Category: Septic Systems

As a society, we’ve become a bit jaded about our plumbing system. What with modern technology, people seem to assume that we’ve reached a point where flushing anything could be acceptable. Unfortunately, this is not the case. There are countless cases every year of items flushed that cause backups and even burst pipes. But medications should be okay, since they are so small and will dissolve in water, right? Wrong! The correct answer is that NOTHING should go into your drain besides toilet paper and wastewater. Flushing medications could have a dire impact on your system. Think of your septic system not as an object, but as a living environment. Your system is full of bacteria who only exist to break down human waste. Introducing foreign chemicals such as antibiotics, anti-inflammitories, or antivirals to your tank could cause an imbalance in the delicate ecosystem. This could weaken or even kill the bacteria in the tank. This will cause waste to build up much faster. It could eventually lead to issues with your drain field. Not to mention you could also be contaminating groundwater. Even the most vigilant homeowner could have something enter the tank by accident. Some material may even

From roofs to septic tanks, home maintenance is important. Nobody wants an emergency repair situation! Fortunately, a properly maintained septic tank has an average life span of 20-30 years. Eventually you may have to consider replacing the tank. Perhaps you are considering switching from sewer to septic, or are considering a septic tank for a home you are building. Everyone’s situation is different. Here are some facts about the different types of material used to build septic tanks. This will be useful when your contractor presents you with options! Septic tanks are most commonly built out of concrete. These will land you in the average price range. You can usually rely on these to make it through a couple of decades without too much wear and tear. However, they are susceptible to separation and cracking. Make sure to keep a regular pumping schedule. You should have it pumped every 1-3 years. This is depending on your household size. When you have it pumped, make sure there is an inspection included! Fiberglass and plastic tanks are more resilient against cracking. They are also not as vulnerable to rust issues. These will run you a little less than the concrete tanks. However,

You may be unfamiliar with the term “septage”. This is the material pumped from your septic tank. Septage is hazardous. This is because of the unknown quantity of pathogens that may have passed in bodily waste. Among them could include parasites, bacterial organisms, and other organisms that can cause other health concerns. It is vital to properly manage septage after its removal not only for your health, but for the health of the general public as well! That is why you should always have a professional empty your tank. They are familiar with proper disposal procedures. Most septic tanks will function properly until the sludge accounts for about 40% of the tank. This is assuming both the inlet and outlet baffles are in good condition. It is good practice to have your tank pumped before it reaches this level. This will prevent damage and septic emergencies. The average household of 3-4 people should have their tank pumped every 3-5 years. Remember, a septage back up could be dangerous to your health! The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has created standards for the treatment of septage. Anyone desiring to pump, clean, or transport septage must obtain a permit to do

Business owners must follow certain laws and guidelines. This is especially true for businesses that produce food. Boise alone maintains 600 miles of wastewater pipe and delivers over 20 million gallons of raw sewage per day to its wastewater treatment facilities. Imagine the number for the entire Treasure Valley! Improper handing of waste like grease and fats can affect this system greatly. This is why it is very important to comply with grease trap guidelines. Fats, oils, and grease (or FOG) can negatively impact a city’s sewer system. This is not just a nuisance. In fact, it can be dangerous to the public. Clogged sewer pipes can cause sewage spills, backups in homes, or manhole overflows. Basically, raw sewage contains many types of harmful bacteria and pathogens. So improper handling can lead to serious health concerns. Certain types of businesses must have grease traps or interceptors. This is to avoid FOG issues. So, a grease trap is a small fixture that connects to a sink or other kitchen fixture. Baffles slow down the water. So, this makes it possible for the grease to separate and rise to the surface. Employees must clean out manual models. Electro-mechanical models are self cleaning.

On average, nobody really thinks about their septic tank until they have an issue. Since tanks are underground, we don’t tend to pay attention to them until it’s too late. It’s recommended to have your septic tank pumped every 3-5 years. This is typical for a family of four. Sometimes, your tank has other plans. Does your tank need to be pumped? Here are some ways to determine. The first thing you can looks out for is pooling water. If you live in an area with a high precipitation rate, this may be normal. However, if you happen to see a large area of pooling on or around the drain field, your tank may be overfull. When this happens, waste can clog the drain field piping. This forces liquid to the surface. If you see this, call a pumping company to have your tank serviced. Slow drains can indicate a clog in your system. However, after you have tried unclogging your drains and they are still slow, this could be a sign your system is full. This is especially true if more than one drain is slow at once, or if your toilets are flushing slow. Along with this you

Sure you’ve heard that conserving water is the thing to do. But have you considered the implications of doing so for your septic system? Don’t yawn just yet. Because we’re about to share a few tips that will save you money in the short and long run. And money saved is exciting because you get to spend it on. Well, whatever you want, instead of the water bill. Express Septic Pumping is your #1 service company. Serving the Treasure valley. We’re here to help you with all your plumbing needs. Fix leaks – We can’t tell you how many times we’ve serviced residential septic systems where there’s a leaky faucet or toilet in the home. Not only can minor leaks waste water and make your water bill higher than it needs to be, but they can also contribute to problems with your septic system. Run the washer and dishwasher when full – How many times have you ran the dishwasher when it was only half full? Or turned on your washer with only a few items of clothing in it? In order to conserve water. Make a commitment to yourself to only run theses appliances when they’re full. Think before

There are a lot of different aspects of a septic system. You should have a basic understanding of them if you own a home with a septic tank. Knowing how your system works will help you make sure it is functioning properly. A vital part of this system are the baffles. But what is a baffle? Don’t let it baffle you. We will take a closer look. Inlet baffles play a key part of your septic system’s process. Basically, they help to slow down the incoming sewage so it doesn’t come into your tank with too much force. The baffles will direct the sewage down at a right angle. This helps slow the flow so separation can occur. The baffle also helps to make sure that the floating grease and “scum” do not block the inlet or outlet pipes. Outlet baffles have just as important a part to play. They help to make sure that no solids are leaving the tank. It is important that solids stay behind when the effluent is sent to your drain field. These materials could carry harmful pathogens. The purpose of your tank is to separate the harmful materials. The effluent can then safely be

Most conscious septic tank owners know that their system needs regular maintenance pumping to remain healthy. The average time frame is every three to five years. What you may not know is what the process is during a maintenance pump. The most important thing is to select a professional company. They should be licensed, bonded, and insured for your septic pumping. Training in proper procedures is mandatory. This helps to keep your system fighting fit! You need to locate the septic tank first. If you have been in your home a while, you likely know where your tank is. If not, locating the tank is usually a simple process. In most areas, you can obtain a map from the Environmental Health Department free of charge. If this is not possible, most companies will locate the tank for you for a small fee. The tank lid must be dug up to pump it. The company will also do this for you for a fee. Make sure to ask about these fees before your appointment. When the technician comes out, he will check the level of the liquid first. Once the lid to the tank is open, they will check to make

If you are on a septic system at your home, diligent maintenance is a must. The septic system is a delicate ecosystem that could cause some unpleasant and costly damages if not properly maintained. Septic filters are in place to filter the wastewater before it enters the drain field. Basically, this will keep solid material from entering the drain field and extend the “life” of the area. The septic filter fits into the “t” outlet of the tank. A bacterial bio-mass will form in the filter over time. A small mass buildup will improve the quality of the effluent leaving the tank. However, excessive bio-mass could clog the filter. So, it is important to perform regular maintenance on the septic filter to keep it functioning properly. Fortunately, the average filter only needs to be cleaned as often as the tank needs to be pumped. So, how can you tell if your filter needs attention? If you are noticing that your drains are draining slowly or there is wastewater overflowing the relief gully, chances are your septic filter needs cleaning. The need to clean the filter will vary from household to household. Household size, tank size, and even dietary habits of

Plumbing and sewer systems are not a very attractive feature in your home. That’s why it’s nice you can’t see these systems. However, that makes detecting plumbing problems harder because you simply can’t see what’s wrong. A good way to see what exactly is going on in your pipes. Is to get a video inspection through your lines. When a plumber runs a camera through your line he starts off by inserting a long cable into your plumbing system. So at the end of this cable is a camera, which moves through the system on a pair of motorized wheels. The camera records images of the inside of the pipe, and transmits them back to the plumber controlling it. This is such a popular method when it comes to finding leaks or cracks because it allows the plumber to find the problem without having to tear up your yard or home, it also leaves your plumbing system completely intact when finished. Plumbing problems can sneak up on you without any warning or sign that anything is wrong. It is best that you make video inspections an annual expense that you mark off your check list. Even it there is nothing

Owning a home with a septic system gets you familiarized with the needs of the system. Most owners will tell you they are aware of the signs that their system needs attention. However, what if you are renting that home to someone else? Are your tenants aware of the signs? It is important that the chief resident of the home is familiar with septic systems. They are the ones that will notice issues first! When renting your your home, make your new tenants aware that they are on a septic system. Keep in mind that not everyone is familiar with them. Educate them on the importance of limiting the materials going into the tank. Stress that only toilet paper and human waste should be washed down. Other materials are harmful. It may be helpful to include these in your rental agreement to help prevent expensive and avoidable damages. You should also have accurate information about how many people will be sharing the home. Are two people using the system regularly? Is it a family of five that will be living there? This could help give you a more accurate idea of how often you will need to arrange maintenance pumps.