OBD Services In Maine And Tips For Property Owners To Maintain Their OBDs

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Septic Preservation Services have many years experience working with the Maine government’s overboard discharge (OBD) program. As stated on the Maine Gov website:

“The Maine DEP’s Overboard Discharge (OBD) Program is responsible for regulating discharges of sanitary and household wastewater generated at residential or commercial locations to streams, rivers, bays, and the ocean. All OBDs must be approved by the DEP through a licensing process.” For more information see:

http://www.maine.gov/dep/water/wd/OBD/index.html

Septic Preservation Services are the only statewide company on the certified maintenance contractor list provided by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.

In addition to having your OBD serviced and maintained by a certified contractor you can ensure that your OBD is maintained by following these tips that will help to extend the life of your OBD and promote high quality effluent.

  • Some household chemicals kill the microorganisms that digest the wastes in your treatment system and may pass through to the receiving waterbody.  Toxic chemicals, harsh cleaners, paint, pharmaceuticals, and non-biodegradable materials should not be disposed of by dumping or pouring down the drain.
  • Using low-flow toilets and water-saving showerheads will prolong the life of your system.
  • Septic tanks should be pumped at least once every three years.  Depending on how much the OBD facility is used, you may want to increase the septic pumping frequency or decrease it to once every five years if it receives very little use.
  • Trees, shrubs and woody perennials should be cleared away from system components.  Sandfilter surfaces should be mowed at least once per year.  If a wet spot appears on or near the sandfilter bed notify the DEP inspector.
  • Mechanical systems operate best if they are used at a consistent rate and may malfunction or produce poor quality effluent if overloaded on the weekend and “starved” during the week.  Try to manage laundry, cleaning, and showers so that the load is spread out as evenly as possible.  Leave a mechanical OBD operating as recommended by your service contractor at all times during the season of use.
  • Check the chlorine level at least every two weeks and keep fresh chlorine in contact with the treated wastewater.  Don’t overfill the chlorinator tubes; only the bottom two or three inches of the tubes should have chlorine.  Old, brown or mushy chlorine does not properly disinfect and must be replaced.  Take care to remove old chlorine from your chlorinator rather than washing it out to the waterbody.
  • Ensure that the outfall pipe extends to below the low water mark of the receiving waterbody.  In extenuating circumstances a specific waiver to this requirement may be granted by the Department.
  • Treated wastewater should be clear and without a strong septic or chlorine odor.  If wastewater in the disinfection unit is not nearly clear, smells like rotten eggs, raw sewage, or smells strongly of chlorine, call your service contractor or notify the DEP inspector.

Today we have OBD maintenance and services scheduled in Portland, Falmouth, Orr’s Island, Cape Elizabeth, Freeport and Harpswell Maine. If you have an OBD and require a service or you have question or concern about your OBD please do contact our office on 877-378-4279 or visit https://www.septicpreservation.com

Septic Services for Different Types of System Including Advanced Treatment Unit Service

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Septic Preservation Services knows that proper preventative maintenance can extend the life of your septic system. Systems that are not regularly maintained will average less than 20 years, however studies conducted by field professors, scientists and engineers reveal that proper maintenance can help a septic system to last indefinitely. This can save homeowners thousands of dollars over a lifetime.

Our septic services give our residential and commercial clients peace of mind in knowing that their septic system is being properly maintained, checked and monitored. Today we have septic services for those customers in Taunton, Rehoboth, Swansea, Seekonk and Norton MA.

We provide our customers on a service contract with regular monitoring of the entire septic system. We service many types of system including Singulair, FAST, Advanced Treatment Unit and Sand Filter Services. We service septic systems in a quarterly, biannual or annual basis depending on the septic system and the needs of our client. For example a busy restaurant’s septic system will require more regular services that a small home belonging to a retired couple. Once an appointment has been scheduled our customers do not even usually need to be home for the service which makes septic system maintenance as hassle free as possible. If you would be interested in a septic service or if you have any questions about  septic systems please contact us at our Norton Office on 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com

Septic System Inspections For Property Transfers And Voluntary Assessments

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Septic Preservation Services’ Massachusetts licensed septic inspectors have been carrying out thorough and reliable septic system inspections in this region for over 25 years.  As stated by the Mass Gov Website Title 5 Septic Inspections are required:

  • Within 2 years before a sale. If weather conditions prevent inspection at the time of a sale, the inspection must take place within 6 months afterward.
  • When there is a proposed change to the facility which requires a building or occupancy permit.
  • Any change in the footprint of a building, to make sure that new building construction will not take place on top of any system components or on the system’s reserve area.
  • For large systems with a design flow of 10,000 to 15,000 gallons per day or more at full build-out, on the basin schedule shown in 310 CMR 15.301(6), and every five years thereafter.
  • Every 3 years for shared systems.
  • When the property is divided, or ownership of 2 or more properties is combined.
  • When MassDEP or the local Board of Health orders an inspection.

The majority of our inspections are for a property transfer, often scheduled by the seller but sometimes we provide an inspection for the buyer of a home with a septic system. Today we have septic system inspections scheduled in Attleboro, Berkley, Norton and Dighton MA and most are for property transfers but one is for a voluntary inspection. Mass Gov States that”

“A system owner may choose voluntarily to have an assessment of the condition of the system even if there is no requirement for an inspection. Results of these voluntary assessments are solely for the use of the owner, and do not need to be submitted to local Boards of Health or MassDEP.”

For more information see: https://www.mass.gov/guides/buying-or-selling-property-with-a-septic-system

Property owners are likely to schedule a voluntary assessment of their septic system because the want to know its condition and see if maintenance or repairs are required. This is important because failing systems can:

  • cause a serious health threat to your family and neighbors,
  • degrade the environment, especially lakes, streams and groundwater,
  • reduce the value of your property,
  • be very expensive to repair,
  • and put thousands of water supply users at risk if you live in a public water supply watershed and fail to maintain your system

If you need to schedule a septic system inspection, for any reason, or if you have questions about septic inspections please do contact us at our Norton office on 877-378-4279 or visit https://www.septicpreservation.com

Septic Cleaning Scheduled in Rhode Island

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Septic Preservation Services know that to ensure that your septic system continues to work correctly and to increase the lifespan of your septic system it is advisable to maintain your septic system and this includes cleaning and pumping to flush out sludge and scum, which do not drain like effluent. Today we have septic cleaning scheduled for customers in Tiverton, Little Compton, Middletown, Barrington and Portsmouth RI. We utilize specialized miniature equipment to locate specific areas of your system, such as a sewer cam that is used to investigate the inside of your sewer lines, and jetting equipment to clean the pipes within the leach field. If you need to schedule a septic cleaning or have any questions please do contact our office on 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com where we will be happy to help you.

Maine Septic Inspections Benefit Property Owners

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Septic Preservation Services has certified septic inspectors with the most up to date equipment who are ready to provide our Maine customers with thorough, reliable septic inspections. If your property is not on town sewer it is essential that your septic system is working efficiently to ensure that your waste is being processed correctly. Benefits of an inspection include:

  • Keeping you informed of the status of your septic system. Your system must be maintained to ensure it continues to operate correctly. The inspection will notify you if it is time to have your septic pumped or for any other maintenance
  • Identifying any repairs that need to be done to your system. Spotting small septic problems can result in a quick, easy and inexpensive repair in contrast to a large, messy and expensive repair if a problem is left to get more extensive.
  • If you are selling your property it provides a home buyer with a detailed report of the location and condition of your septic system components at the time of the inspection. The data collected assists the home buyer with their purchasing decision.

Today we have septic inspections scheduled in Biddeford, Old Orchard Beach, Kennebunk, Waterboro, Alfred, Berwick and Lebanon Maine. If you live in Maine and you have a septic system servicing your property and would be interested in a septic inspection or if you have any questions about septic inspections in Maine please do contact us on 877-378-4279 or visit https://www.septicpreservation.com

Cold Weather Creates Its Own Set Of Septic Problems

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Septic Preservation Services know that septic problems arise whatever the weather is. However cold weather brings its own set of problems for example:

  • If you have a ‘summer home’ or go away and leave your property for periods of time or just use it part of the week wastewater does not enter the system regularly enough and can freeze
  • If you drive over your septic leach field or drainfield you compact your soil. Compacted soil freezes more easily which can result in damaged parts and possible a failing septic system. If it is snowy and you drive over the snow on your system the snow will then provide less insulation for your septic system than snow which has been left untouched
  • If you don’t have enough vegetative cover over your septic system you have less insulation from the cold
  • Leaks in your plumbing release water into the septic which can then freeze
  • Poor pipe drainage can be caused by deteriorated pipes, if they are full or back filled with soil or poorly installed. Liquid will pool on one side and can then freeze

Essentially the cold can lead to your septic system freezing which leads to problems, possible repairs and even septic failures. Ironically snow falling is a good thing. Fresh snow is an excellent insulator. As it gets compacted it becomes less effective but it is better than a complete lack of snow cover, dry soil conditions or very cold air temperatures for an extended period of time which will all contribute to septic problems. Today we have appointments in Hudson, Stow, Boxborough, Acton, Ayer, Carlisle and North Reading MA for septic repairs, some of which are caused by septic system owners not planning for the cold weather. If you have any questions about septic system or need to have a septic repair please do contact our Norton Office on 877-378-4279 or visit https://www.septicpreservation.com

Proper Septic Preventative Maintenance Can Extend The Life Of Your Septic System

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Septic Preservation Services knows that proper septic preventative maintenance can extend the life of your septic system. Systems that are not regularly maintained will average less than 20 years, however studies conducted by field professors, scientists and engineers reveal that proper maintenance can help a septic system to last indefinitely. This can save homeowners thousands of dollars over a lifetime.

We offer an affordable septic preventative maintenance program designed to give our residential and commercial clients peace of mind in knowing that their septic system is being properly maintained, checked and monitored. Today we have services for those customers in Rowley, North Reading, Middleton, Acton, Lynnfield and Westford MA.

Our Preventative Maintenance Contracts are available for specific types of septic systems, including:

  • conventional septic systems
  • pressure distribution systems
  • innovative and alternative systems, such as FAST Systems, Eljen Systems, Presby Systems, Singulair Systems and Oakson Systems

We provide our customers with regular monitoring of the entire septic system. They just have to leave the dirty work to us with confidence. Once an appointment has been scheduled our customers do not even usually need to be home for the service which makes septic system maintenance as hassle free as possible. If you would be interested in a septic service or if you have any questions about our Preventative Maintenance Contracts please contact us on 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com

Title 5 Septic Inspections Scheduled Today

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Septic Preservation Services give you a pinch and a punch for the first of the month! Although we are moving into a new month we are still in the grips of winter. With snow earlier this week and more forecast next week it is not time to break out the shorts and sandals just yet. If you are planning to move house and have a septic inspection scheduled you do not need to worry if it seems that the weather will make it impossible for us to carry out your Title 5 Septic Inspection. On the Mass Gov website it states that:

“If weather conditions prevent an inspection before a sale, Title 5 allows the inspection to be done up to 6 months afterwards, provided that the seller notifies the buyer in writing of the need to complete the inspection.” For more information see: https://www.mass.gov/guides/buying-or-selling-property-with-a-septic-system

We have Title 5 septic inspections scheduled today in Attleboro, Norton, Dighton, Raynham, Rehoboth and Taunton MA. If for any reason the inspection can not take place we will always endeavour to reschedule the inspection as quickly as possible at a time that is convenient. If you have any questions or wish to schedule a septic inspection please do contact our Norton Office on 877-378-4279 or visit https://www.septicpreservation.com

 

Septic Pumping Is Essential Septic System Maintenance

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Septic Preservation Services not only repairs, installs and inspects septic systems but we also carry out the essential maintenance that is always required for your septic system – PUMPING. Regular pumping helps to prevent solids from escaping into your drainfield and clogging the soil. Normally a properly designed septic system has enough space for 3-5 years accumulation of sludge waste. Once sludge reaches this point waste has less time to properly settle before leaving the tank into your leach field. This means that more solid waste will get into your leach field. As this becomes clogged liquid waste will not absorb at the rate which it enters the tank so plumbing can backup and waste will reach the surface. To avoid this unpleasant and expensive consequence of neglecting maintenance it is always a good idea to have your septic tank pumped every 3 – 5 years. If you have a garbage disposal you will need to have your septic tank pumped annually. The regularity that you have your system pumped will vary depending on various factors including the size of your septic tank and your water usage. For example a restaurant will need to have its septic pumped more regularly that a summer cottage which is only used in the warmer months. If you are unsure or have any questions please do contact our office where we will be happy to answer any questions that you have. Today we have septic pumping scheduled for property owners in Hudson, Bolton, Marlborough, Maynard, Clinton and Berlin MA. If you need a septic pump out or if you have any questions please do contact our office on 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com

Septic Repairs In Maine Through The Winter

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Septic Preservation Services have septic repairs scheduled in West Newfield, Waterboro, Alfred, Lebanon, Acton, Biddeford and West Kennebunk Maine. We are available for repairs even in the winter months because we know that septic repairs do not wait for the warmer weather. Infact waiting to do septic repairs can result in much bigger problems. A small septic repair can become a large repair or even a septic failure if left too long. If you need to schedule a septic repair or if you have any questions please do contact us on 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com where we will be happy to help you.