Tag Archive for: Massachusetts

garbage disposals

Garbage Disposals and Your Septic System

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garbage disposals

 

Garbage Disposals are used in many households, but are they safe to use with your septic system.  Good Question!

While many companies that sell garbage disposals will tell you they are fine to use with a septic system, the truth is they really aren’t.

You really shouldn’t be using a garbage disposal with your septic system.  The way that the septic system is set up involves a large tank filled with water and the waste from your home.  The solid waste settles to the bottom where bacteria go to work breaking it down.  Then, there is the water waste layer that has the excess liquid going out to the drain field.  Finally, at the top, there is a layer of scum that has built up.

In order to keep your septic system running smoothly, there are many items that should not be flushed or sent down the drains.  This includes, diapers, wipes, bleach, harsh chemicals and sanitary products to name a few.    The same is true with your garbage disposal.  All the fats, grease, and other waste from the disposal are being added to the septic tank which can can cause problems and clogs and prevent it from working correctly.

Basically, you are overloading the waste that is being put into your septic tank and the naturally occurring bacteria will not be able to keep up with breaking it down.  If you use a garbage disposal, you should have your tank pumped every year, rather than the normal 3-5 year range.  It can wreak havoc with your septic system.

A better idea? Compost.  Composting your kitchen waste is much better for your system and environmentally friendly.  You can buy a cheap plastic composter or even make your own.  Depending on the size, you can add all your kitchen waste as well as leaves and grass and have a great fertilizer ready for your garden or landscaping.

It’s a win win situation for your yard as well as your septic system.  

Visit www.septicpreservation.com for all your septic system questions.  They have a qualified staff ready to help you with all your septic needs from pumping and cleaning to design and installation.  Give them a call at 877-378-4279.

Septic Preservation Services

Septic Services for All Types of Septic Systems

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Septic Preservation Services Septic Preservation Service have septic system services today in Barrington, Warren, Tiverton, Little Compton, Middletown, and Jamestown, Rhode Island, including FAST Services, Sand Filter Services and Singulair Services. When you have a septic system you want to ensure that your septic service is completed by a septic company with experience with your exact type of septic system.

Septic Preservation Services have extensive experience with many types of septic systems so you can be confident that your septic system service will be completed correctly, thoroughly, and in a timely manner.

If you need to schedule a septic system service or if you have any questions about services or septic systems please do contact our office at 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com

septic system problems

Signs of Septic System Problems

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septic system problems Septic Preservation Services know that you may have a septic system problem if you have a property with a septic system, and see one or more of the following signs:

 

  • All of the drains from the house are slow
  • Sewage smells in your home
  • There is a persistent wet area over the leach field
  • Sewage is surfacing in the area of the septic tank or distribution box
  • There is sewage seeping through the foundation
  • The liquid level in the leach field is at the top of the crushed rock layer, the chambers or other underground structures
  • The vegetation over the leach field is greener and more lush than over adjacent areas in the yard
  • There is sewage odor in the yard at times or constantly
  • There is flow back from the leach field when the septic tank is pumped
  • The septic tank needs to be pumped frequently
  • The septic tank discharge baffle is damaged or missing
  • Rain water seems to take longer to disappear over the leach field than over adjacent areas in the yard
  • Well water is contaminated

 

We have experienced septic system technicians who use up to date equipment to locate and repair septic problems for our customers.

Today we have septic system repairs scheduled in West Bridgewater, Stoughton, Mansfield, Norton, Raynham, and Canton, MA.  If you require a septic repair or if you have any questions, please do contact our office at 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com

septic tank pumping

Septic Pumping Integral to Septic Maintenance

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septic tank pumping Septic Preservation Services are available to do the septic maintenance that everyone would rather took care of itself but unfortunately needs to be done and arranged.

Septic Pumping is an important part of your septic system maintenance. If you do not have this done your system will get clogged and full and when that happens it will cease to work efficiently and eventually fail. As you can probably imagine a failed septic system is not a pretty sight (or smell) and is often a very expensive thing to fix.

This can be avoided if you not only have your septic system pumped regularly but also use a through and reputable company to do so. The frequency that your septic system should be pumped varies on a variety of factors including the size of your system and the amount it is used, however, it is recommended that it is pumped every 3-5 years.  A properly maintained septic system should only be pumped every 2-5 years, as needed, to avoid removing the “good” bacteria and keep the system running smoothly. Today we have septic pumping scheduled in Attleboro, Norton, Seekonk, Fall River, Freetown, Lakeville, and Acushnet, MA.  If it has been over three years since your septic tank had a pump out, please contact us for an evaluation and to arrange septic pumping if necessary.  You can reach us at 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com

hurricane

Flooded Septic System Tips

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hurricaneWith Two Major Hurricanes behind us,  What should you do with flooded septic systems

With hurricane season still upon us,  it’s a good time to brush up on the proper care of septic systems during flooding events.

Before the Storm

Once heavy rains start to fall and a flood is underway, try  to cease water usage going to the system. Depending on the elevation of the septic tank and floodwaters, the tank can be used as a holding tank. The amount of damage to the system is related to the elevation of the flooding over the system combined with the length of time the system is flooded.

Make sure all inspection ports, lids and covers are properly capped and in place. Pumps and controls in the system can be removed and stored; remember to shut off electricity to the system. There should be no connections between the floor or foundation drains in the house and the system where water can drain through the system.

After the storm

After the floodwaters recede, the system shouldn’t be used until the soil has adequately dried to allow sewage to be absorbed without backing up, which could take several weeks. Homeowners should conserve water during that time.

Now is the time to call Septic Preservation Services to evaluate your system and let you know the condition and what steps you should be taking before using the system.

A comprehensive system inspection and assessment should also be conducted before putting the system back in use. This means opening all parts of the system — sewage tanks, drop boxes, anywhere there is access to system components — and assessing whether sediment or vegetative debris has entered the system. All sewage tanks should be pumped and cleaned out.

The tanks should be evaluated for watertightness and structural defects due to the flooding. Debris in the drop boxes should be removed. If there are pumps and a pressure distribution system, the distribution laterals should be jetted and cleaned. Pumps and controls should be reinstalled, recalibrated and tested.

The evaluation should include making sure wastewater moves between the parts of the system as intended. This may involve running a hydraulic load test on the soil treatment part of the system.

About a month after the system is restarted, Septic Preservation  willschedule a follow-up visit to check for proper operation. Any pumps and controls should be checked and the pump calibrations re-evaluated to make sure they are delivering the correct amount of effluent.

Septic tank manhole covers should be secured and inspection ports should be free of blockage and damage. Make sure there’s no damage caused by animal intrusion in the soil treatment a

Inspections also should include a look at the vegetation over the septic tank, and any erosion damage should be repaired with sod or seeding to provide good plant cover.

If sewage backed up inside the home, homeowners should thoroughly disinfect the house, but they should avoid flushing disinfectants down the drain.

Destroyed systems

Floodwaters can cause components of a septic system to be partially or completely washed away. The owner of such a system shouldn’t assume that soil or other fill can be added and new system components constructed.

Heavy rains can cause slides to partially or completely cover septic system components with rock, mud or silt. These slides can affect the operational integrity of the system, especially the soil treatment systems.

Special care should be taken to keep vehicle and equipment traffic off the soil treatment system to avoid compaction.

If the soil treatment system is saturated or has standing water long after other areas have dried out, there may be a long-term problem related to the flood.

With luck, we won’t have to worry about a major hurricane impacting New England but preventative steps may be able to help save your septic system.

Septic Preservation Services is ready and able to answer all your questions on prevention and are the first call to action in case of a major disaster.  You can reach them at 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com

Parts of this article were published in Pumper Magazine on September 7, 2017.  Visit www.pumper.com for more septic news.

The Facts About Cesspools

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Septic Preservation Services Septic Preservation Services has extensive experience with both septic systems and cesspools. A cesspool is a pit which acts as both a settling chamber for solids and a leaching system for liquids. The use of cesspools may overload the capacity of the soil to remove bacteria, viruses, and phosphorus, and to nitrify ammonia and organic nitrogen compounds.

A conventional septic system has a tank where solids can settle and begin to degrade, a distribution box, and a soil absorption system (SAS) that further treats the effluent by removing some of the bacteria, viruses, phosphorus, and nitrogen.  Conventional septic systems are now more common, but there are many homes and properties that still have cesspools which are not required to be replaced.  However, cesspools that exhibit signs of hydraulic failure, are located extremely close to private or public water supplies, or otherwise fail to protect or pose a threat to public health, safety or the environment will need to be upgraded.

We are replacing a cesspool for a customer in Stoughton, MA today because they have added 2 bedrooms to their home and cesspools must be upgraded prior to an increase in design flow. We also have cesspool services in Southborough, Marlborough, Grafton, Holliston, Millbury, and Uxbridge, MA.

If you have a cesspool that needs servicing or replacing please do contact our office at 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com

septic rejuvenation

Septic Rejuvenation by Septic Preservation Services

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septic system rejuvenation Septic Preservation Services has septic rejuvenation appointments today for customers in Wayland, Stow, Maynard, Hingham, Sharon, and Millis, MA.   Septic Rejuvenation utilizes a patented technology to intermittently aerate the drainfield and surrounding soil.  This method is used as an alternative to aerating the wastewater in the septic tank. It allows failed septic systems to rapidly rejuvenate, extending the lifespan of the drainfield and the septic system, while enhancing the treatment process .This technology has been applied in residential situations for both single and multi-family dwellings, as well as commercial situations, servicing hotels, laundromats, grocery stores, food processing facilities, healthcare services, marinas, restaurants, and more.

 

Some of the benefits associated with Septic Rejuvenation include:

  • rapid restoration of proper septic system functions
  • lower costs for installation, operation and maintenance
  • enhanced removal of pathogens, nitrogen, phosphorus and B.O.D.
  • minimal damage/disruption to existing property landscape
  • long term, cost-effective solution

 

If you would be interested in septic rejuvenation or if you have any questions please do contact our office at 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservaion.com

septic education

Septic System Education

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septic education Septic Preservation Services is regularly contacted by customers who require septic repairs that could have been avoided if they had used their septic system correctly.  If you own a property with a septic system you need to be aware of how you, and your family, use your system.  Following some simple suggestions could help you avoid septic repairs and extend the life of your septic system. We suggest:

 

  • Minimize the use of the garbage disposal
  • Do not put grease down your drains
  • Spread loads of laundry out over time rather than doing multiple loads in a short period of time, and use liquid detergents rather than powdered detergents
  • Avoid excessively long showers
  • Avoid leaving tap water running when shaving, brushing teeth or doing other personal or household tasks
  • Do not flush medications, harmful chemicals, excessive amounts of bleach, harsh drain cleaners or degreasers
  • Have the septic tank pumped at least every three years
  • Do not add any septic systems cleaners, enzymes or additives
  • Remove water conditioning backwash discharges from the septic system
  • Do not plant trees and shrubs over leach fields
  • Do not flush personal products, paper towels, wipes or diapers
  • Do not clean or rinse paint brushes in the sinks
  • Equip all hot tubs, spas, whirlpool baths, etcetera with drain limiting valves that will only allow five gallons per minute to drain from fixture
  • Do not drive vehicles over leach fields

Today we have septic repairs scheduled in Plymouth, Marshfield, Carver, Canton, and Hingham, MA including a septic pump repair and drain field issue.  These repairs could have been avoided if some of the above recommendations had been followed.

We have found items including toy boats and dolls in property owners’ septic systems causing problems. You need to ensure that your entire family knows what can, and cannot, be flushed!  If you have any questions or need to schedule a septic repair please do contact our Norton office at 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com

septic services

Sign Up for Septic System Services

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septic services Septic Preservation Services provides septic system services to our clients who have chosen to take away the any uncertainly of septic system ownership. We will maintain and service your septic system on a regular basis to ensure that it keeps operating correctly and to reduce the likelihood of any expected repairs or failures.

 The regularity of services depends on a variety of factors, including the septic system and the usage it receives. A small cottage on the cape that gets used in summer months will not need to be serviced as often as a busy restaurant.

We usually schedule services either on a quarterly, biannual, or annual basis.  Today, we have septic services in Sutton, Upton, Grafton, Bellingham, Millis, and Franklin, MA.  If you would be interested in septic system services or if you have any questions please do contact our office at 877-378-4279 or visit www.septicpreservation.com

septic system

Bacteria and Enzymes in Your Septic System

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septic systemWhat makes a septic system work properly? Billions of naturally occurring microscopic bacteria and enzymes are responsible for a major part of the three-stage treatment that processes wastewater in a septic system.

The wastewater in the septic tank begins the process of decomposition by separating into layers.  Bacteria, which is naturally present in all septic systems, will begin to digest the solids which have settled to the bottom of the tank.  These naturally occurring bacteria will change up to 50% of these solids into liquids and gases.

There are all kinds of additives on the market advertised to improve the biological environment of your septic system, but most experts agree that they are not needed.  The best plan is to keep high doses of cleaners and bleaches out of your septic system which can kill off the beneficial bacteria.

Another important part of the process occurs in the drainfield.  The effluent, or wastewater from the septic tank enters the drain or leachfield and comes into contact with the biomat.  There are organisms living in the biomat which further digest the organic matter in the effluent and from there it reaches the soil where the last part of the process occurs.  Bacteria in the soil further treat the waste. It is important that the drainfield not be flooded.  Many of these bacteria found in the soil and biomat are aerobic or oxygen dependent.  If water floods a drainfield, they may die off and will not be replenished until the flooding is relieved.

Septic Preservation Services can answer all your septic system questions.  Call them at 877-378-4279  or visit www.septicpreservation.com  Ask them about their maintenance program and emergency services.  They have all the answers to your septic needs.

Tag Archive for: Massachusetts

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