When things have gone awry with your septic system, you might need septic tank pumping in Sonoma, CA, repairs, replacement, or something else. For any of those things, you need a septic tank professional to help you judge what needs to be done and then, to get the job done. Septic problems can be complicated, and the costs can raise quickly. When you have to get something done (anything, really), it’s important to have the best person on your property for the job. Here are some things you really must have in a septic tank professional.

Lots Of Experience

Since septic tanks are so complicated, it’s important for you to have someone who knows what they are doing. They should not only have the right certificated and the proper training, but they should also have years of experience under their belt, so they are able to understand your septic issues and address them as quickly and efficiently as possible. Their experience will help you understand what’s going on and it will give you peace of mind that things will work out well for your home as a whole.

Customer Service Skills

Pretty much any company you work with should have customer service skills. You want them to treat you right. They should be able to talk to you nicely, act in a friendly manner. You want to feel like you are being heard and that your concerns are being addressed. It’s important to have good customer service anywhere you go, but you really want it when you are using a company to fix something as important as your septic system. You need that function to help the home to function well.

Proper Training And Certification

This goes along with the experience part. Before technicians have experience, they need to be trained properly and get the certification you need them to have so they can do the job properly. You might feel weird about asking to see proof of their certification and/or training, but don’t. That is something they should be willing to show you whenever you want to see it to reassure you that they are the right people for the job.

If you are looking for someone to help you with anything septic-related, like septic tank pumping in Sonoma, CA, repairs, or even just advice, the professionals at American Sanitation Inc are here to help. We want your home to function well and for your septic system never to give you a problem. If you’re new to having a septic system, you can ask us questions about what you should or shouldn’t do to the system in order to take care of it properly. You can also get warning signs from us that you need a tank pumping and other signs to show that there are things wrong within the system. We’re here to take care of those things as soon as you notice anything going wrong within your home or yard.

If you’ve always had city sewage and water, if you move to a home with a septic system, you may not understand how the whole thing works. You might be told that you will have to have septic tank pumping in Petaluma, CA every so often and that there are certain things you shouldn’t put down the drains. But if you don’t know why, it might be harder for you to follow those rules. Here is some background on how septic tanks work so you can better understand what you need to do.

Septic tanks are a whole ecosystem of their own. They have bacteria in them that works full time in order to eat through the things that go into the tank. You will have heard that you are not to use anti-bacterial soaps or detergents with certain ingredients in them. That is because those items, when they get into the septic tank, will kill off the bacteria that is supposed to be working on breaking down the waste in the tank. When that happens, the tank fills up and pumping is necessary a lot more often. It will take a while for the system to balance out again and that can be costly for you.

Even if you never do anything you aren’t supposed to do with the septic system, it’s going to need to be pumped every now and then. Depending on how many people are in your house and how much wastewater is used and flushed down the drains, some families have to have the pumping done more often. Pumping is needed, quite simply, when the tank gets too full. If your tank is working well and everything is in balance, that won’t happen frequently. But the bacteria can only break down so much, so fast. Eventually, the tank just needs to be emptied out.

So you can see why it’s important not to put things down the tank that won’t break down. Things like paper towels, wet wipes, or anything that’s not toilet paper or waste can be very detrimental to the system as a whole. They won’t break down so they will cause the tank to fill up faster, which means you will have to get the system pumped out more often.

If you move into a house with a septic system, call experts and have things inspected so you know how things lie and what signs to look for when you might be in need of septic tank pumping in Petaluma, CA. The experts at American Sanitation are glad to tell you what you can and can’t do with your septic system to ensure that you keep the system as healthy as possible so you won’t need pumping nearly as frequently as you would otherwise. If you see signs that things are going awry, we can come out and take a look, issue repairs, or perhaps recommend pumping. You can also just call and ask questions about how things operate and what you should do.

If you’re a handy person, there might be certain things you enjoy during for your house. You feel like you are saving money when you make repairs or improvements on your own. That’s wonderful. However, there are some things that no one should try to do on their own home without professional help. Septic tank pumping in Sonoma, CA is one such thing. Here’s a list of items you will want to call experts on in order to get the right results.

A Burst Pipe

You might be able to tighten up a leaky faucet in the kitchen, but figuring out what to do with a burst pipe? That’s a bit too much for most people. When the pipe bursts, either inside or out, the first thing you will want to do is shut the water down to your home. Then, call a plumber. They can help you diagnose the issue. You might just have to replace one small area of pipe. Or the news could be much worse. Whatever it might be, it’s important to have that professional advice.

Replace The Water Heater

Homes are going to age and with them, their appliances age. There are certain appliances that are used more than others and the water heater gets quite a bit of activity over the years. When yours no longer heats water, you might need a replacement. What you need to keep in mind is that water heaters mix electricity and water. That’s never a good combination for someone who might not know exactly what they are doing. It’s really in your best interest to have a professional installation to keep your home and, more importantly, you safe.

Septic Tank Pumping

You might know where your septic tank is and what the signs are that tell you the tank is getting full. That’s a great start. But you don’t want to go about trying to empty the septic tank yourself. You don’t know what might cause damage in that way and you certainly don’t want to make things worse. You could even cause damage that might lead to costly repairs. Instead, call experts and have the tank pumped out by people who know exactly what to do and exactly how to do it. While they are there, you can ask other questions you might have about the system as a whole.

When you are a homeowner, you are in charge of what happens to your home and when. While you can install tile and paint rooms by yourself all day long, there are some things that are simply left to professionals. You want to keep yourself safe and your home in the best possible condition. When it comes to your septic system, have septic tank pumping in Sonoma, CA done by the experts at American Sanitation and you can have peace of mind about the job done. You can also ask any questions you have about the system and get recommendations at the same time.

It’s nice not to have to wash the dishes after dinner every night and, in reality, using a dishwasher saves water over running the sink constantly to clean dishes. But if you have a septic tank, you know that you can’t just put anything down the drain. And that includes dishwasher soap. You don’t want to have to get septic tank pumping in Vallejo, CA more often because of what you put down that drain.

Here are a few tips that help you figure out what you need for your dishwasher and your septic tank.

Dishwashers, similar to washing machines, use a lot of water. You won’t want to run the dishwasher at the same time as the washing machine, for example. But the detergent is also important. If you get detergents that say anti-bacterial on them, that might sound like a good thing. Normally, it would be, but not for a septic tank. When you get anti-bacterial matter in the septic tank, it can kill off the good bacteria that is working hard to break down the solid waste in the tank. Then, the tank fills up quickly and you have to get pumping done way sooner than you would have otherwise.

Without bacteria, your septic tank fills up, backs up, causes unpleasant odors, and can have all sorts of other issues. You also want to keep an eye on detergent that has phosphates in it. These elements can kill the enzymes in the tank as well as bacteria. Phosphates are chemicals that help to get grime and food from the dishes, but the chemicals are a threat to the septic system. They are also very toxic so it might be better overall not to use them anyway.

So, which of the dishwasher detergents are best? Look at the labels, just as you would your food and find something that is phosphate-free, non-antibacterial, and eco-friendly. IF it says it is biodegradable, that is great. The boxes should be labeled with those terms and once you find a brand and type that works, you can simply buy it over and over again.

It is always best to run your dishwasher when it is full, so you don’t have to run it very often. Make the most of the water it uses. It’s going to use the same amount of water no matter how many dishes are in there, so run it full, even if you have to wait a day to fill it the rest of the way.

If you have any other questions about dishwashers, laundry machines, or anything else in your house as it pertains to septic tank pumping in Vallejo, CA, the professionals at American Sanitation Inc are here to help. We can give you tips and tricks to keep your septic tank in the best possible conditions, so you are able to limit the times you have to have it pumped out as the years go by. You’ll need it eventually, but it’s nice to space things out when you can.

Dishwasher Detergent for Septic Systems

With so many dishwashing detergents available in the supermarket, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one for your septic system. They come in many forms such as cartridges, gel, liquids, pacs, powders, and tablets so it might be difficult to find the best for you. Water is the primary ingredient in liquid soaps, while alkaline salts such as sodium carbonate are used in powder soaps. Detergent is the principal active component. Thickening and stabilizing ingredients are included in many products.

Question: Is dishwasher detergent or dish soap harmful to the septic tank or drainfield of a septic system?

Answer: The amount of dishwashing detergent used in sinks that reaches the septic system is so small that it is extremely dilute when it reaches the septic tank. It is diluted enough that it will not affect the bacteria in the septic tank at regular levels of household dishwasher consumption.

Dishwasher Pods and Septic Systems

Septic systems are safe when using non-toxic, organic manufactured detergent pods. They are easily dissolved in water. They don’t clog the pipes and don’t affect the stain. Look at the label or pack of detergent pods that are labeled as “green” or “environmentally friendly.”

If you own a home that has a septic system, perhaps you already know that you have to have septic tank pumping in Vallejo, CA done on that system every 3-5 years. Your interval depends on how many people are in your household, how large your septic tank in, and other variables. While you may know that needs to happen, you might want to also think about the advantages of having inspections on those septic tanks between pumping sessions. Here are just a few:

Experts Take A Look

When you have an inspection, you are inviting trained specialists into your yard to take a look at your septic tank. It’s not the same as inviting a neighbor over and having them look at your drain field etc. You are having a professional look for issues, give you tips, and help you ward off things that you could avoid. There are priceless elements to having a true professional take a look.

Locate The Tank

If you are new to the home, or don’t know where the tank is located, it’s a good idea for you to know where it is. You could search the yard and find it yourself. Sometimes it’s easy to even see with your own eyes. But before you schedule pumping, have an inspection so you know where the tank is located. You are better able to spot issues if they are to arise if you know where the tank is.

Check For Leaks

The professionals who come to your home are not only going to look into the septic tank, but they are also going to look for leaks in the sewage lines. They may notice odors that you haven’t noticed yet or lush vegetation that you thought you were lucky to have that could, instead, indicate a leak in the line. These leaks are important to take care of before they get worse and cost more. You can ward off a small issue earlier with these inspections.

Predict Pumping

You might be on a schedule to get your septic tank pumped out every 5 years. But perhaps you have more people living in your house now than you did in the past and you need to move that schedule up a bit. The professionals can give you an idea as to how soon you need to get your tank pumped out when they do an inspection so you can predict and plan for that to happen.

There are needs that your system has, like occasional septic tank pumping in Vallejo, CA. While inspections aren’t something you absolutely have to do, there are lots of benefits to having those inspections on a regular basis. They can lead you to fixing things that could be a lot worse later on if you were to let it go, not knowing it’s there. The professionals at American Sanitation Inc are here to help with inspections, septic tank pumping, advice, and anything in between. Give us a call when you need help.

There are certain things that you simply have to do when you own certain items. If you have a car, you change the oil. If you don’t, the engine stops working. It’s that simple. It’s something you have to do if you want your vehicle to keep running efficiently and effectively. Likewise, if you own a home with a septic tank, you have to get septic tank pumping in Napa, CA done every so often. What happens if you move into a home with a septic tank and pumping has never been done? What if you have a septic tank and you simply ignore it? Here are a few elements you will see happening—none of them good.

Sludge Buildup

No one really wants to think about what’s in their septic tank, but the fact is that there’s plenty of sludge if the tank has never been pumped out. Sludge buildup is a gradual thing that develops over time. The point of the septic tank is to take solid wastes, break it down, and distribute it into the drain field. But sludge will still build up in the tank (more rapidly if you put things down the drain you shouldn’t). Once the sludge builds up too far, the tank is full.

Drains Slow Down

Once the sludge builds up high enough within your septic tank, the drains in your home will start to slow down. You might notice water in your sink after you brush your teeth, draining away slowly. You might see water standing in the tub as you shower. The drains are slow because there’s nowhere to put the extra water being washed down the tubes. It’s still going down, but the slowness shows you that something worse is coming if you don’t address the issues right away.

Backups Occur

The slow drains will happen first, but if you ignore even that, you will start to see dirty water backing up into your home. No one wants that kind of wastewater in their house. Toilets might overflow, drains might back up and kick water back out, and showers could even see sludge coming back up. Backups of this kind are about the last thing you want happening in your house.

Septic tanks need to be pumped out every 3-5 years without exception. You should either get on a regular schedule or watch for the signs that your septic tank is full. Waiting too long will bring unwanted (and costly) issues that you don’t want to have to address.

If you are noticing these signs, and you think septic tank pumping in Napa, CA is necessary, contact the professionals at American Sanitation Inc for help. We can inspect your septic tank, give you advice on maintenance, pump it out, and tell you what you should and should not put down the drains, among other things. We’re here to help you understand the system so you can live in peace alongside it as easily as possible.