Amelia Whitehart October 3, 2020

Arnold, CA portable bathroom rentals provider? Repair leaky faucets. Water that is wasted through leaky taps puts a strain on your septic tank system (not to mention, it also increases your water bill!). Be sure to repair leaky tap right away. Don’t pour household chemicals down the drain. Dispose of motor oil, antifreeze, paint, pesticides and potent cleaners properly. They should never be poured down the drain because they kill bacteria that breaks down solids in your septic tank.

Think of it like this: You would not take a car; you are potentially going to purchase, to a mechanic for a pre-purchase inspection / evaluation and ask the mechanic to check it out but to not open the hood. This would defeat the purpose of the pre-purchase inspection with a restricting limitation of not being allowed to open the hood. Additionally most counties require a person or business conducting septic system inspections and evaluations to be certified through COWA and NAWT, (California Onsite Wastewater Association & National Association of Wastewater Transporters). Although COWA and NAWT teach Pumping is Mandatory and “Must be Done” prior to a system inspection/evaluation, this is generally not enforced.

To keep your septic tank and drain field in working order, having the tank pumped on a regular basis is essential. How often you will need to have your system pumped depends on the size of your household, total wastewater generated, the number of solids, and the size of your tank. The official EPA recommendation is that you have the system pumped every 3-5 years, but it’s a good idea to have it inspected and serviced more often than that. In addition to regular tank pumping, the most important thing you can do for your septic system is to be careful about what goes into it.

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. If your drainfield is flooded, your first step should be to drastically reduce water use in the house until you notice it is dry at the surface. Pumping the septic tank may be an option, however should be considered after the area above it is dry, otherwise it could cause the tank to float out of the ground, damaging the inlet and outlet pipes. Consult a professional septic service provider for advice. See extra details at septic inspection service here.

Best practice is to install a 1500 gallon effective net-volume two-compartment septic tank. Even when you are allowed to install a smaller tank, it will save money in the long run by having the septic tank pumped less often and a much smaller chance of eventual bio-mat formation in the leach field. Larger tanks retain effluent for a longer time, allowing solids to settle on the bottom and grease to float to the top. Plus, a larger tank will allow for adding of bedrooms later without the county requiring a larger septic tank. Every county has its own unique regulations with equations and definitions that can change yearly and always are open for interpretation.

We at Foothill Sanitary and Foothill Portable’s “Stand” for our Flag and kneel for our fallen. My family has a very strong military background with family members serving in every branch of the military. This is why we at Foothill Sanitary and Foothill Portable’s offer a 5% Military discount to all of our vet’s as a small way to say Thank you for “your” service. My motto is from the branch that I served in “Semper Fidelis” meaning always faithful, a motto that we will bring to you. Discover additional information on Foothill Sanitary.