Sonora septic maintenance firm? Periodic Septic Tank Maintenance is also essential to keep your system running. This is especially critical on advanced systems, with pumps, float, control panels & filters. We perform a very thorough maintenance and inspection on your system. During routine maintenance we open the entire system. All components,( i.e.- pumps, floats, filters splice boxes, P/D laterals, valve boxes and more) are checked, cleaned and flushed. Flushing of the P/D laterals is a very important part of the maintenance. Lateral pipes can get full of sludge / solids and not allow the effluent into the drain field trenches. In addition, flushing can remove early root mats growing into the lines through the trench.
Pump your septic tank. Most septic tanks need to be pumped every 3-5 years. The frequency depends on how many people are in your home. The more people living in your house, the more often you should pump your septic tank. Take care of your drain field. Make sure all water is diverted away from your soakage area. Additionally, only landscape your soakage area with grass. If you want to add plants, be sure to only pick ones with shallow root systems. Finally, never park a vehicle on top of your soakage area. Vehicles can put a strain on your soakage area and may lead to ruptured pipes.
The most common cause of a failed system is overloading it. This can be caused by the consecutive use of high-volume activities such as laundry, showering, and running the dishwasher. Space out their usage as well as follow water conservation efforts year round. This is particularly important during heavy rain, which can quickly overwhelm a drainfield on its own. Also common are blockages, which can cause pipes to be clogged and the drainfield to overflow. To prevent this, avoid flushing anything besides the three Ps (pee, poop, and toilet paper). “Flushable” wipes and FOG (fats, oils, grease) clog pipes so should be thrown in the trash. Avoid the use of a garbage disposal which can improperly break down debris.
A Sand Filter System uses a bed of sand between the septic tank and the drain field. Sand filters have been used where conventional septic tank/absorption field systems have failed. They are a good option for sites with high groundwater, shallow bedrock, poor soils, or other restrictions. A typical sand filter is a line watertight box filled with sand. The effluent from the septic tank is introduced into the sand bed uniformly through controlled doses through a network of distribution pipes placed in a gravel bed located above the sand filter. As water trickles through the sand bed, it is filtered and collected at the bottom. The sand bed also is a biological filter using micro-organisms to decompose the waste water (a type of aerobic system) This water is then sent to the soil absorption field either through standard gravity or a pump system. The discharge pump chamber may be located in the sand filter. Read extra information at type of septic systems.
Don’t build any structures on top of the drain field. Drain fields work because of evaporation. Any structures, including raised decking, will inhibit the rate of evaporation and slow or even stop the process. Don’t allow excess water to enter the drain field. Runoff from roof drains, sump pumps, and other rainwater drainage systems should be directed away from the drain field. Excess water in the drain field can slow down and even stop the wastewater treatment process. If your septic system is giving off an unpleasant odor or you see visible sewage in the drain field, you’ll know right away there is a septic problem. However, there are a few other signs that many people don’t immediately recognize as a problem.
Kevin Gause is the owner of Foothill Sanitary Septic and Operation Manager for Foothill Portable Toilets which is owned by Leslie Gause. Kevin has over 20 years experience in solid and liquid waste transporting and 17 years experience in handling all aspects of septic, grease and portable toilet services. Kevin’s commitment is to provide all services with the utmost integrity and honesty. By providing quality workmanship and performing the job the way it should be done, customer satisfaction is achieved. Our first-time customers continually become our long term customers time and time again, choosing us for all their septic and portable toilet needs. This commitment is prevalent throughout the company.
Anyone can draw up their own septic system plan, but legal liability then lies exclusively with your regulatory officials and they often defer to a licensed and insured local engineer. This releases the local government from future legal liability for your extreme septic system’s failure. What is code in my area? is a uniquely local question and often changes yearly and varies from county to county in some states, so you need to check and see what is required on your property. Please note that we are not an engineering firm and we do not supply stamped, engineered plans, but we do consult for no charge with purchase of any complete septic system. See more info on Foothill Sanitary.