start to come up instead. This can be a real mess and it’s something you want to avoid, if at all possible. If you do have a back up, have the professionals come out and pump out the septic tank right away.

To avoid these signs, you should have regular inspections and septic tank pumping in Petaluma, CA done so you don’t have to worry about the bad results that could occur from an overly full tank. Most tanks have to be pumped out every other year, but you should never go more than 5 years between pumpings. Talk to the professionals to set up a schedule for your home.

What Do You Need From Septic Tank Professionals?

No matter how good you are to your septic system, you are going to need septic tank pumping in Sonoma, CA at some point or another. These products need to be cleaned out once at least every five years, if not more often, depending on how much you use the system. Whether you need septic tank pumping, maintenance, a check-up, advice, or something else, you are going to want certain things from the professionals you call to your home. Here are some of those things.

Prompt Service/Replies

If you need help from a septic tank professional, you are likely going to want them to come out sooner rather than later—especially if you are dealing with a back up or another emergency situation. You will want the professionals to give you service in a prompt manner. If you simply have a question, you should also get a prompt reply from them. The customer service will be important to how happy you are with the way they do business.

Experience

Septic tanks aren’t something that just anyone knows a lot about. You may be one such person who really doesn’t know anything about them, and that’s okay. You are going to want septic tank professionals who know everything there is to know about these systems—and has a lot of experience with them. They likely won’t find something they’ve never seen before because they’ve seen it all—and they know just what to do with any situation.

Licensing And Insurance

This sounds simple, but you definitely want to check into the companies and make sure they are properly licensed and insured. This is a huge deal because if something goes wrong and they aren’t, the costs are going to be on you. And those costs can be rather large.

Good Prices

Whenever you have to have something done to the septic tank, it can be a costly ordeal. You are going to want to make sure the costs the professionals charge are fair and affordable. Take a look at the market prices and make sure the prices are within the average range.

It’s not everyday you need septic tank professionals and when that need does arrive, where can you find good ones? Most people are going to go to their computers to look up information, and that’s never a bad place to start. You can look into their websites and outside reviews as well. You can find out about their pricing and plenty of other details. After some phone calls and customer service testing, you can move forward with the company that means the most to you.

If you are ready to get septic tank pumping in Sonoma, CA done for your home, the professionals are there to help you check in on what your system is like and what it needs moving forward. You don’t have to know much about your septic tank since there are professionals that know all of the details that are necessary to take care of the system.