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Spring Cleaning | Septic Systems

With the first official long weekend to truly kick off Spring I know many of us will be doing some spring cleaning of some kind whether its in the house or outside in our yards and garden’s.

When it comes to Spring Cleaning its good to remember your Septic System every 3-5 years to ensure your waste water and sewage continues to flow without issues!

Do you know the last time your septic system was pumped?

Depending on the number of people living in your home, will dictate how often the tank should be pumped. The system is designed to naturally break down solids and then over time will flow out into the weeping bed from the system to properly drain into the ground.

If the tank has not been pumped regularly and the solids level becomes too high this can cause issues in the pipe from your home to the tank and also from the tank out into the weeping bed. What happens is the system cannot properly break down the solids when there is more solids than water. If this happens the solids could then begin to flow out to the bed, however as they are solids this will then cause a blockage and could potentially cause a sewage backup in your basement if not rectified properly and in a timely manner.

The other thing that could potentially cause issues is if you use too much water and the bed becomes saturated. If you are suddenly using a lot of water, the system will not have time to break down as its designed to and much of the water will just flow out to the bed. If its flowing to the bed, this is good, however ideally the best scenario is for the water to go into the first chamber of the tank with the solids, begin the breakdown process, then flow out into the bed.

How do you know if your tank is in need of a cleaning or there is a problem with the weeping bed?

  • If its been over 5 years since the last time you had it pumped.
  • If you are hearing gurgling from your toilets or drains.
  • If you notice wet spots over the weeping bed.
  • If your drains are not draining.

Remember…

  • Its also important to remember to not plant any trees or bushes around the weeping bed as the roots can grow into the system and cause blockages.
  • Do not pour any oils or grease down the drain as they will harden in the tank and will cause blockages.
  • Do not put any feminine products down the septic system. These will not break down and will pose a potential blockage issues.

A Royal Flush Is Better Than A Full House!

Areas We Service for Plumbing and Heating: 
Wellington County including Wellington North, Mapleton and Minto.
Grey County including Southgate and West Grey.
Mount Forest, Clifford, Harriston, Palmerston, Arthur, Drayton,
Moorefield, Durham, Ayton, Holstein, Neustadt and all areas in between!

Give us a call for your new home build or renovation for a FREE quote!

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Is Your Septic System Healthy!? | A Royal Flush Is Better Than A Full House

If you have a Septic System, how do you care for it?

A Septic System is in fact very simple – yet it requires regular maintenance to ensure it can still perform every vital task it is designed to do. The septic system is a network of pipes which begin in your home, drain into one pipe which is underground and is connected to the septic tank where the liquids and solids flow. The sludge sinks to the bottom and the liquid flows out to the weeping bed. As solids break down they will then flow out to the distribution box and leach out into the bed as well.

septic-diagram2

The sludge is what can cause your system problems. As the sludge accumulates, this will decrease the volume of your tank which then also decreases the retention of liquid before it leaves to the bed. If sludge is left too long this can cause your bed to plug up as there will be less space for the solids to break down and could flow out with the water into the bed. Worse is when the sludge reaches the outlet level and begins to plug up the distribution box, or worse the pipes in the weeping bed. If the system is left too long, unfortunately the weeping bed and tank will need to be replaced.

Septic Pumping - Royal Flush Is Better Than A Full House - Advert

How do you know if your septic is healthy?

  • Do you know where your septic tank and weeping bed are?
  • Keep track of when it was pumped last. Also ensure that when it is pumped that ALL of the tank is cleaned out – not just the water.
  • Do not put any unnecessary “Septic Tank” chemicals down the septic – a septic system is designed to do the work itself.
  • Do not pour any household chemicals down the drain or toilet – especially bleach, paint, solvents, paint thinner, nail polish remover etc. All of these will disrupt the natural chemical balance in the septic system.
  • Are your drains draining slowly? If so there could be a potential problem.
  • Is your grass exceptionally green or spongy to walk on near the weeping bed.
  • Do not pour oils, grease or fat down the sink or toilet.
  • Feminine products can also cause issues or clog a septic system.
  • Try to space out all of your water usage. Doing all of your laundry excessively on just Saturday and Sunday all day both days could cause potential issues with excess water entering the system. By using your water as equally as possible during the week this will allow the system to properly treat all of the water that enters and exits.
  • Repair any leaking taps or drains – leaking water – even just one drop per second can waste tens of thousands of litres of water per year!
  • Do not drive any vehicles or large equipment over your septic tank or pipes – this will cause major damage.
  • Do not plant any trees or flower gardens in, on or too close to the weeping bed.
  • Do not build over your septic tank or weeping bed – if there is ever a problem OR when your tank needs to be pumped this will cost extra and may need to be removed or damaged to do the repair/pump.
  • Have your tank checked at least every 5 years and pumped when necessary.
  • When in doubt – ask a professional!