May 20, 2013

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Public Health Reasons For Septic Maintenance

May 16, 2012 By

Most people don’t give much thought to their septic system, until it’s time for septic service. Your system just sits there, working quietly, but what happens if something goes wrong? It’s only then that most people call a septic maintenance company like Sunset Septic.

Why should you pay attention to septic system maintenance? If you, the homeowner, are consistent with proper septic maintenance, your system should only cost $100 to $300 per year to maintain, as compared to the $3,000 to $10,000 it takes to replace it. Second, and maybe even more important, is the health factor. When your system fails or operates improperly, there are health consequences for your family, your community, and the environment.

Let’s talk for a minute about the consequences to groundwater and community health. When your septic system fails, the improperly treated wastewater can reach the groundwater and from there the contaminants can move to streams, lakes, and local wells. Contaminated drinking water has been a major cause of disease, including hepatitis, dysentery, and typhoid fever.

In addition, nitrates and phosphates in lakes and rivers can cause algae growth, called algal blooms. Besides being unsightly, these blooms can cause problems for aquatic live. Nitrates are also the cause of methemoglobinemia, also known as blue baby syndrome. This condition prevents the absorption of oxygen in the blood of young infants.

Other reasons for drinking water contamination include improper disposal of chemicals through your septic system. These chemicals pollute the groundwater, and from there the contamination moves on to lakes, streams, and rivers. Homeowners have the responsibility of knowing what household chemicals they can and cannot put into their septic system.

So don’t underestimate the importance of septic maintenance. It can mean the health of your wallet, as well as your family and community. If you have any questions about septic service or septic maintenance in Arizona, don’t hesitate to call us here at Sunset Septic. We’re here to help!

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Septic Tank Installation – What Happens When Your Drainfield Fails

May 15, 2012 By

Septic maintenance, including as having your tank pumped and serviced, is important for the health of your septic system. But what if you need a septic system repaired, or even a septic tank installation? What if you have a failing drainfield?

A typical cause of drainfield failure is too much wastewater being put into them. If your septic system is properly designed, it allows for a specific amount of wastewater. That amount is calculated by how many bedrooms are in the house, with two people per bedroom being the standard. If you push too much water into your drain lines, they don’t have time to dry out. They can also form a slimy mat of bacteria on the inside of the trench walls, which keeps water from seeping through and evaporating in the normal fashion.

How do you know your drainfield is failing? Look for these signs:

  • Gurgling drains
  • Slow drains
  • Water coming up through the first floor drains
  • Wet spots in the yard

If you are noticing these problems on a heavy use day such as laundry day, your drainfield may have problems. Unfortunately, there is no simple fix for a failing drainfield. Unless you have a clog in the system that can be routed out, the usual way to get the drainfield back to its normal operation is to let it dry out completely for a few months. What this means in practical terms is that a new drainfield trench must be dug out.

Of course, the depth and location of the new drainfield depends on a number of factors, such as the configuration of your yard and house, the soil type, how your land slopes, and other factors. In most states, septic installation and septic repair falls under local health departments. Let the experts here at Sunset Septic help out with all your septic system installation questions.

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Septic Maintenance and Pumping – How Often Should I Have My Tank Pumped?

April 2, 2012 By

Our goal at Sunset Septic is to provide you with the best septic pumping service in Phoenix, Arizona. Septic maintenance is basic to all septic systems and should be addressed on a regular basis. Today we’re going to talk about tank maintenance.

There are a number of factors that determine the pumping schedule for septic tanks. Generally, the size of the tank, the daily amount of wastewater that goes into the tank, and the use of the garbage disposal are all taken into consideration when determining your schedule. It’s safe to say, however, that most residential tanks need to be pumped every 3 to 5 years.

You can either pump on a set schedule, or you can base your schedule on the sludge and scum layers that have accumulated. A rule of thumb is that septic tanks need to be pumped out when the sludge layer becomes more than 24 inches in depth, or when the lower edge of the scum layer is less than 3 inches above the lower end of the submerged outlet, or when it is more than 12 inches thick.

You can measure the sludge accumulation by wrapping a towel around the bottom 3 feet of an 8-foot pole and carefully lowering it into the tank until it touches the bottom. Never lean over the tank or attempt to enter it, as the gases coming from the tank are poisonous. Gases are also explosive, so never use matches or flames around the tank opening. After several minutes, remove the pole and check the towel. The discolored portion of the towel shows the depth of the sludge layer. If more than 24 inches, it’s time to have the tank pumped and inspected. If the septic tank is new, it’s a good idea to check the levels every year to determine how fast your tank is filling up.

Additives on the market claim to improve your septic system’s performance, but they do not necessarily work and some, like degreasers, are toxic and can get into your groundwater. It is best to be cautious about using added chemicals to your septic system.

Always hire a licensed professional company like Sunset Septic to service your septic system. Do not try to pump the tank yourself, as the waste and gases can be dangerous. If you have any questions about septic maintenance or septic pumping service in Phoenix, Arizona, please call Sunset Septic today!

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Septic Installation – Types Of Septic Systems

April 1, 2012 By

Types of Septic Systems and how your system works…

Here at Sunset Septic, we want you to get the best septic maintenance and septic installation in Arizona. It’s important to us that you understand how your septic system works and how to keep it in top working order. In this article, we’ll discuss types of septic systems and how they work.

There are two major parts to a septic system. The first is the septic tank,  and the second is the drainfield. Let’s talk about the septic tank first.

Waste water that is created in the house then flows into the septic tank.
Once there, three layers are formed: heavier solids that sink to the bottom and form a sludge, a middle layer of waste water, and a scum of grease and lighter particles that float on top. At the inlet and outlet of the tank, baffles are installed to catch the scum and solids and prevent them from escaping.

Newer septic tanks have a concrete dividing wall in the center that makes 2 compartments in the tank. The purpose of the 2 compartments is to help keep the sludge from being forced out of the baffle into the drainfield. These newer tanks sometimes also have a manhole cover above each baffle.

Now let’s look at the drainfield. The drainfield or trench is fed by a pipe that leads from the septic tank to a distribution box. From there, the water is channeled to perforated pipes buried in gravel trenches. Waste water then seeps into the earth, with dissolved wastes and bacteria being decomposed by microorganisms present in the soil. Remaining water then goes into the ground water or evaporates into the atmosphere.

Although the trench system described above is the most common type of septic system, there are a couple of alternatives. One is the seepage pit, or dry well. In this type of septic system, waste goes into a tank with holes in the side walls, and then into surrounding gravel. Another is the sand mound system. These systems are for areas not suited for traditional septic systems. The waste water flows from the septic tank to a storage tank, and then is pumped to perforated pipes buried in a mound of sand on top of the soil. The sand helps with proper treatment of waste water in areas where the native soil may have too much clay in it for water to seep through properly, or in areas where the water table is too close to the surface.

No matter what type of septic system your home employs, we at Sunset Septic are here to help you with septic installation or septic maintenance. We hope you come back often for more articles of interest.

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Septic Maintenance – What You Can Do Inside The Home

March 31, 2012 By

Getting the most out of your septic tank is a high priority for most home owners who have a septic tank. Although you will always need septic service eventually, taking the right day-to-day precautions will help your septic system last many years. In this article, we’ll talk about septic maintenance that you can do inside the house.

So, what should you do to keep your septic system in top form? Septic maintenance begins in the house. For starters, you should never put too much water into the septic system. About 50 gallons per day for each person in the household is about typical. Conserve water in the following ways:

  • Take showers instead of baths
  • Repair leaky faucets
  • Wash clothes only when you have a full load, or choose the small load setting on your washer
  • Don’t wash more than one load of clothes a day to avoid overloading your septic system
  • Don’t let water run when brushing your teeth, washing dishes, hands, vegetables, etc.
  • Install a water saving device in your toilet tank and don’t flush unnecessarily

What else should you do to keep your system working properly? Let’s look at items you should never flush down the toilet:

  • Facial tissue (Kleenex)
  • Paper towels
  • Kitty litter
  • Disposable diapers
  • Sanitary napkins
  • Tampons
  • Coffee grounds
  • Cigarette butts

You get the idea. In fact, the only things you should flush down a toilet are human waste, toilet paper, and water.

You may be wondering what sort of toilet paper is best. Well, there are few brands of toilet paper, if any, that are NOT safe for your septic system. Most toilet paper breaks down quickly and easily.

Now let’s take a look at your drains. There are also restrictions on the types of substances you can safely put down your drains. The following should never be put in your septic system, but disposed of in a proper way:

  • Varnish
  • Paint thinners
  • Paint
  • Insecticides
  • Motor oil
  • Gasoline
  • Other hazardous liquids

Also, keep the use of heavy chemical cleaners to a minimum. Harsh chemical cleaners can kill the helpful bacteria in your septic system. Ordinary use of common household cleaners is usually not a problem.

You should also never pour grease or cooking oil down your drain. Put leftover grease in a container and throw it out with the solid garbage when it gets full. Grease can clog your septic system’s drainfield, making it difficult for the soil to absorb liquids from the septic tank. A new drainfield will be in order if that happens.

You also have to watch what you put in your garbage disposal. First, buy a quality garbage disposal that grinds food into tiny particles that your septic tank can handle. Large scraps should be taken out with the garbage or composted.

If you follow the above rules, you should keep your septic service at a minimum. In a future article, we’ll look at steps you can take on the exterior of your home to further your septic maintenance. Remember, Sunset Septic is here to help you with all your septic questions.

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Septic Maintenance – What You Can Do Outside The Home

March 30, 2012 By

Helping you keep your septic system in top condition is our goal here at Sunset Septic. We offer septic pumping service, septic installation, and septic cleaning in Arizona. Today, we’ll talk about steps you can take outside the home to maintain your septic system.

There are a number of important measures you can take to ensure proper septic function. Let’s start with vegetative cover of septic areas. One question we get frequently is, “How close can I plant trees to my system?” There is no one answer, as there are many types of trees and they have differing root systems. Basically, you should never plant trees above or around your drainfield, only grass, small shrubs, or flowers. Most trees are safe to plant 100 feet away from the system. Trees such as the weeping willow, which has a really massive root system, should be planted much farther away from the septic drainfield!

Another question we hear is, “Can I use a chemical to remove tree roots?” The answer is never use these harmful chemicals in your soil. Remember they are going directly into the groundwater and into your drinking water. This includes any well water you use. Always remove tree roots manually.

Now let’s talk about your rainwater runoff. A soggy drainfield can cause your system to temporarily fail. Here in the desert, we get most of our rain in downpours several times a year, so making sure that your foundation drain, water from gutters and roofs, and surface water from paved areas is properly diverted is essential. The right use of landscaping can help divert water away from the drainfield.

Never drive any vehicle over the drainfield or leachlines. Doing so compacts the soil and keeps the wastewater from absorbing correctly, as well as possible damaging the pipes. Never build a structure on the drainfield, or cover it with concrete or asphalt, which hinders evaporation and could cause drainfield failure.

Installing a watertight concrete riser over the septic tank helps with access to the tank. Finally, periodically have septic pumping service performed on your tank. In a future blog, we will talk about when and how you should have this service done.

For now, we hope you are caring for your septic so you can enjoy its benefits far into the future. Please keep Sunset Septic in mind for septic installation, septic pumping, septic cleaning services in Arizona, and don’t hesitate to call us with questions.

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