Monthly Archives: October 2019

Napa septic tank

Septic Tank Gurgling Troubleshooting and Fixing Tips

There are some noises you won’t even think about hearing until you hear them. And if your septic tank is gurgling, it’s not a pleasant noise. You might need septic tank pumping in Vallejo, CA or there could be other things causing the noise. But once you hear it, you can’t unhear it and you need to get to the bottom of what is making the noise before things get much worse. Here are a few things that can cause your system to make gurgling noises.

Why is My Toilet Gurgling on a Septic System?

With the warm weather we’ve been having lately, rainy days could cause a lot of bacteria to grow in the plumbing system. These storms create more sludge at the bottom of your septic tank, which disrupts the natural flow out. Consequently, air bubbles travel back into your toilet and you get that loud gurgling sound.

  • It’s usually a sign that the septic tank is full and needs to be emptied. When this happens, the septic tank will gurgle, burble or make other untoward noises below ground level for a few hours before eventually going back to silence. It may also be just one of those things that comes with living in an old house and it is nothing to worry about. If it doesn’t go back up after a day or two then it might need emptying.

This might be an indicator that it is time for a pumping. A professional can come in to pump out all of the built-up sewage from the pipes below to alleviate any further problems and clean your system with fresh water for good measure! This should make everything run smoothly after this point. It may be recommended that you have periodic servicing as well by a professional plumber.

How Do You Fix a Gurgling Septic Tank?

Fixing a septic tank is as simple as adding some bleach to your drains in order to kill any bacteria. You can also skim out the sludge, decompose it, and put it on your garden. The problem with gurgling or growling tanks is often either too many solids in the tank or not enough water pressure filling the tank back up. When you have more solids filling up a certain volume of water, there’s simply less space for that same level of liquid. So when you turn on just one faucet at a time or flush just one toilet at a time, there’s always going to be more air bubbles mixed in with the rest of the wastewater being treated for sewage disposal.

Gurgling Drains Septic System

There are various techniques on how to fix a gurgling septic tank that will depend on the reason for the noise, but generally, it takes three steps in order for the problem to be fixed:

  • Ensure there is no blockage in your home plumbing or toilet by making sure all water has flowed smoothly and without backup. This can often be done by doing a ‘flusher snake’.
  • Ensure all connections from your house and drain field pipes are sealed up securely.
  • Add enough new filter material to push down below 20 feet of water column pressure as well as adding some clean sand to improve its drainage capability. Having good quality filter material also assists with reducing bad odors coming from the tank.

Blocked Drains

If your drainage pipe is blocked, it could make the draining slower into the septic tank, which could give you a gurgle in your fixtures when they try to flow out that drain. That’s easy enough for a plumber to fix for you without too much of an issue.

Blocked Sewer Pipes

A bit more concerning is when the sewer pipes are blocked. These are the pipes that are used to connect your home’s plumbing to the septic system. Any blocks between them and the tank mean that larger amounts of water can’t get past the block at once, which causes the gurgling noise and a decreased drain speed. You might need a tank pumping or just a de-clogging.

Drain Vent Problems

The drain vents remove the sewer gas from the pipes, and they can also make a gurgling sound if they are having any issues. The system could be broken or not doing a proper job if you hear that noise when you shower, use the sink, or flush the toilet.

The Septic Tank Is Full

One of the most common causes for the gurgling is when the septic tank gets full. Tanks need to be pumped out every 3-5 years, depending on the size of your home and family. The tank won’t drain right if the water can’t flow out because there is too much in the tank for it to operate properly. Get the tank pumped out at a regular interval so you can avoid gurgling noises in the first place. If you hear them and it’s been awhile, consider getting the tank pumped.

Hear Gurgling? Act Now

If you hear a noise you know you shouldn’t’ be hearing, it’s not smart to wait around and see if it happens again or if anything else occurs. That can just make things worse in a variety of ways. Instead, you can try a few home remedies, like using a plunger on a few drains to get a clog to move along. Otherwise, you should call a professional as soon as you notice the problem to prevent the issue from spreading further. The experts at American Sanitation Inc are here to help with septic tank pumping in Vallejo, CA, or whatever else might be causing the gurgling noise to occur around your home. Call us at (707) 554-8258 or visit us at 1729 Action Avenue Napa, CA 94559 and we’ll help you get your septic tank working smoothly for the best interest of your home and family.

Septic Tanks in Napa

When Should You Get Septic Tank Pumping Done?

It’s easy enough to say that septic tank pumping in Napa, CA has to take place if you have one of those units connected to your house, how can you know when it needs to be done? The septic tank on your house allows you to dispose of wastewater safely and you want to keep it properly services so you can have a healthy, safe tank. There are many signs that you need to have septic tank pumping done. Here are a few to watch for:

A Flooded Drain Field

If you can’t see the wastewater that comes from your house, your septic tank is more likely working okay. But if there is pooling water in your lawn around the drain field, it’s time to have septic tank pumping done. Standing water can occur when solid waste has clogged up the pipes and the wastewater will then rise into the drain field in your yard. Whenever you see pools of water around the system, get the tank pumped by professionals to avoid further issues.

Slow Drains

Drains can be slow for a number of reasons ad you can try to unclog the drains in safe manners first. Try a plunger to get a clog that might be close by to move along. Consider putting some boiling water down the drain or baking soda followed by water. Those things can get small clogs out of the way without the need to call anyone. But if the drains are still slow, or if you notice all of the drains acting slow at the same time, it might be the septic tank filling up. Get it pumped out and the system should start running at a much faster speed.

Gross Smells

Trust your nose to be your guide and if you start to notice smells coming from your drains, it might be because the wastewater going down the drain isn’t getting into the tank since it’s full. Those smells could also come from the drain field around the tank so be aware when you are out working in the yard.

Sewage Backup

The most evident sign that you need your septic tank pumped is when you have sewage back up into your house. With any luck, you will notice other signs and get the pumping taken care of before this happens, but if you get sewage backing up into the sinks, toilets, bathtubs, or other areas, get pumping done by professionals right away.

These are a few ways to tell that you need septic tank pumping in Napa, CA. Most tanks have to be pumped every 3-5 years. If you have a regular inspection, you don’t have to watch as closely for the signs because the professionals will tell you how far off you are from that need. Contact the professionals at American Sanitation Inc by calling (707) 554-8258 when you notice any signs or want an inspection to make sure things are running well. You can also stop by with questions at 1729 Action Avenue Napa, CA 94559.

portable toilets in Vallejo, CA

Portable Toilet Myths To Dispel

When you see portable toilets in Vallejo, CA, do you cringe in fear? Do you feel like you’re watching the latest horror movie, complete with a scream caught in your throat? That’s probably because there are a lot of myths out there surrounding portable toilets that you believe, even if they aren’t really true. While some of the beliefs might have been true at one time, they aren’t any longer, but it’s hard to get past what you think, whether it’s true or not. Here are some details about portable toilets to help you get to the bottom of the real truth.

Myth 1: All Portable Toilets Are Hard To Look At

We’ve all seen portable toilets and winced at the sight of them. They aren’t always something you want to place in the middle of your own backyard party, right? But that doesn’t mean they’re all like that, either. If you are having an outdoor wedding, for example, you can get a fully functioning, fully flushing portable toilet complete with a sink that fits right into the event. Before you judge all portable toilets on what you’ve seen in the past, look into the options.

Myth 2-Portable Toilets Are Small

While it’s true that there are some portable toilets that are hard for mothers to fit into when they are helping young children go to the bathroom, that’s not true of every portable toilet. While some portable toilets are only as large as a bathroom stall in a regular public bathroom (or smaller) there are actually handicap options today as well as other sizes to consider, depending on your needs.

Myth 3-Portable Toilets Stink

Some of them do, yes, but only when they haven’t been maintained properly. When you get the right portable toilet that is clean when it arrives and well maintained throughout your event, it doesn’t have to be something you hold your breath to use. There are plenty of odor neutralizers on the market and with proper cleaning, the odor is held way down.

Myth 4-Portable Toilets Kill A Classy Event

A concert in the park is fine for a standard portable toilet, but what about an outdoor opera? A wedding? Something else of that nature? Modern portable bathrooms are quite high in luxury and offer the amenities you would see in a normal restroom. They can have hot and cold running water, sinks, flushing, and more to fit the event’s nature.

There are more portable toilets in Vallejo, CA on the market today than ever before. If you have the need of renting portable toilets and you automatically think some of these myths are true, look into the choices further before you believe them. You’ll be surprised at how nice the portable restrooms actually are today. The professionals at American Sanitation Inc can help set you up with your portable toilet needs. Call us at (707) 554-8258 to ask about details and set up specifics of visit us to see choices at 1729 Action Avenue Napa, CA 94559.

portable toilets in Napa, CA

Portable Toilet History And Evolution

When you see portable toilets in Napa, CA, do you ever wonder where they came from? Maybe not, but someone had to have the idea at some point and when you are desperate and use the first available VIP portable toilet you can find, you are thankful that it was there. While it may not change your life as much as the lightbulb invention, it can definitely make the world a better place to live—especially at outdoor events.

The Portable Toilet Evolution

Portable toilets go all the way back to the 1940s when they were designed in ship yards as a different type of plumbing facility to be used on a temporary basis. Ship builders realized it caused a lot of productivity loss when workers had to return to the docks to use the facilities. The portable toilets that were created on the ships weren’t anything fancy, but they helped get the job done faster. These early portable toilets, however, were heavy, hard to move, and smelly because they were hard to clean. The public psyche revolving around portable toilets today still dates back to those times. The construction materials then were wood and metal. IT’s a whole different set of materials today. In the 1970s, the cumbersome structures were created with more synthetic materials, like fiberglass, to improve their usage and reduce their weight. However, maintenance and smells were still an issue.

Portable toilets have come a long way since the wood versions and now, they are self-contained, much easier to maintain, and don’t need a power source. They also don’t have harmful chemicals in them as they used to because there are different ways to inhibit odors. The safe liquids that are used for odor control now is harmless and does the job a lot better. Plus, portable toilets are maintained a lot better and more efficiently between uses.

While hand sanitizer has been around for quite some time, it is now a mainstay with a portable toilet. In the past, some people didn’t like using them because there was no way to wash up after. There are often portable sinks and hand sanitizing stations right within or right outside the portable toilets. Perhaps they didn’t need to wash up on the ship building in the 40s, but today, spreading germs is always a huge concern.

If you need portable toilets rental in Napa, CA for an outdoor event of some kind, there are lots of options. None of them are big and heavy, made of wood, or hard to maintain. And the company American Sanitation Inc can take care of any maintenance needs you end up having. Give us a call at (707) 554-8258 and we can go over the options with you. We have standard models, of course, but we also have full flushing, handicap, and other such elements that you can consider, depending on your event and its needs. You can stop by and see some of the choices in person at 1729 Action Avenue Napa, CA 94559.