Weather in New England and Southeastern Massachusetts can be brutal and unpredictable especially in the winter.  Maintaining your septic system is particularly important at this time of year.  Winter is not the time to deal with a costly repair.  Your way of life and habits can drastically affect your septic system for the good or the bad.

The Bathroom is the first place everyone thinks of when you talk septic system.  One-ply toilet tissue is better than the thicker brands and flushing only toilet tissue down the toilet is a good rule of thumb. Flushing anything else can cause problems with your system.  Making sure small children do not have access to the bathroom unattended can keep unwanted items from accidentally being flushed down the toilet.

Restricting the amount of water that goes into your system everyday can help extend the life of your system.  Low-flow showerheads and taps, water-saving toilets, shorter shower time, fixing any leaky faucets, turning the faucet off while you brush your teeth, can all reduce the amount of water that goes into your system daily and give the system time to effectively work.

The kitchen is also an important area to be diligent. Solids should never be put down the drain.  The more solids in your system, the harder it will have to work to break them down.  Curbing the use of chemical cleaners, especially bleach will help keep the beneficial microbes that naturally occur in a septic system in place.  These cleaners can kill off the good bacteria that help break up the waste in your system.

Composting can help.  Setting up a bucket near the sink for food waste such as egg shells, fruit and vegetable peelings, coffee grinds etc.    Then start a compost pile outside away from the septic system and periodically dump the bucket in this pile.  It will break down over time and be great fertilizer for your vegetable or flower garden in the spring.

Also, keep a grease can in the fridge. An old coffee can is ideal.  Keep straining your grease from cooking into the can and when it’s full, simply throw away and start with a new can.

These are some of the ways to keep your New England septic system up and running.  For more information, visit www.allclearseptic.com for everything you need to know about septic system maintenance and troubleshooting.  Call 508-763-4431.

This blog was posted on www.allclearseptic.com on January 13, 2016.

What are some common septic system terms and what do they mean?  Check out these definitions to better help you understand your septic system.

Absorption Field: An underground leaching area within the soil that receives the liquid wastewater  and distributes it over a specified area where it is allowed to seep into the soil.

Black Water: Raw, untreated sewage and wastewater containing human waste.

Cesspool : A pit dug into the ground with the walls loosely lined by stone or brick to allow liquid wastewater to seep out of the cesspool into the ground while holding the solids in the pit.

Distribution Box: A hollow cylindrical or cubical structure constructed of concrete, fiberglass, plastic or steel. The Distribution Box is located underground between the septic tank outlet and the distribution field.

Effluent: Wastewater which flows out of a septic tank.

Effluent Filter: A housing and cartridge typically made of plastic located at the outlet of a septic tank containing small openings or bristles that allow liquids to pass through but block the flow of solids out of the septic tank into the distribution components.

Effluent Pump: A pump used to transfer liquid effluent from a pumping chamber to a distribution component when the effluent cannot flow by gravity.

Gray Water: Wastewater which does not contain human waste. Gray water is created from the use of laundry facilities, dishwashers, bathing, or other similar household activities.   Please note that most states consider laundry and bath water black water not gray water because it can contain human waste

Influent: Raw, untreated sewage and wastewater which flows into a septic tank.

Leach field: Another name for a absorption field.

Septic Tank: A tank made of concrete, fiberglass, plastic or steel used in a septic system in which accepts influent and is designed to separate and hold the solid matter of continuously flowing sewage. The tank also holds bacteria required for the digestion of the solids.

Septic Tank Riser: An extension of the septic tank used to raise the tank cover to ground level or higher for easy septic tank maintenance. Septic risers are easy to install and are designed to work with a wide variety septic tank configurations.

Sludge Layer: The bottom layer of matter in a septic tank that is heavier than water and comprised mostly of solids.

Scum layer: The top layer of matter that is lighter then water primarily comprised of fats oils and greases.

Vent Pipe: A vertical pipe made of plastic, steel, clay, or cast iron, that is connected to a component of a septic system that allows displaced air to flow to the atmosphere.

Visit www.allclearseptic.com for more information on all your septic needs or call 508-763-4431

This blog was posted to www.allclearseptic.com on December 31, 2015.

Are you buying or selling a home and think the Massachusetts Title 5 Requirements are confusing?  Here is some information to help you through the process of a Title 5 Inspection.

In general:  On-site system inspections are required:

• When properties are sold, divided or combined.
• When there is a change in use or an expansion of a facility.
• When MassDEP or the local Board of Health requires an inspection.
• Title 5 requires inspections for large systems, shared systems, and condominiums on a periodic basis. Systems located in cities and towns with MassDEP-approved inspection programs are required to comply with local inspection requirements.   There are always exceptions to the rule, but these are general guidelines.Many people ask who is responsible when the septic system fails and needs to be replaced.  The owner or operator of the system is the legally responsible party required to upgrade a failing system. Prior to transfer of the property, this is typically the seller. Often, the buyer and seller work out the financial issues as part of the sale of the property. Title 5 does not require that a system be in passing condition prior to the sale, but most lenders will not issue a mortgage until the failing system is upgraded or funds to perform the upgrade are escrowed.
  

  Inspections are valid for a certain period of time. Inspections required in connection with a property transfer generally are good for two years. If a property is sold more than once in the two-year period, the single inspection is valid for all transfers. When a system is pumped on an annual basis and the pumping records are available, an inspection is valid for three years.

  How do I have my system inspected if I am selling the property in the middle of the winter?

  If weather conditions prevent an inspection before a sale, Title 5 allows the inspection to be done up to six months afterwards, provided that the seller notifies the buyer in writing of the need to complete the inspection.

  There are many components included in the system inspection.  General layout of the system components (location of the building sewer, septic tank or cesspool, distribution box and leaching field);  Type of use (e.g., house, school, retail space), Title 5 design flow, and whether the facility is presently occupied;  Analysis of the criteria specified in Title 5 that indicate system failure, and, for large systems, those which indicate threats to public health and the environment; Water use records from the previous two years, if available;A description of the septic tank, including its condition, approximate age, thickness of grease/scum layer, and other relevant information;A characterization of the distribution box and dosing tanks with pumps, if any, such as condition and evidence of solids carryover or backup; and The condition of the soil absorption system including, any signs of hydraulic failure.

  The property owner or facility operator is generally responsible for arranging an inspection. However, prior to the time title is transferred, the seller and buyer may contractually assign responsibility for the inspection, provided that it occurs within the specified timeframes.

  The completed Inspection Form must be submitted within 30 days of the inspection, in most cases to the local Board of Health. Inspection Forms for state and federal facilities must be sent to MassDEP. Both MassDEP and the local Board of Health get copies of the Inspection Form for large systems and shared systems (310 CMR 15.301(10)). 

   The buyer of the property receives a copy of the completed inspection form as well as the seller.

  Visit www.allclearseptic.com for more information or call 508-763-4431

• This blog was posted on www.allclearseptic.com on December 16, 2015.