Septic Preservation Services

Septic Preservation Services in Southeastern Massachusetts

Septic Preservation Services5/12/16 Septic Preservation Services is performing title 5 septic inspections, septic system repairs, septic system installations, and servicing septic systems throughout southeastern Massachusetts this week. Some of the areas that we will be working include Dennis, Falmouth, Eastham, Bourne, Plymouth, Wareham, Norton, Westport, Taunton, Halifax, Sandwich, and Taunton. If you have questions or would like a title 5 septic inspection please call our office at 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com

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What Should You Plant Over Your Septic System

plantAs a Rule of thumb, grass is always a good choice to plant over your septic system.

Here are some choices to steer clear of:

 Avoid thirsty plants that set deep roots. It’s best to keep a distance for water-loving trees that include willows, birch, silver maple, elm, beech, walnut and linden.   Avoid planting aggressive, dense ground covers that will interfere with the evaporation process, including pachysandra, cotoneaster and periwinkle. Other plants to avoid for their aggressive roots are vines, wisteria, bittersweet, morning glory, campsis and hops.

Here is a general  list of plants to avoid near the septic system:

 
  • Bamboo (any variety)
  • Any trees with particularly strong lateral root growth
  • Water-loving, large-scale pond grasses
  • Native clematis (self seeding)
  • Cedars (except genetic dwarfs)
  • Woody vines

Prairie grasses and meadows  are often unwise choices for the septic field. “Prairie grasses and perennials have some of the longest, tangliest, toughest roots around.   The drought-resistant nature of prairie grasses translates to aggressive roots adept at seeking out water sources like perforated drainpipes.

Cedar trees and shrubs — evergreens perfect for many screening situations — are a favorite of homeowners, but they are also a no-no.

In general, it’s better to choose trees with vertical root growth if you want to plant near the septic field. When homeowners insist on planting trees with strong lateral root growth, tell them to back off.

“The rule of thumb is to keep a distance equal to the anticipated height of the tree at its maturity, plus 20 percent. Thus, a tree 30 feet tall at maturity should be kept 36 feet away from your septic field.

Those who want landscape-intensive yards also have to be warned not to plant vegetables over the septic field. Nielsen said some clients insist the drainfield, with its nutrient-laden effluent dispersal, makes a perfect spot for vegetables. But she warns them that disturbing the soil with these annual crops is bad for the septic system, and the effluent could transmit pathogens to the edibl

GO AHEAD AND PLANT THESE

While traditional lawns are acceptable over septic systems, Nielsen says many homeowners are moving away from that maintenance-heavy chemical input and water-intense ground cover. She points to a few grass varieties that are generally better than others. Safer choices may include:

  • Pre-mixed eco-grass with fescues
  • Small grasses, including tufted fescues, feather grass, pennisetum, deschampsia
  • Grass-like choices, including mondo grass, liatris, liriope, armeria

Lawns are not very ecologically friendly. They don’t make good habitat for most things, but we still have children and dogs and they provide great places to run around on.

Rather than traditional lawns,  drought-tolerant plants with short, fibrous root systems chosen for hardiness in your climate and in sun and shade conditions as required are recommended.   Top choices includes microclover/ecograss/carex pensylvanica dwarf, introduction of white clover, carpets (thyme, sedums, low-growing ground covers), shallow, short/soft rooted perennials, bulb/corm/rhizome/tubers in lawns, and moss.

Microclover, she says, is the “weed we used to eradicate in our lawns,’’ and that the “old enemy is now your best friend.’’ It’s low- or no-mow and deer and bees love it.

Other good choices to add landscape interest without placing a septic system at risk are interspersing annuals or bulbs in the ground cover, Nielsen says. Those include hardy cyclamen, crocus, narcissus/daffodils, snowdrop, alliums and anemones. And newer dwarf tree and shrub varieties are also not the same threat as their bigger siblings. They include cedars, cherry, crabapples, dogwoods, cotinus, cercis, snowbell, acer palmatum, acer grisem and acer amur. Shrubs with fibrous root systems include boxwood, potentilla, daphne, choisya, hebe and euonymous.

Visit www.septicpreservation.com or call 877-378-4279 for all your questions involving septic systems and septic maintenance.

Septic Preservation Services

Septic Preservation Services in MA, RI, Maine and NH

Septic Preservation Services5/11/16 Septic Preservation Services conducts business in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Our services include Functional septic inspections for Rhode Island, training of functional septic inspectors at URI for Rhode Island, Massachusetts title 5 septic inspections, general septic inspections for all states, septic system repairs, drain cleaning, septic pumping, designs of septic systems, installations of septic systems, septic tank cleaning, and services of waste treatment equipment.  Call 877-378-4279 for more information or visit www.septicpreservation.com

Septic Preservation Services

Septic Preservation Services Schedule This Week

Septic Preservation Services5/10/16 Septic Preservation Services will be conducting septic system services and septic inspections in Arundel, Barmills, Bowdoin, Cape Naddick, Falmouth, Gray, Hebron, Lebanon, North Berwick, Orrs Island, Poland, Raymond, Topsham, Waterboro, Wells, West Paris, and Windham this week. If you would like to discuss a septic inspection or have one of our professional septic inspectors evaluate your septic system please call our office at 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com

Septic Preservation Services

Septic Preservation Services Weekly Septic Inspections

Septic Preservation Services5/9/16 Septic Preservation Services works with mobile home community in Kittery, Maine to protect public Health. Conducting weekly septic inspections and servicing the overboard discharge system helps to ensure that the waste treatment equipment is functioning properly, thus protecting public safety. Septic inspections are important for all septic systems and we advise conducting routine inspections to ensure that your system is functioning properly and thus protect your health as well as the health of your neighbors. Regardless of whether you’re in Kittery, Wells, or Gray protecting the environment protects us.

Call 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com

Septic Preservation Services

Septic Preservation Services in New England

Septic Preservation Services5/6/16 Septic Preservation Services is a leading service provider in the on site septic industry, providing RI functional inspections, MA title 5 septic inspections, title 5 consulting services, septic pumping, septic tank cleaning, drain cleaning, and biological remediation of failed septic systems. We conduct business throughout New England with offices in Norton, MA and Biddeford, ME and supported by satellite offices in South Portland, ME., Shapleigh, ME., West Newfield, ME., Franklin, MA., Attleboro, MA., Marion, MA., Somerset, MA., and Easton, MA.  Call 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com

Septic Preservation Services

Septic Preservation Services’ Schedule for the Week

Septic Preservation Services5/5/16 Septic Preservation Services is conducting septic services and title 5 inspections in the following areas this week; Halifax, Hingham, Westford, Acton, Shirley, Rochester, Norton, and Cape Cod. If you would like a free site visit and consultation please speak to one of our title 5 inspectors or call our office.  Please call 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com

septic system

Causes of Septic System Failure

septic system What is most often to blame for Septic System Failure?


Why do septic systems fail?   Failure is when the system is not operating as it’s designed to; sewage is backing up or surfacing, or effluent is going away, but not being treated properly.

There is usually always more than one thing wrong  with the system.  Here are some reasons.

 The homeowner is routinely using more water than the system can handle. Systems are designed to handle a finite amount of water, and  it is usually expressed in terms of an average per person or a value based on the number of bedrooms in the house. The overuse may just be that the people living in the house use more water than the average 60-70 gallons per person per day. But overuse can also result from leaky and unmaintained fixtures or from other extraneous water sources such as surface runoff or clean water drainlines around foundations that are being routed through the system. The homeowner, after the fact, may increase the load by enlarging the house to accommodate more people or add water-using devices the system was not designed to handle, such as garbage disposals and large showers or tubs.

 The system has not been properly maintained. The septic tank should be regularly checked and the solids and scum removed before they accumulate to levels that can be detrimental to the soil treatment part of the system. Advanced technologies, such as ATUs and media filters, require increased levels of care. These are often covered in maintenance contracts written upon completion of the system, but not renewed because there have not been problems or when new owners move in. Systems with advanced technologies that are not cared for can represent more of a health and environmental risk than a failed conventional septic drainfield system.

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services has trained personnel in every aspect of the Septic process. We have a maintenance program to keep your septic system operating smoothly to help avoid costly repairs or septic failure. Call 877-378-4279 for all your questions or visit www.septicpreservation.com

Septic Preservation Services

Septic Preservation Sevices Looking for a New Team Member

Septic Preservation Services5/4/16 Septic Preservation Services is looking for a new team member to join our team of septic repair specialists, title 5 inspectors, and waste treatment plant operators. This individual will be part of a comprehensive team of septic inspectors, engineers, septic installers, septic repair specialists, microbiologists, and title 5 septic inspectors. Ideally this individual will live in or around the area of Taunton, Raynham, Mansfield, Norton, Lakeville, Freetown, or Dighton. The service area will include all of Massachusetts and Rhode Island with occasional trips to Maine and New Hampshire. However most work will be performed in the region including Wellfleet, Dennis, Marion, Plymouth, Halifax, Pembroke, West Bridgewater, Norton, Franklin, Attleboro, Seekonk, Swansea, Fall River, Dartmouth, and Acushnet.

Call 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com

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Septic Preservation Services in Maine

5/3/16 Septic Preservation Services is performing routine services and septic inspections in Farmington, ME. Freeport, ME. Topsham, ME. Wales, ME. Wells, ME and West Paris, ME. If you see our septic inspectors or service technicians please feel free to ask them any questions you may have concerning your septic system, leachfield, or septic inspection. Call 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com