8/12/16 Septic Preservation Services is improving its effort to keep our team members safe while conducting septic inspections and septic installations. All team members will now be required to attend an OSHA 30 class. If you are looking for a septic inspector or septic installer be sure to hire a safe professional.
Call 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com
8/11/16 Septic Preservation Services is expanding its services in Maine. For over 30 years Septic Preservation services has been performing inspections. As of this month we will have 11 trained septic inspectors. Our trained professionals conduct professional septic inspections using the latest technologies available including video equipment and electronic locators. Our expanded team will be conducting services and septic inspections in Northport, North Berwick, North Yarmouth, Oakland, Old Orchard Beach, Owls Head, Palmero, Peaks Island, Poland, Portland, and Raymond over the upcoming week. If you have any questions about septic inspections please ask one of our licensed septic inspectors.
You can reach our inspectors at Septic Preservation Services at 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com
How do antibacterial soaps affect your septic system?
Check out this article by Sara Heger in the Onsite Installer:
Antibacterial soaps and wipes are now used by 75 percent of American households, according to a recent report. Products designed to kill microorganisms have become increasingly common in today’s homes. But how do these products affect septic tanks and septic systems, where microorganisms are essential?
To achieve proper treatment, a septic system is very dependent on millions of naturally occurring bacteria throughout the system. Daily, beneficial bacteria are added to septic systems, bacteria typically found in wastewater, our bodies, and other waste materials we dispose of via our septic system.
The use of antibacterial or disinfectant products in the home can and does destroy good and bad bacteria in the treatment system. Normal-use amounts of these products will destroy some beneficial bacteria but the population will remain sufficient and recover quickly enough to not cause significant treatment problems.
Excessive use of these products in the home can cause significant and even total destruction of the bacteria population in a septic system. Often the use of a single product or single application will not cause major problems, but the cumulative effect of many products and many uses throughout the home may add up to an excessive total and cause problems. In addition, with many of the products a greater amount is used when they are in a liquid form. More research is needed to determine what is “excessive” and which products are more or less harmful to systems.
What products are we talking about?
There are over 1,000 products that are concerning in relation to having a good bacteria community, including: ‘antibacterial’ hand soaps; tub, tile and shower cleaners; drain cleaners; toilet bowl cleaners; laundry bleach products; and others. Also included are ‘antibiotics’ that may be prescribed for medical treatment. These are products that are found in nearly all homes. “Antimicrobial” is the general term for any product or ingredient that kills or inhibits bacteria, viruses or molds. Disinfectant and chlorine bleach are common antimicrobials. Antibacterials, on the other hand, are only effective against bacteria. Lots of cleaning products and liquids now claim to be “antibacterial.”
There’s a growing consensus that antimicrobial household cleaners won’t keep them any safer from infectious illnesses than regular types. In 2000, the American Medical Association issued the statement that antibacterial soaps were no more effective against germs than common soap. Although they initially kill more germs than soap, within an hour or so there is no difference in the numbers of germs that have repopulated the area. In fact, experts say, it’s not the type of cleaner that matters in combating germs, but the frequency and thoroughness of cleaning; plain soap, hot water and elbow grease are generally enough to do the job. As with antibiotics, prudent use of these products is urged. Their designated purpose is to protect vulnerable patients.
About the Author
Sara Heger, Ph.D., is an engineer, researcher and instructor in the Onsite Sewage Treatment Program in the Water Resources Center at the University of Minnesota. She presents at many local and national training events regarding the design, installation and management of septic systems and related research. Heger is education chair of the Minnesota Onsite Wastewater Association (MOWA) and the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association (NOWRA), and serves on the NSF International Committee on Wastewater Treatment Systems.
Call Septic Preservation Services at 877-378-4279 for all your septic questions or visit www.septicpreservation.com
Septic Preservation Services is looking for a Service Technician to help us improve our customer service throughout Maine. This Service technician will perform septic inspections, septic repairs, and service a variety of advanced treatment systems. The primary geographical area that this new team member will cover includes but is not limited to Bremen, Bridgeton, Brunswick, Buxton, Cape Elizabeth, Cape Nadick, Kitterly, Kittery Point, Lebanon, Lewiston, and Lisbob Falls.
Please call 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com
Septic Preservation Services is growing and while we have hired a new service technician we are still looking for a service technician to improve our customer service in the area including Attleboro, Franklin, Plainville, Mansfield, Wayland, North Smithfield RI, Lincoln RI, Cumberland RI, Chepachet RI, Harrisville Ri, Pascoag RI, and Oakland RI. This service technician will perform Mass title 5 septic inspections, Rhode Island functional septic inspections, service a wide variety of advanced wastewater treatment systems, and conduct minor septic repairs.
Please call 877-378-4279 with all your septic questions or visit www.septicpreservation.com
Septic Preservation Services has hired a new Service Technician to support all aspects of our business and provide better customer service. Alec Figueirdo from Tiverton Ri will be training for 4 weeks on conducting title 5 septic inspections. His second phase of training will be on the service of advanced treatment units. Alec will primarily be trained in the area including Westport, Marion, Lakeville, Norton, Mansfield, Rochester, Mattapoisett, and Raynham. If you see Alec please welcome him. The services provided in this area are septic pumping, title 5 septic inspections, drain cleaning, emergency services, minor septic repairs, engineering, septic designs, septic installations, and operation of advanced treatment systems. Please call us with all your septic questions at 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com
If you are buying or selling a home that has a septic system in the State of Massachusetts, there are a few things you need to know. A brand new septic system can cost you as much as $30,000 or more to replace, however with proper septic system maintenance, it can continue to work effectively and efficiently for approximately 25 years.
The standard home inspection that is required when you buy or sell your home in Massachusetts does not include an inspection of the septic system. There is a separate inspection required in the State of Massachusetts that homeowners need to be aware of, which is called the Title 5 Inspection.
What is a Title 5 Inspection?
A Title 5 Inspection is a complete and thorough inspection of your septic system. This inspection must be performed by a person who has been certified by the State of Massachusetts through the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.
A Title 5 Inspection is a part of the Environmental Code for the State of Massachusetts, which regulates all septic systems and works to provide these inspections for the health and safety of the public, as well as the protection of the environment.
The inspection checks to ensure that the septic system has been properly constructed and checks to ensure that any upgrades were done according to code and state regulations. The inspector also checks to ensure that proper septic maintenance has been performed throughout the lifetime of the system.
For the Buyer
In the State of Massachusetts, it is the responsibility of the buyer to ask the seller about the septic systems. You should ask when the system was last pumped and how many people are currently living in the home. A typical system should be pumped about every 2-3 years, more often if there are more than 5 residents in the home. Increased demand, particularly in a situation where more people are living in the home than it was designed to hold, can lead to many damaging problems.
The number of bedrooms in a home dictates the design and capacity of the septic system that gets installed. However, in some cases, a home may have more bedrooms than the original design due to remodeling or by poor quality design by the installer. A home that has more bedrooms than the system was designed for will very likely experience system failure much earlier than the typical longevity for a residential system.
Once you get the information from the seller, make sure to consult with a septic system inspection and maintenance service that is certified in the State of Massachusetts, such as Septic Preservation Services. SPS is certified to inspect septic systems all over Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island as well as New Hampshire and Maine and can give you the information you need about the health and condition of the septic system in a home you are thinking about buying.
For the Seller
If you are thinking about selling your home you should make sure that you get proper septic system maintenance and consider calling out a local service to do a review of your system. SPS offers a service known as a Confidential Voluntary Assessment, which will go through your entire system, just like a Title 5 Inspection. This assessment is completely confidential, giving you the opportunity to repair or maintain your system without having to go through the state like you would with an official Title 5.
Proper septic system maintenance should be taken care of year round from the day you purchase your home, and should not be thought of as a last minute fix before selling your home. The tank should be pumped on a regular schedule, the drain field should be kept free of vegetation that could clog the drain lines and your entire family needs to be aware of excessive water use hazards. An annual inspection of your system will help monitor it for any minor problems that can be fixed before they result in major, costly repairs.
Once you are sure that your system is working effectively and efficiently, you can get a Title 5 Inspection. This is an excellent selling point because once your system is certified in the State of Massachusetts, you can list it as “Title 5 Certified” with your real estate agent. If your system fails the inspection and you are unable to get it fixed, you would need to list it as “Failed Title 5” with the agency. While this can be a problem for some buyers, it is better to let them know up front what to expect when they purchase your home.
The More You Know…
Before you buy or sell your home in Massachusetts, it is important to know everything you can about proper septic system maintenance and care, as well as requirements of Title 5 Inspection by the State of Massachusetts. Call Septic Preservation Services for a consultation if you unsure of how to proceed. We service residential and commercial customers all over Southeastern Massachusetts, including New Bedford, Fall River, Middleboro, Dartmouth and out on the Cape, as well as all throughout Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Maine. Give us a call at 877—378-4279 for more information about our septic and wastewater services or visit www.septicpreservation.com
you are buying or selling a home that has a septic system in the State of Massachusetts, there are a few things you need to know. A brand new septic system can cost you as much as $30,000 or more to replace, however with proper septic system maintenance, it can continue to work effectively and efficiently for approximately 25 years.
The standard home inspection that is required when you buy or sell your home in Massachusetts does not include an inspection of the septic system. There is a separate inspection required in the State of Massachusetts that homeowners need to be aware of, which is called the Title 5 Inspection.
What is a Title 5 Inspection?
A Title 5 Inspection is a complete and thorough inspection of your septic system. This inspection must be performed by a person who has been certified by the State of Massachusetts through the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.
A Title 5 Inspection is a part of the Environmental Code for the State of Massachusetts, which regulates all septic systems and works to provide these inspections for the health and safety of the public, as well as the protection of the environment.
The inspection checks to ensure that the septic system has been properly constructed and checks to ensure that any upgrades were done according to code and state regulations. The inspector also checks to ensure that proper septic maintenance has been performed throughout the lifetime of the system.
For the Buyer
In the State of Massachusetts, it is the responsibility of the buyer to ask the seller about the septic systems. You should ask when the system was last pumped and how many people are currently living in the home. A typical system should be pumped about every 2-3 years, more often if there are more than 5 residents in the home. Increased demand, particularly in a situation where more people are living in the home than it was designed to hold, can lead to many damaging problems.
The number of bedrooms in a home dictates the design and capacity of the septic system that gets installed. However, in some cases, a home may have more bedrooms than the original design due to remodeling or by poor quality design by the installer. A home that has more bedrooms than the system was designed for will very likely experience system failure much earlier than the typical longevity for a residential system.
Once you get the information from the seller, make sure to consult with a septic system inspection and maintenance service that is certified in the State of Massachusetts, such as All-Clear Septic out of Acushnet, Massachusetts. All-Clear is certified to inspect septic systems all over Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and can give you the information you need about the health and condition of the septic system in a home you are thinking about buying.
For the Seller
If you are thinking about selling your home you should make sure that you get proper septic system maintenance and consider calling out a local service to do a review of your system. All-Clear Septic offers a service known as a Confidential Voluntary Assessment, which will go through your entire system, just like a Title 5 Inspection. This assessment is completely confidential, giving you the opportunity to repair or maintain your system without having to go through the state like you would with an official Title 5.
Proper septic system maintenance should be taken care of year round from the day you purchase your home, and should not be thought of as a last minute fix before selling your home. The tank should be pumped on a regular schedule, the drain field should be kept free of vegetation that could clog the drain lines and your entire family needs to be aware of excessive water use hazards. An annual inspection of your system will help monitor it for any minor problems that can be fixed before they result in major, costly repairs.
Once you are sure that your system is working effectively and efficiently, you can get a Title 5 Inspection. This is an excellent selling point because once your system is certified in the State of Massachusetts, you can list it as “Title 5 Certified” with your real estate agent. If your system fails the inspection and you are unable to get it fixed, you would need to list it as “Failed Title 5” with the agency. While this can be a problem for some buyers, it is better to let them know up front what to expect when they purchase your home.
The More You Know…
Before you buy or sell your home in Massachusetts, it is important to know everything you can about proper septic system maintenance and care, as well as requirements of Title 5 Inspection by the State of Massachusetts. Call All-Clear Septic for a consultation if you unsure of how to proceed. We service residential and commercial customers all over Southeastern Massachusetts, including New Bedford, Fall River, Middleboro, Dartmouth and out on the Cape, as well as all throughout Rhode Island. Give us a call at 508-763-4431 for more information about our septic and wastewater services or visit www.allclearseptic.com
If you are a homeowner with a septic system, you know how to use your senses to stay alert about potential issues that might occur. While preventative maintenance is the best way to stop a backed up septic system before it even starts, it is also important to know how to use your ears, eyes and nose to spot a problem before it gets out of hand.
Some of the most common signs of problems with a septic system include sounds, sights and smells. If you have gurgling septic pipes, it could be indicative of a much bigger problem. Your best bet is to contact a professional service provider who can conduct some septic system troubleshooting tests and help it to work properly.
How to Use Your Senses
We all know the normal sounds of water and waste moving through the drains of our home. That being said, any unusual sounds will generally alert us to the idea that something isn’t right. Gurgling septic pipes are usually a sign of a backed up septic system that is clogged. The pipes that are connected to the system will make a very distinct gurgling sound. If you have ever heard this before, you know exactly what this sounds like.
Once you use your ears to hear that you have gurgling septic pipes, it is important to confirm the extent of the problem. The next thing to check is your drain or leach field. If there is flooding or puddles of water above your septic system, chances are good that you have a backed up septic system. This flooding is also sometimes accompanied by a distinct “sewage” odor in the area surrounding your drain or leach field.
Another thing to check for is the operation of other plumbing within the home. For example, part of septic system troubleshooting is to identify whether or not drains and toilets are operating more slowly than usual. In the case of a severely backed up septic system, some drains will back up completely, causing standing water and possible sewage to come up in shower drains or sinks. If you see, hear or smell any of the symptoms of a backed up septic system above, contact your septic system repair or maintenance service right away.
What Causes Gurgling Pipes?
While gurgling pipes are usually a sign of a backed up septic system, there are different situations that can cause your pipes to gurgle. This is why it is important to contact a professional septic system troubleshooting company right away. While some problems can be small and easy to fix, others could be more complex and might cause more damage if left unchecked for too long.
The gurgling sound in the pipes can be caused by a blockage between the pipes that connect the plumbing in your house to your septic system. Gurgling septic pipes can also be caused by a plugged house sewer vent or blockage within the pipes between the drain or leach field and the septic tank itself. Other more serious issues, such as septic drain field failure, can also cause your plumbing to make those distinctive gurgling noises.
Other Types of Gurgling
Another area of the home to keep any eye on is the toilet, as this is where the most waste will be flushed out of your home. A toilet can make gurgling noises if the water and air inside the pipes isn’t flowing normally. Septic system owners need to be aware that a gurgling toilet, much like gurgling pipes, can be indicative of a potentially backed up septic system. This early warning can give you enough time to contact a professional service to conduct septic system troubleshooting and repair issues before they get out of hand.
A gurgling toilet can also be a sign of a partial clog. In some cases, you can simply use a plunger to apply pressure to the drain line to dislodge the clog. This will allow it to go down into the pipe and will eliminate the gurgling noises. Larger clogs may require the use of a toilet snake tool to dislodge the clog. If the gurgling noises continue in your toilet after using a plunger or toilet snake tool, chances are you have a bigger problem with a backed up septic system.
Prevention is Key
When it comes to problems associated with owning a home that has a septic system, it is important to remember that good septic maintenance and prevention is very important. Signing up for a preventative maintenance program, such as the one offered by All-Clear Septic & Wastewater, is a great way to stay on top of your system with regular check-ups. Never add chemical additives or “septic clean up” products to your system, as many of these can actually hurt your septic system.
Reading all of the tips about septic system ownership can help you to keep your system running clean and healthy. Contact Septic Preservation Services with any questions at 877-378-4279 or visit www.septic preservation.com
Drain cleaners can be an easy choice when your kitchen or bathroom drain becomes clogged, but they are not a great choice for the health of your septic system. Septic systems rely on natural bacteria to treat wastewater. The harsh chemicals found in drain cleaners can kill the beneficial bacteria needed by your septic system to process wastewater.Chemical drain cleaners are one of the most dangerous of all the cleaning products on the market to human health. Most contain very corrosive ingredients such as sulfuric acid, lye, and bleach that can burn your eyes and skin. They can be fatal if ingested and these cleaning products are required by law to carry a warning label listing their harsh ingredients. Care must be taken to keep these out of the reach of children.
Even very low amounts of a drain cleaner used in a septic system results in significant decreases in concentrations of Coliform bacteria and a decrease in PH when higher concentrations are used. It could take up to 48 hours for bacteria population to recover to original levels.
What is a solution to your clogged drains? The best remedy is to prevent drains from being clogged by having good catch basins in all the drains of the home. Purchasing inexpensive plastic or metal screens for the drains can keep many wastes from going down the drain including hair and food products. Food scraps as well as oils and grease should never be allowed down the drain.
Most clogs occur about 6 inches below the drain opening in the trap. Taking apart and cleaning this area can remove the clog. Plungers can also be helpful in removing a clogged drain. If that doesn’t work, a snake or auger can be put down the drain to remove the blockage. Clean-out ports can be removes to help access the clog. If no luck, it’s always best to call a professional who has the equipment and expertise to get the job done.
If you feel you must use a chemical drain cleaner, look for an enzyme-based cleaner. They are less harsh on your system. You can also try a homemade recipe: Pour 1/2 cup salt and 1/2 cup baking soda down the clogged drain. Then pour 6 cups of boiling water after it. Let it sit overnight and then flush with hot water.
Septic Preservation Services can help you with any of your septic system questions. Call 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com
Septic Preservation Services will be conducting septic inspections and routine septic maintenance in the following towns this week; Acton, Alna, Arundel, Bath, Belmont, Cape Elizabeth, Freeport, Hebron, Lebanon, Turner, and Wells. If you would like a septic inspection please call our office. Call us at 877-378-4279 or visit us at www.septicpreservation.com
