Monthly Archives: November 2021

Portable Toilet Placement—The Best Practices

Once you have portable toilets in Petaluma, CA rented for your event, the last essential piece of the puzzle is where the portable toilets are going to be placed. No guest wants to walk across the mud to get to a portable toilet. The professionals want to avoid situations where their trucks might get stuck as well. The experts and the clients need to get on the same page and balance everything out in order to get the best possible outcome. Here are some points to lay out.

Give Ideas

As the person who is hosting the event, you might have ideas as to where the portable toilets should be located. You know how the grounds are going to be laid out and you don’t want the toilets next to the food booth and outdoor grill, for example. While you might have some thoughts, and it’s wise to let them be known, you will want to listen to the advice that comes as well.

Listen To Pro Advice

The professionals have placed portable toilets tons of times and they know a good location when they see it. They are looking for certain things when they survey the grounds where you are going to hold this event. They want something level and dry, if at all possible. If they tell you that the location you chose is not going to work, listen to their reasoning and try to see their side of things. They are trying to work with your best interest at heart.

Ask Questions

When you are working with the professionals and they have a different idea of where the portable toilets should be placed than you do, ask them questions about why they think that. They can give you a list of reasons that might just make sense to you and you might find that you agree with them.

Consider Accessibility

Both sides of this scenario should think about the accessibility of the portable toilets. They need to be placed in an area in which they can be reached by guests, but also somewhere so they can be serviced. If the experts can’t get their trucks in to service the toilets, that can be a problem. But you want the location to be good for guests as well.

Consider Against Other Structures

While portable toilets on level, dry ground, can be placed in many locations, it’s often a benefit to place them against a building or sturdy wall in order to secure and line up several units in a safe manner. They are protected from the wind, but they also have added privacy to them.

It’s best to get everything you need in your portable toilets in Petaluma, CA directly from the professionals. You can visit American Sanitation Inc and see the options we have for your needs and we can also visit your location and give you advice on placement of those portable toilets. We want you to have the best and we’ll help you to get it.

Handicap-Accessible Portable Toilet Regulations

If you are trying to have an event and you want the regulations to be spot on, even when it comes to portable toilets in Sonoma, CA, then you ought to know a lot of things about those regulations. You are going to want to figure out how to use the right rentals so you can get what you need from the rental process. While there are handicap-accessible regulations there are also ADA regulations. Both of those need to be followed to get things right. Here are some details to understand.

Handicap Portable Restrooms

For handicap accessibility, portable restroom doors have to be wider than the doors on a standard unit. Wheelchairs need to be able to go in and out of the restroom without getting hammed in the door. There also needs to be a ramped entrance into the portable toilet or, the entrance has to be zero entry so wheelchairs can easily come and go. And, there needs to be extra space inside the portable restroom so a wheelchair can turn around. Once you have those points in mind, you need to look into the ADA regulations.

ADA Regulations For Portable Toilets

In 1990, the ADA or Americans with Disabilities Act, outlines some regulations on a variety of things, including portable restrooms. In order to comply with this act, there are several things to keep in mind. There has to be at least 1 handicap-accessible portable toilet for every 20 toilets on site. And there should be one within every cluster of toilets available. The doors on the toilets should be hinged or magnetic, which makes them easier to open and close. The unit should be reinforced in its construction and there need to be grab bars inside that are also reinforced. These toilets should have placards on the outside that let guests know they are ADA-compliant and the placards should also have braille on them. The interior needs to allow enough space for a complete 360-degree turn as well.

While both handicap and ADA portable toilets are larger in size, and cost more to rent, they are important to the success of any event. These regulations are sometimes required to be upheld while in certain locations, they are not. It’s always best to comply if you aren’t sure. Otherwise, check with your local state and city regulations and see what you need to have in line.

Knowledge is key when you are renting portable toilets in Sonoma, CA and the professionals at American Sanitation Inc have plenty of knowledge to go around. You can contact us when you are trying to organize an event and we will help you understand how many standard portable toilets you need in addition to how many ADA or handicap-accessible options you should have. We want your event to go off without a hitch and that means having the portable toilets your event requires in good locations, the right numbers, and the right style. We will also go over maintenance items and other needs with you.

Conserve Water And Protect The Septic Tank

Water conservation saves you money, but it’s also a good thing for the environment as a whole. If your house has a septic system, you are going to have to get septic tank pumping in Petaluma, CA done on occasion to keep things operating well. But if you tweak some of your daily activities, you can save water and extend the life of your septic system. Here are a few ways to protect the system and conserve water all at once.

Shorten Those Showers

While a long, hot shower feels great, it doesn’t help the septic tank and it doesn’t save water, either. Keep the showers to 5-10 minutes in length and you can keep your water usage to 10-25 gallons of water per shower. Set a timer until you get used to the time length and once you get into the shower, get to soaping instead of just standing around.

Use The Washers Wisely

You are going to want Energy Star certified appliances, if at all possible, but you still want to use them wisely. Run only full loads to save water. Wait until the dishwasher is full or you have a full load of clothing. Also, spread the washings out throughout the week so you don’t have to do it all in one day. If you did laundry today, do the dishes tomorrow. The tank needs to absorb the water and high volume can cause it issues.

Reduce Outdoor Water Usage

It’s nice to have green grass, but that can take a lot of water and it can over-saturate the drain field at the same time. Try to get some native plants that don’t need much water so you don’t have to run the sprinklers as much. Use a sprayer nozzle on the landscaping instead of the direct hose and turn it off between uses. Don’t hose down the driveway after you mow, either, but rather sweep the grass clippings back into the lawn.

Consider Going Low Flow

There are plenty of plumbing fixtures that allow you to have low flow when it comes to the water. You can get a low flow toilet, showerhead, faucet, and other such things. That will help you to save water, lower your water bills, and reduce the water you use with every flush or hand washing session.

If you are trying to save water, make sure you keep up with your septic system as a whole. You will need septic tank pumping in Petaluma, CA every few years, even if you treat the system well. The tank will fill up and that’s going to cause issues in the home. You might have backups, smells, and slow drains. The professionals at American Sanitation Inc are here to help you cut back on water use, use your septic system correctly, and maintain the system overall at the same time. We’re here to help you with any questions you have, too. Give us a call any time and we’ll help give you the answers you need.

New Home Septic Tank Inspection Advice

When you are thinking about buying a new home, there are lots of things to consider so you can make the right decisions for your family. If the home has a septic tank, you need to know more about that system, like when septic tank pumping in Sonoma, CA was done last. You will also want to consider a septic tank inspection so you know exactly what you are getting into with this purchase. That inspection can save you time, money, and trouble down the road if you end up buying the home. You could have expensive repairs and headaches on your hands later if you don’t find out what the condition is like on that tank. Here are some tips to help you get what you deserve in this sale.

Speak With The Seller

While most of your communication on the home purchase is going to go through the realtors, you will want to talk to the home seller directly about the septic tank. Find out how old the system is and ask to see the permit that was given to the builder when the tank was first installed. The permit will show you how old the tank is. Keep in mind they generally operate and last for 25-30 years so if the tank is older than that, you might have a large expense coming up if you buy the house. You will also want to see maintenance paperwork so you can ensure that things were kept up well over the years.

Look At The Drain Field Yourself

You may not be experienced in the area, but you can certainly see when property is maintained or neglected. Look at the drain field and watch for warning signs that the tank isn’t working well. If the ground is overly wet, smells bad, or there are large green patches, that’s not a good thing. You will want to get a better estimate and look at the septic tank if you see any of those signs.

Hire A Professional For An Inspection

There are plenty of septic tank professionals that will help you with a full inspection, especially if you are leery based on things you saw or heard about the system. They can point out any repairs that might have to be made soon and they can give you an estimate on those repairs. You want to know what you are facing in the near future if you buy this house. You might be able to get a reduction on the overall home price if there are issues that could arise soon after the purchase. Or, you might request that the seller fixes certain things before you sign the agreement.

If you buy the house, it’s good to understand that you are going to need septic tank pumping in Sonoma, CA every few years, no matter how well you treat the system. Consider calling the professionals at American Sanitation Inc and we can help you navigate home ownership that includes a septic system.