Septic tank maintenance

Septic tank maintenance

Rainwater can cause overflowing in drain fields

Jan 15th, 2013
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This article was written as a result questions concerning how rainwater can cause overflowing in drain fields. Graduation was one of the happiest moments of your life. Every important person in your life was there. During your graduation dinner, your sister gave you an envelope that was sent by a large construction firm where you sent your application months ago. It was one of the biggest graduation surprises that you have ever received that day because they have accepted you as one of their newest architects. The letter had a project that was already assigned to you. It was the chance that you have been waiting for to prove that you were very good at what you did. Being a cum laude never really meant anything until you applied the things that you learned about. The big question was how rainwater can cause overflowing in drain fields.

Then your father stood up and gave you a small box. He asked you to open it and when you did, two keys were inside. Your mother approached you and held your father’s hand. She told you that the key on the left was the key to your new Chevy and the key on the right was the key to your new condominium. It was situated in a convenient area where you could just drive a few hours to the site and to the office as well. You embraced you r family for giving you such gifts. You promised them that you would do your best in everything that would be given to you. At that moment, having no boyfriend really didn’t bother you at all. You just wanted to make the most out of every opportunity given to you so that you won’t let your family down. Your sister was studying to be an engineer so someday, you knew that there would be a possibility of the two of you working together.

After two weeks, you were already settled in your condo. Everything was going well at the work site when suddenly, it rained hard. You and your team were stranded for a few hours in the site. No one could go anywhere because all that could be seen was rain. You all decided to just stay in for a while until it was okay to drive home. You grabbed at the chance to evaluate the home while the rain poured heavily. You took your time and saw that the drains, toilets, and sinks were backing up. The septic expert had to be contacted as soon as possible. The rain finally stopped and the septic expert arrived. He said that the drain field was overflowing already. This should definitely be attended to or the entire property would be in jeopardy. You took note of what should be done for the drain field overflow to be prevented:

  1. The pump out and treatment schedules should be adhered to so that the sludge could be regularly removed.
  2. Antibacterial solutions, grease, and non-biodegradable materials should not be dumped into the toilets, drains, and sinks.
  3. The gutter should be directed away from the drain field area to prevent excessive water from entering the septic system.
  4. Any structure or vehicle on the drain field area should be removed because the weight could damage the drain field components and cause an overflow.
  5. A dry well should be installed by the septic system to help take care of the water load of the septic system.

 When the septic expert left, your team immediately got to work. The dry well was to be installed after a few days. Meanwhile, the necessary structures were changed to prevent the drain field would not overflow anymore. The heavy rainfall was a great eye-opener for you. It helped you see what was in need of improvement in your project. That house was to be a premier home for a very important client. It was definitely a big break for you because when everything was done and the house was unveiled, the client loved every inch. It was built according to what she wanted. As a result, you earned a bonus and more than a handful of projects from your company. The big question was answered as to how rainwater can cause overflowing in drain fields.

What causes sand mounds to fail?

Jan 14th, 2013
by Service.
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In this article we will cover what causes sand mounds to fail? It may still be a puzzle to many homeowners how their sand mounds malfunction and then fail. Perhaps they forget that being a homeowner with a sand mound in their yard requires an extra special set of responsibilities. The sand mound is an unconventional form of septic system that is designed and made for properties that have soil that either absorbs too fast or too slow. It is above the surface of the ground so it is more prone to severe exposure to the elements such as rain and snow.

The sand mound or the raised mound is the result of highly technological innovations in the septic system industry. What causes sand mounds to fail? The following are just some of the reasons why they do:

  1. Root invasionThe complex root systems of higher plants such as shrubs and trees deeply go through the sand mound system, in search of nutrient-rich effluent. The moment they see a chance to gain access t that, they get into gaps and perforations that clog and damage the entire system. If they go undetected due to lack of inspection and maintenance, they will cause the sand mound to fail. .
  2. The sand mound area with vehicles and structuresHeavy structures and vehicles over your sand mound system area is not a very good setup for it. These components are heavy. Their weight compresses the soil, thus bringing about soil compaction that crushes the sand mound components. If the components of the sand mound are crushed, then leaks, clogging, and inevitable failure will come out of it. Immediately get rid of these from your sand mound area and make sure to call your septic expert for the necessary repairs that your sand mound needs.
  3. Incorrect usage of drains, toilets, and sinksIf you and your household don’t use your facilities the right way, you will end up with a very terrible sand mound system experience. Dumping non-biodegradable materials, paint, and grease in drains, toilets, and sinks will only cause severe clogging in the sand mound, resulting to clogging, backing up of effluent, overflow of effluent, and eventual failure of the system. Dumping strong chemicals will corrode the system’s components and will kill the resident bacteria. If bacteria are gone, then the entire sand mound system will stop. The sand mound system will fail and if not corrected at the soonest possible time, this will be reason enough for you to buy a new sand mound system.
  4. Not following the pump out scheduleWhatever reasons you may have for skipping your sand mound’s pump out schedule, it will never be justified once the sand mound starts to malfunction. Pumping out your sand mound is the most basic care that you could give your system. It clears the sand mound tank of gunk. This will ensure that the soil absorption area will remain clog-free and the process of wastewater treatment will go on smoothly. Discuss the pump out schedule with your septic expert because it depends on how many people live in your home. You just have to set a small amount every month for the scheduled pump out so that it won’t be very hard on your budget.

    Bacteria could be used to help prevent sand mound system failure. These are very reliable microorganisms that voraciously eat the solid waste in the sand mound’s tank. They even leave the tank odorless. They do not harm the surrounding environment at all because they do not have chemicals that pollute the bodies of water and the clean water supply in the area. It’s better to stick to the natural solution to and prevention of sand mound system failure. Chemicals and enzymes will only aggravate the situation and will even harm the physical components of the sand mound. Work with your septic expert so that you may be guided in caring for your sand mound system.

Rainwater can cause overflowing in sand mounds

Jan 14th, 2013
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This is a short article explaining how rainwater can cause overflowing in sand mounds. Your new car was delivered a few months ago. The hype of the promotion, the new house, and the relocation was just too overwhelming for you and you didn’t even have a family yet. You were very thankful for the blessings that came for the past year. It was very hard for you to have left your hometown two years ago but you knew you had to do it for your personal and career growth. And there you were. You were slowly putting things together. In a big way, you were very courageous to have taken the risk of leaving your comfort zone. It only showed how strong of character you were and how determined you were in building a life for yourself.

The house that you bought was pretty contemporary. It was built five years before you moved in. Technically, you didn’t really have an idea about the history if its construction. You haven’t finished your garage and the driveway yet so you parked your car in the yard. You told yourself that you could just have the yard fixed up when everything was done and when you could move the car already. The weather was unpredictable in the area where you moved. Sometimes it drizzled, sometimes it was sunny, and sometimes it was just cloudy. You didn’t mind the abrupt changes in weather as long as your house was sturdy and safe.

The following morning, your boss called you up and told you that the office would not be open for two days because of the heavy rains. It was always that way every time there was a storm that came. A hurricane threat was always considered because of the weather’s unpredictability. When you looked out the window, the rain was indeed very strong. It was a good move when you thought of covering up your new car in the yard. There was no telling when something hard or pointed could get blown it and scratch the paint. But still, you worried at the strength of the rainfall. When you went to use the bathroom, the toilet, sinks, and drains backed up with sewage. The odor was very foul. You wanted to call the septic expert but it was still raining hard. You had no choice but to wait until the storm stopped. In the afternoon, the rain paused. You immediately called up the septic expert. You told him that it was an emergency so in just minutes, he arrived. He said that there had to be immediate modifications before the rain started again to prevent sand mound overflow again: 

  1. The gutter’s direction should be moved away from the sand mound area to prevent additional water from getting into the sand mound. Rainwater can cause overflowing in sand mounds.
  2. The car that you parked should be moved because this could have caused damage to the sand mound already.
  3. You should keep the pump out and treatment schedules that your septic expert recommended.
  4. Proper usage of toilets, drains, and sinks should be done by not pouring grease, non-biodegradable materials, and antibacterial solutions into them.
  5. You should also install a dry well beside your sand mound to make sure that the water load will not increase that much because of the dishwashers and washing machines.

Amazingly, in just hours, the septic expert was able to help you get things in the right track before the rains came again. When the septic expert left, heavy rainfall poured again. You watched the yard, toilets, drains, and sinks if they would be flooding or backing up again. As expected, the backing up didn’t happen. The dry well was yet to be constructed after the storm. With the minimal modifications that you made earlier, everything changed. You were comfortable in using your bathroom again. There is nothing better than being dry and warm in your own home during heavy rains or cold days. You then wished that work would be off for an entire week. Always remember that rainwater can cause overflowing in sand mounds.

How to locate your drain field

Jan 3rd, 2013
by Service.
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In this article we will focus on the question of how to locate your drain field. It was a very challenging four years of your life. When you moved out of the house where you grew up in, you eliminated your comfort zone and started to face the world. It was the stage of your life when you started your complete independence even if your parents paid for your tuition and for your apartment. When you told your parents that you would be okay if you paid for your own apartment, they disagreed. They wanted to make sure that you’re okay up to the day you graduated or decided to move because of a job offer. Until that very day, your parents wanted to take care of you mainly because you were their only son.

Graduation—The start of life in the real world. As a graduate, you were supposed to face life with everything you had already. During the first few months of your training, your boss was very pleased with your performance. Because of this, you were able to have your own apartment-style home near your work area. You told your parents that this would be the perfect chance for you to really start your own life independently. Of course, your parents still said that they would always be there for you if ever you needed them.

The owner of the house talked to you about everything that you had to do to maintain it. He said that like a homeowner, you should be responsible for everything about the house. The rest was reasonable and included the electric, water, cable, and Internet use. You had your mobile phone so you didn’t need a phone line anymore. The only thing that you had to spend for that was not included in the rent was the septic system maintenance. In doing so, you had to know how to locate your drain field and septic system.

In locating the drain field, you consulted the Internet. The reference that you read told you that the first thing you should do was to consult the blueprint of your home. The owner of the house already lost the blueprint and told you that you could go and check the records of the house in the environmental and health department. They should be able to provide a copy because they were the one who issued permits to everyone who had septic systems installed in the area. But the best thing that you could do was to consult the area’s septic expert. You called the septic expert’s number that the owner gave you. When the septic expert arrived, you immediately told him that you had a copy of the property’s blueprint. When he looked at it, it was not accurate because he said that they had to make alterations on the septic system’s installation.

The septic expert told you that in cases like yours, you had to rely on the grass that grew over the drain field to really locate it. If the grass over that part of the property is dry, then the drain field was in good condition and was well-maintained. If the grass over the area is soggy, then there could be a heavy clog, backup, or even failure in the drain field. In your drain field’s case, the drain field had dry grass over it so it was pretty easy to spot. After the short lesson, the septic expert informed you of the scheduled pumping out. It was to be done after two years so you had time to save for it. All you had to do was set aside a certain amount for the monthly treatments and you were all set.

It was absolutely great to have your own space to take care of. Having a small home like that helped you get really started on the life that you have always wanted. You didn’t even have to hire a housekeeper because you could easily clean it during the weekends. You told your mother that she didn’t have to drive to your home just to clean it. It seemed like even if you’re all grown up, you would always be the most precious child in the world. In the back of your mind you would always know that you knew how to locate your drain field.

Do garbage disposals harm raised mounds?

Dec 12th, 2012
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Raised mounds have always been known as an extra sensitive type of septic system. It is basically installed for houses or establishments that are built on properties with high water tables. Because it is above the surface, it is exposed to the elements and should be well-protected especially during the winter. A special construction fabric should cover the raised mound before it is covered with a thin layer of top soil. The construction fabric keeps the heat in the raised mound system. The bacterial activity results to heat. This is because of the constant metabolism that happens. Knowing this, you became very concerned about your newly installed garbage disposal unit. Do garbage disposals harm raised mounds? This is a question that has been haunting homeowners for years.

There were friends who told you that they didn’t use their garbage disposals because it was known to increase the amount of sludge in the raised mound’s tank. But even if they did say this, why do other homeowners still use their garbage disposals? You were in need of a confirmation. Do garbage disposals really harm raised mounds?

Garbage disposals are installed and used by many because it is important to keep sanitation in your home. When you just use the conventional way of disposing organic garbage, decomposition ensues in your trash cans. As you know, when there is decomposition, the smell is strong and pungent. This attracts so many pests and other animals to your property, particularly to your garbage bin. You will often discover your trash bins opened or toppled over, surrounded with flies, or even crawling with maggots. This is a serious way of getting various diseases and skin irritations that you never thought you could get in your own yard. Through garbage disposal units, your organic garbage could safely go into the raised mound’s collection tank to be broken down by the resident anaerobic bacteria.

As you know, garbage disposals grind the organic garbage. This process turns huge chunks into finer pieces, thus increasing the surface area of the solid wastes before entering the tank. The anaerobic bacteria find it easy to degrade and decompose these solid wastes. With regular pumping and treating, there would absolutely be no problem with your raised mound system and garbage disposal functioning at the same time. It is only disappointing to know that there are homeowners who think that it is all right to dump non-biodegradable materials, grease, and oils into the garbage disposal. They think that these would not affect the raised mound system at all. The truth is that these substances contribute greatly to the clogging, backing up, overflow, and failure of the raised mound.

You should keep in mind that in order to maximize the function of the raised mound and your garbage disposal, you have to use both properly. Just be responsible enough to place used oils, fats, and grease in a jar, seal it, and throw it in the garbage bin. As for non-biodegradables, it would be better to reuse them or just dispose of them properly in the trash bin as well. There are bacterial additive in the septic stores nowadays that you could use exclusively with your garbage disposals. They have non-pathogenic bacteria that help accelerate the decomposition of the organic garbage that you dump in.

Even if the raised mound truly needs extra care and attention from homeowners like you, you should still try your best how to incorporate other appliances in your home so that your life could be made much easier. This is all part of becoming a responsible homeowner. When you called up your septic expert about your dilemma, he told you that it was perfectly fine to start using your garbage disposal unit. You asked him again, do garbage disposals harm raised mounds?  The same routine would continue with your raised mound when it comes to care and maintenance. Just treat the garbage disposal unit the same way as your drains, toilets, and sinks and you will reap benefits of having appliances in your home and a smooth running raised mound as well.

How long do septic systems last?

Dec 11th, 2012
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It can never be denied that there are homeowners who neglect the fact they own a septic system as well. When they buy a house the last thing they usually think of is the type of material the septic system is made of or the septic system’s actual condition. When you wanted to buy that piece of land, you wanted your home there to be flawless. One of your main considerations was the septic system. Your parents have always told you how important it was to have a fully functional septic system. But how long do septic systems last?

As you know, the septic system is responsible for treating the wastewater that exits your household. It all starts in the septic tank. This part of the septic system needs to be made of durable material because this is responsible for collecting and separating the wastewater to three layers (scum: top player, effluent: clear liquid, and sludge: bottom layer) so that when the effluent finally gets to the drain field, the solid wastes would be left to be degraded by the anaerobic bacteria.

Wastewater enters the septic tank and stays there for a while so that the degradation of the solid waste particles would be done. This subjects the septic tank and its components to the various substances of the wastewater. There can be salts and acids that slowly deteriorate the septic system so you should really make sure that the septic system that you purchase would be made of durable material.

Remember, septic systems do not last a lifetime. At some point, you would have to replace it. These days, there are various materials that you can choose from such as steel, concrete, and polymer. Steel septic systems are durable and can last fifteen to twenty years. When the steel septic system lasts this long, it would most probably be very rusted and heavily deteriorated. The steel septic tank cover would still be intact until it is crushed by a heavy vehicle or structure. Concrete septic systems can last from a year to 40 years depending on the quality of concrete used and how well it is mixed. Both steel and concrete septic systems deteriorate because of the salts, acids, and other harsh substances found in the wastewater. The latest discovery for septic systems is polymer. The polymer septic system is a more durable one and also promises years and years of efficient functioning, provided that it is not subjected to very heavy physical damage.

If you would really want to make sure that your money will go to a very durable septic system, you should consult the most reliable manufacturers and also ask them how long do septic systems last? Of course, you have to have it set that you will need a serious amount of cash to acquire what you want for your home. It is not a very easy purchase to make so you have to canvass and research as much information that you could. Tedious as it may be, you should sacrifice time and money to get the best for your household.

Remember that the deterioration of the concrete and steel septic systems start as soon as you install them. The soil, weather and groundwater also contribute to this. Concrete is very porous and could readily have cracks that affect its lifespan and efficiency.

Take note that if you do buy a property with a septic system already installed, check with the septic expert that handles it in that area so that you may know its real condition, age, and size. This way, you may have a founded idea of how long it will last and if it needs repairs and treatments. It would be much better if you request a full-service septic contractor to make the septic inspection so that a complete report could be made. If this professional will do the inspection, the necessary repairs and replacements could already be done and the amount could just be factored from the total amount of the property. We hope that we helped to answer the age old question of how long do septic systems last?

My raised mound failed within weeks of moving into new home.

Dec 10th, 2012
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As an incoming high school freshman, you wanted to graduate from the school where you started your formal education. It was a heart-breaking moment for you when your dad said that you had to move to another state again because of his job. He didn’t really mean to keep the family moving from one place to another. As a family, you had to support him because he didn’t want the two of you to be apart. When you moved into your new home, you started to think of the next house that you would be moving into in a couple of years. Just as you were about to call it a night, your dad told you that the new house would be the last house you were moving into. You dad also said my raised mound failed within weeks of moving into new home.

It was the best moment of your life. You would never have to think of how to make friends again after this. The high school you enrolled in shared functions with your old school so you already had a few friends there. It was the best news ever. You thought that nothing could ever make your blue skies grey the next day. But you were wrong. Just a few weeks after you and your dad moved in, you saw your dad say to someone on the phone, Help! My raised mound failed within weeks of moving into our new home! It was the septic expert and in minutes, he arrived with his small team. What could be the possible reasons of raised mound failure?

  1. The previous homeowner may not have been that diligent in maintaining and keeping the treatment schedules recommended by the septic expert. This resulted to a heavy accumulation of sludge that blocked the soil absorption and filtration systems and led to the raised mound’s failure.
  2. The rain gutter may be directed on the area of the raised mound. This caused too much rainwater to enter the raised mound system. The increased water load delayed the bacteria’s decomposition of the solid wastes and this resulted to clogs and failure.
  3. Heavy vehicles or constructions may have been placed over the raised mound. The heavy weight may have caused some of the components to give out.
  4. Woody roots may have already invaded the raised mound and may have caused blockages or irreparable damages to the system.
  5. Strong and corrosive substances or antibacterial solutions may have been dumped into the toilets, sinks, and drains. These kill off the bacterial population, resulting to the accumulation of solid waste particles that blocked the system, causing failure.
  6. An increase in water load may have been caused by the absence of a dry well and also heavy laundry and dishwashing loads. This results to the stirring up of the sludge, dispersing it into the soil absorption system and the filtration system.  Blockage and failure inevitably happens.
  7. The system may not have undergone a thorough septic inspection. This type of inspection should b performed by a full-service septic contractor who knows what he is doing. He could even repair or replace anything that is damaged. A regular house inspector would just visually inspect the house and not do anything anymore.
  8. The raised mound may be very old already that certain parts of it may already be deteriorated by the natural elements.

When the septic expert arrived, he said that the raised mound could still be restored. He stressed the fact that the scheduled treatments and pump outs should be kept to keep the system running smoothly. He said that the construction fabric should be replaced regularly especially before winter. Inside the house, you couldn’t take the septic odors anymore. The smells penetrated the towel that you wrapped around your face. You had to go out. You watched your dad pay attention to what the septic expert did. He really wanted to make things right because that home was supposed to be your permanent residence. You were proud of your dad and you were definitely going to help make everything work. You never wanted to hear your dad say my raised mound failed within weeks of moving into new home.

Septic system failed

Dec 6th, 2012
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Help! My septic system failed within weeks of moving into my new home! Your phone conversation with your sister lingered in your head. She just declared the worst investment that she had made in all her born days. She just bought a home in an area that she dreamed of since she was in college. It was the perfect house. It was painted cream. The yard was green. It had a perfect view of the lake. It even had a gazebo just like she pictured. You thought she had the best taste ever. Two days after she moved in, she hosted a house warming party that lasted an entire weekend. Even her boss was there. But three weeks after that, she called you up and frantically asked for you to be there because of a huge crisis—her septic system failed. With some knowledge on real estate, you asked her if she really asked for a septic system inspection like you told her. She said she did but when you asked her who did the inspection; she said that only a house inspector did it. You just shook your head and agreed to visit her that weekend.

There can be a myriad of reasons as to why a septic system failed in just s few weeks of usage:

  1. The previous owner could have just plainly neglected the system and pumped it out a day before the purchase. This is common unethical behavior by homeowners who just want to have the purchase done. They really don’t care if the next homeowner will be happy with the property on a long term basis. To prevent misinformation on your septic system, check with the local septic expert to clarify any possible problems that the property’s septic system could have had untreated and have them corrected before you pay for the property.
  2. There could be mechanical failures that comprise of pipe collapse, deterioration of the system, and blockage by roots. You may never know if there are any structural anomalies in your septic system until the day it actually fails. A good septic inspection should be performed before you move in so that you will know what could potentially cause the failure. If ever there are problems to deal with, any amount spent in making things right should be factored with the amount of the property.
  3. There could be an alteration to the condition of the anaerobic and aerobic bacterial population. The killing off of the bacteria may cause septic odors, sewage ponding, overflow, and septic backups. Bacteria are the basic workers in the septic system. They are the ones that break down the solid wastes and purify the resulting effluent. The alteration of the septic system’s internal bacterial environment could be brought about by the use of harsh chemicals; antibacterial detergents and soaps; and the wrong use of drains, toilets, and sinks.
  4. The unmaintained septic tank could increase the bio-mat level in the drain field that will eventually lead to the system’s failure. As you know, the septic tank should be pumped out and treated regularly. If the previous owner failed to perform regular maintenance then the entire system was bound to fail.
  5. Increase in the septic system’s water load could also be a main cause of septic system failure. If you don’t have a dry well that will take in the grey water from the washing machine and dishwasher, then you would have trouble with how much water actually goes into the septic tank. You should regulate your laundry loads or have a dry well to keep things stable.

By the time you arrived at your sister’s house, the septic expert you contacted was already there. He said that the septic system failed and could still be restored but an aeration system and a dry well should be installed afterwards. It really cost a lot more for your sister to keep an inhabitable house. You took care of the septic service while she covered the treatments and installations. It was the least you can do. Hopefully, she won’t neglect the newly restored system like the previous owner did.

Do garbage disposals harm cesspits?

Dec 3rd, 2012
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This article will cover a topic that has been the center for discussion for many years. Do garbage disposals harm cesspits? This is the question we will try to answer. Since you were a child, you have always dreamed of having your own, fully functional home, complete with every appliance conceivable. After years of study and hard work, you have finally achieved that dream. You chose to live in an area where the neighborhood was liberal yet safe. Your home was designed after your taste and personality that was why it felt like your real home when you moved in. You have always been a very busy person. With your sixteen-hour work, you didn’t know how you even managed to have a love life. But you did and you were happy. Being that busy, you never stopped to think things over when you decided to have appliances bought and installed in your home. It was a good thing that your girlfriend gave you a handy book that you should read first before you started anything. It was a small paperback entitles, Do Garbage Disposals Harm Cesspits? You stared at the book and realized that the question never really came across your mind. It was an undeniable fact that the contents of the book was indeed important so you started to read.

On one hand, a cesspit, like the one you had installed in your property is much like a regular septic system. It also had a receiving/holding tank for the wastewater that your household produces. On the other hand, a garbage disposal unit is an appliance that you need to get rid of organic garbage faster, easier, and hassle-free. Having it in your home would stop pests and diseases from overwhelming your life. There has always been a conflict in combining these two. The belief that garbage disposals would only add too much to the solid wastes that the cesspit could accommodate has long hindered so many American homeowners from using it even if they already have it installed. But the truth is, garbage disposals, per se, do not harm cesspits at all.

If you look at how garbage disposals work, their main function is to grind garbage into finer particles. This increases the surface area of the solid wastes thus, helping the resident bacteria of the cesspit to break them down much faster and much easier. The harmonious relationship between the cesspit and the garbage disposal unit lie in the usage of the garbage disposal unit and in the maintenance of the cesspit and do garbage disposals harm cesspits? If you do not dump non-biodegradable garbage, oils, and grease into the garbage disposal unit, then there would be no clogs to worry about. Most homeowners think that if you throw plastics, napkins, fats, and oils into garbage disposals, these substances would be changed into forms that will be broken down in the cesspit as well. What really happens in that these substances retain their form even when they reach the cesspit so as a result, trouble happens in the cesspit and in the soil absorption system? With regular pumping and treatment schedules kept, the cesspit will not have a heavy accumulation of sludge. As you know, if the cesspit is full of sludge, the bacteria would not be able to decompose the solid particles right away. This would result to clogging, backing up of sewage, overflow, and the inevitable failure.

As a responsible homeowner and a future husband, you wanted to make sure that everything was well-monitored. This would include the connection of your garbage disposal unit and your cesspit. With persistent research and frequent trips to the septic store, you have discovered some bacterial additives that were especially formulated for garbage disposal use. The additional non-pathogenic bacteria in these products help the resident bacteria in breaking down the ground up organic garbage that went through the garbage disposal unit.

Remember that garbage disposals were designed to help you and your household and do garbage disposals harm cesspits? They are meant to make chores much easier but you should use it properly so that other components in your property will be able to function optimally as well. 

This article will cover a topic that has been the center for discussion for many years. Do garbage disposals harm cesspits? This is the question we will try to answer. Since you were a child, you have always dreamed of having your own, fully functional home, complete with every appliance conceivable. After years of study and hard work, you have finally achieved that dream. You chose to live in an area where the neighborhood was liberal yet safe. Your home was designed after your taste and personality that was why it felt like your real home when you moved in. You have always been a very busy person. With your sixteen-hour work, you didn’t know how you even managed to have a love life. But you did and you were happy. Being that busy, you never stopped to think things over when you decided to have appliances bought and installed in your home. It was a good thing that your girlfriend gave you a handy book that you should read first before you started anything. It was a small paperback entitles, Do Garbage Disposals Harm Cesspits? You stared at the book and realized that the question never really came across your mind. It was an undeniable fact that the contents of the book was indeed important so you started to read.

 

On one hand, a cesspit, like the one you had installed in your property is much like a regular septic system. It also had a receiving/holding tank for the wastewater that your household produces. On the other hand, a garbage disposal unit is an appliance that you need to get rid of organic garbage faster, easier, and hassle-free. Having it in your home would stop pests and diseases from overwhelming your life. There has always been a conflict in combining these two. The belief that garbage disposals would only add too much to the solid wastes that the cesspit could accommodate has long hindered so many American homeowners from using it even if they already have it installed. But the truth is, garbage disposals, per se, do not harm cesspits at all.

If you look at how garbage disposals work, their main function is to grind garbage into finer particles. This increases the surface area of the solid wastes thus, helping the resident bacteria of the cesspit to break them down much faster and much easier. The harmonious relationship between the cesspit and the garbage disposal unit lie in the usage of the garbage disposal unit and in the maintenance of the cesspit and do garbage disposals harm cesspits? If you do not dump non-biodegradable garbage, oils, and grease into the garbage disposal unit, then there would be no clogs to worry about. Most homeowners think that if you throw plastics, napkins, fats, and oils into garbage disposals, these substances would be changed into forms that will be broken down in the cesspit as well. What really happens in that these substances retain their form even when they reach the cesspit so as a result, trouble happens in the cesspit and in the soil absorption system? With regular pumping and treatment schedules kept, the cesspit will not have a heavy accumulation of sludge. As you know, if the cesspit is full of sludge, the bacteria would not be able to decompose the solid particles right away. This would result to clogging, backing up of sewage, overflow, and the inevitable failure.

 

As a responsible homeowner and a future husband, you wanted to make sure that everything was well-monitored. This would include the connection of your garbage disposal unit and your cesspit. With persistent research and frequent trips to the septic store, you have discovered some bacterial additives that were especially formulated for garbage disposal use. The additional non-pathogenic bacteria in these products help the resident bacteria in breaking down the ground up organic garbage that went through the garbage disposal unit.

Remember that garbage disposals were designed to help you and your household and do garbage disposals harm cesspits? They are meant to make chores much easier but you should use it properly so that other components in your property will be able to function optimally as well.

Do garbage disposals harm septic tanks?

Nov 29th, 2012
by Service.
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In a conventional septic system, there are two main components—the septic tank and the drain field. The most obvious and the most urgently attended one is the septic tank. This is the holding vessel of the wastewater that comes directly from your household. Here, three layers are formed—the scum (top solid waste layer), the effluent (the middle clear liquid layer), and the sludge (the bottom layer resulting from anaerobic bacteria degradation. The septic tank is where the primary treatment of the wastewater takes place. If something wrong happens here, then you can be sure that the rest of the entire septic system will eventually perish. One of the big questions we encounter is do garbage disposals harm septic tanks?

Your new home has just been furnished and necessary appliances have just been installed such as the ever present garbage disposal unit. This appliance is considered as a very important tool in disposing of garbage easier. It is an alternative to keeping leftovers and other garbage to rot in your trash bin. Doing so could just attract pests like cockroaches, rats, flies, and stray animals. It could also be a means to spread disease and contamination to the surrounding environment. When you have a garbage disposal unit installed, you could be assured that the sanitation in your home is optimal. Before you had the garbage disposal installed, you did your needed research on it. Do garbage disposals harm septic tanks?

Well, most American homeowners think so. Majority of the US population d not have garbage disposal units installed because of the idea that the septic tank would have a hard time accommodating all the additional solid particles produced by the garbage disposal unit. The true answer to the question is a resounding NO. If you observe the function of the garbage disposal, it grinds up and increases the surface area of the solid wastes that you dump in it. This may add to the solid wastes but it also makes the solid wastes much easier for the resident bacteria to break down. The septic tank is a component f the septic system that received everything that your household delivers as waste. It is only proper that its size and the capacity should fit the household. With regular maintenance and pumping out, the septic tank would do just fine even with a garbage disposal gobbling up all those solid wastes.

You have to make sure that the septic tank gets regularly pumped out because the sludge should not be allowed to accumulate. Once this happens, the resident bacteria will get suspended and will not break down the solid waste products effectively. This will eventually result in clogging, backing up, overflow, and system failure. Pay attention to the septic tank care and the garbage disposal would do just fine with it. Another thing to remember is that you should treat the garbage disposal unit as an organic garbage grinder and not a garbage transformer. It only grinds up the solid wastes into finer pieces so that the bacteria could decompose them right away. With this, you should make it a point not to dump non-biodegradable materials, grease, and oils into it because when they enter the garbage disposal, they are still what they are. And what they are will harm the tank and the system. Just place them in an enclosed jar and dispose of them in the trash bin. Bad habits can be very difficult to break but you have to change them for the sake of your septic tank.

These days, you can opt for bacterial additives that can be used on garbage disposals. These additives help the anaerobic bacteria in making sure that the added solid wastes would be degraded faster and easier. It can really be taxing to have anything installed in your home. Every single thing should make things easier for you and not make your life more difficult. Do garbage disposals harm septic tanks? A garbage disposal unit is a good tool to have. It is generally safe for your septic tank just learn to use it properly for your septic system’s sake.

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