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Elizabeth Alves

Meet Elizabeth Alves of Septic Preservation Services

Elizabeth AlvesMeet Elizabeth Alves of Septic Preservation Services.  Liz started working at Septic Preservation Services in April of 2015.  She has been a member of the team for 2 years and is Division Manager of the All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services Division of SPS.  She is Title 5 licensed and is certified to perform inspections in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.  Her favorite part of her job is working with customers and helping them solve their septic issues.  Liz is fluent in Portuguese and this is extremely helpful with Portuguese speaking clients.  She is also a notary republic.

Personally, Liz resides in Attleboro with her husband and three children.  She is active in a  Portuguese Heritage Group in Stoughton and performs at Portuguese Carnival Dances where she sings and plays the guitar.  She really enjoys this in her leisure time and is also involved in an All Girl dancing and singing group in East Providence.

Liz started at SPS as a novice but has really enjoyed learning the ins and outs of the septic business to better help her clients.  Liz recalls jumping right into the training during her first days on the job.  She was excited to volunteer for the hands-on learning activities but was a little surprised when she came across her first activity with a odorous septic tank.  She was a little taken back by the smell but continued on, determined to complete the task.

You can reach Liz and all the rest of the team at Septic Preservation Services at 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com

Al Rivet

Meet Al Rivet of All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services

Al RivetMeet Al Rivet of All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services.  Al plays many roles in the All Clear Septic and Septic Preservation Services Team.  He is the founder of All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services started in 2004.  He is a Title 5 educator, a member of the teaching team for Functional Inspections at University of Rhode Island, and  an integral part of realtor relations, and educating realtors on Title 5 issues.

Personally, Al is a lifelong resident of the Southcoast area.  He has a graduate degree from Salve Regina University and is a US Army Veteran as well as 25 years in law enforcement.   He has been married for 48 years to Elizabeth Rivet and is a father to nine children and a grandfather to 30.

His favorite part of his job is working with people and  his ability to help people with important septic issues.

Outside of work, Al enjoys spending time with his wife and children and grandchildren.  He likes spending time at the beach, walking, biking, and kayaking.

One of the memorable stories from his septic experience is a family in a fairly new, two-year old home.  The family consisted of a couple with two children.  The septic system had failed in a short amount of time.  Why?  The culprit was antibacterial soap.  The Dad was a doctor and used a large amount of antibacterial soap in the home and the Mom flushed a good deal of hair coloring chemicals down the drain.  Both contributed to the failure.

A funny story he remembers:

“Several years ago, Beth, one of my eight daughters was working with me digging up a septic tank for a title 5 inspection. This was her lucky summer of high school working with Dad.  I was digging up the d-box while she was digging up the tank.  She opened the cover to the tank and me, with my back to her, heard a noise.  She was gagging at the odor emanating from the tank.  We both had quite a laugh about that. She toughed it out and continued working on the other cover!  Many laughs over the years reminiscing about that odorous summer. ”

Al is pleased to be an integral part of the team.  Stay tuned to meet more members of the Septic Preservation team.

Visit www.septicpreservation.com or call 877-378-4279  to talk to Al or the other septic professionals.

drain field

How to Extend the Life of Your Septic Drain Field

drain fieldOne of the most important components of a septic system is the drain field. Also known as a “leach” field, sometimes just looking at the drain field can help you to determine the health of the septic system as a whole. It is important to take care of your drain field and ensure that it is properly protected from things that can hinder its effectiveness, as it is a vital part of the septic process.

What a Drain Field is and How It Works
The drain field is the part of your septic system where the waste water emerges after passing through your septic tank for the final phase in the cleansing and filtration process. Contaminants and other impurities are removed from the waste water by the drain field, making it safe to enter the local ground water.

The septic drain field removes any organic materials that might yet remain after the waste water has made its way through the septic tank. It utilizes a very basic, yet highly efficient, microbial ecosystem for this part of the process. A drain field consists of a specific layout of trenches that contain a series of perforated pipes that come from the septic tank. The waste water flows over gravel or other porous material, which is covered by a layer of soil to protect it from animals and surface runoff water.

Signs That Your Septic System Needs Help
While there are some fairly obvious signs that a septic system is in need of repair or has failed, such as sewage coming up inside the house through all the drains, showers and toilets, your drain field is also a sort of thermostat that lets you know how effective your septic system is functioning.

Take a look at your septic drain field:

  • If there are boggy or wet areas that just don’t seem to dry up and go away after runoff water from seasonal rain storms is gone, you might have a failed septic system.
  • If there are areas of the grass that is planted on top of your drain field that are particularly green or lush compared to the rest of the surrounding property, you might have a leak or back-up occurring in your drain field.
  • If you notice an unusual smell coming from your drain field, it’s time to call a septic system specialist.
  • If you see bits of organic material or other waste that would typically go down your home’s drains coming up through the drain field, chances are you are experiencing a clog or even a failed septic system.

These are just some of the signs and symptoms that you can look for when checking out your drain field. While some issues might just be indicative that you need to stay on top of drain field maintenance, most will have something directly to do with the health and effectiveness of your overall septic system. It pays to check out your drain field on a regular basis.

Drain Field Maintenance
There are a lot of things that can cause a septic system to malfunction or fail. Most septic system experts and service technicians will tell you that even if your home has been designed for use with a garbage disposal, that you should refrain from using one with a septic system. The reason is simple: just by using a garbage disposal, as opposed to composting organic waste from the kitchen or disposing of it in a trash can, a typical household will increase the amount of sludge and solids in their septic tank by over 50 percent.

Because seemingly small changes in use and habit can have such an impact on the overall health of your septic system, it is important to hire a professional septic service to provide regular check-ups and drain field maintenance. If maintained correctly, the average drain field should last somewhere between 25-30 years and still be functioning efficiently.

In addition to taking care of the landscape that is above your drain field, keeping trees and bushes away from the area to prevent the spreading of roots, there are things you can do inside your home that contribute to your septic drain field’s overall health. Some of these things are simple and even common sense for the most part; while others might be “news” to homeowners who are dealing with a septic system for the first time.

Most of the behaviors and habits that homeowners need to remember with regard to taking care of their septic system and drain field maintenance have more to do with water use and disposal habits than anything else. Be aware of the amount of water that you are using in your home. Avoid doing activities that use a lot of water all at the same time, such as washing dishes and doing several loads of laundry. In fact, it is better to do a load of laundry a day than it is to save it all up for the weekend.

Get Professional Drain Field Maintenance Service
For homeowners living in the Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod or Rhode Island areas, as well as Maine and New Hampshire, contact Septic Preservation Services.   With over 15 years of direct experience working with commercial and residential customers in the Southcoast region, SPS is the clear choice for preventative maintenance, septic system service, drain field maintenance and septic repairs.

Septic Preservation Services is licensed and certified to provide Title 5 Inspections in Massachusetts and required Rhode Island Town Inspections.  In addition,  SPS can do a private assessment of your septic system to help you know the age, effectiveness and efficiency of your current equipment to help determine whether its time to upgrade or set up a new septic drain field. Call Septic Preservation today at 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com to get started!

Septic Preservation Services

Septic Functional Inspections in Rhode Island Today

Septic Preservation Services Septic Preservation Services has septic functional inspection appointments today in Smithfield, Johnston, Cumberland, Scituate, Foster, Coventry and Hopkinton, RI.  A Septic Functional Inspection is used to determine whether a system is adequate to serve the wastewater disposal needs of the household. The functional inspection is especially intended for use during a property transfer as a means to protect the consumer and identify systems in need of upgrade or repair.  If you need to have a Septic Functional Inspection or if you have any questions please do contact our office at 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com

Septic Preservation Services

Septic Preservation Services Schedules Septic System Services Today

Septic Preservation Services Septic Preservation Services have septic system service appointments today in Raynham, Taunton, Norton, Berkley, Dighton, Rehoboth, and Bridgewater, MA.  We carry out services on septic systems on a quarterly, biannual or annual basis depending on the system and customer requirements.  We have experience with septic services including FAST service, Singulair service, sand filter service, cesspool service, jet system service, Fuji Clean system service and advanced treatment unit service.  If your septic system needs a service or if you have any questions please do contact our office at 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com

Septic Preservation Services

Overboard Discharge Services by Septic Preservation

Septic Preservation Services Septic Preservation Services have overboard discharge services scheduled in Bremen, Friendship, Waldoboro, Alna, Owls Head, Union, and Windsor, ME today. 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.  Septic Preservation Services is the only Statewide contractor on the OBD Service contractor list provided by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. For more information see http://www.maine.gov/dep/water/wd/OBD.  If you need more information or you need to schedule an overboard discharge (OBD) service or overboard discharge (OBD) repair please contact our office at 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com

winter septic system

Protecting Your Septic System During the Winter Months

winter septic systemHow can you protect your septic system during the winter months?  Freezing can become an issue when the temperatures start to drop. The most vulnerable components are the pipes leading from the house into the septic tank.  Leaky fixtures such as faucets and toilets can keep a steady drip through the pipes which could freeze, blocking the pipes.  Other components which can potentially freeze are the tank, pipes leading to the drainfield and the drainfield itself.

Snow itself is a great insulator over your septic tank and leachfield.  Make sure you do not drive over your tank and leachfield.  Compacted snow can drive down the frost and increase your chances of freezing.  Driving over your leachfield and septic system is never a good idea in any season.  It can lead to damage to your system.    Grass is always a good choice for over your septic system or mulch if grass is not available.  It is a great insulator without deep roots to interfere with or damage your system.

Systems which are in use have a lesser possibility of freezing since liquid is always flowing through the system.  Homes which are used seasonally or sporadically have  a greater risk for freezing since the system is dormant much of the time.

Fixing leaky faucets and toilets before winter sets in can greatly lessen your chances of freezing occurring and also conserve water.  This can save you from costly repairs down the road.

If you suspect you have a problem, call a professional right away.  Septic Preservation Services has 24 emergency services for help with any septic emergency.  They can evaluate your system and make repairs if needed.   They also offer a great maintenance program to keep your septic system running smoothly year round.  Call them with all your questions at 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com

Septic Preservation Services

Title 5 Inspection Requirements

Septic Preservation Services Septic Preservation Services have Title 5 Inspections scheduled today in Fairhaven, Westport, Mattapoisett, Marion, New Bedford, Freetown, Acushnet and Seekonk, MA.  It states on the Massachusetts Official Website of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs that on-site system inspections are required:

 

“In general:

  • 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 exceptions and nuances to the general requirements listed here. For example, no inspection is required if the owner has signed an enforceable agreement with the Board of Health to upgrade the system, connect to a sanitary sewer, or connect to a shared system within two years.”
For more information see their website or please contact our office. If you need to schedule a Title 5 Septic Inspection please do contact us at 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com

Septic Preservation Services

SPS Has Septic First Maintenance Inspections in Rhode Island

Septic Preservation Services Septic Preservation Services have Septic First Maintenance Inspections in Portsmouth, Tiverton, Middletown, Little Compton, Jamestown, North Kingstown and Narragansett, RI today.  The purpose of a First Maintenance Septic Inspection is to establish what type of septic system you have, if the system poses any risk to public health, if there is any risk to the environment, and determine if any immediate corrective actions should be taken.  If you need a first maintenance inspection or if you have any questions please do contact our office at 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com

Septic Preservation Services

Septic Preservation is Expert on Septic Repairs

Septic Preservation Services Septic Preservation Services have septic repairs scheduled today in Bailey Island, Orr’s Island, Harpswell, Phippsburg, Arrowsic, Bath, Westport Island and Richmond, ME.  We have experience working on many septic systems with various problems including issues with septic pumps, leach or drain fields, D-Box and OBD.  If you have concerns that your septic system is not working correctly it is not advisable to wait to have it looked at.  Signs that your system has problems could be sewage smells in your property, toilet or drain backup, slow running drains, puddling on your leach field, and very lush or green leach field compared to the rest of your yard. s If you have questions or wish to schedule an appointment please do contact our office at 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com