There are a number of things you can do to your septic tank, but you know that if you make the wrong moves, septic tank pumping in Sonoma, CA could become necessary at a faster pace than normal. What about additives? Can they help you in your goals for keeping things running smoothly or do they hinder those goals?

The bottom line is really quite simple. Nothing is good for the septic system other than professional inspections, maintenance, and pumping. That’s a good rule of thumb to live by. It’s best to only get off the shelf additives if the professionals tell you to do so under certain circumstances. Don’t treat your septic system on your own, only by their advice.

Here are some of the common additives and what they do:

Biological Additives

These additives are natural compounds, like bacteria and enzymes. They are supposed to give you peace of mind in making sure that your system is working well, and the bacteria is working the right way. But if the system has been unused for a few months, like if you go away for the winter, there’s no reason to add those things. Your system should be producing the elements naturally on their own. The only reason to add is if your professional septic tank experts tell you as much.

Chemical Additives

Chemical additives are used to break down solid materials and remove clogs, but they are not natural or organic. That means they could actually do more harm than good when it comes to breaking down the matter in your septic system. Chemicals often kill bacteria, which is not what you want. They can also harm the groundwater and the environment as a whole.

If you are having septic issues, of course it’s tempting to fix things on your own in a cheap, easy, DIY way, but that’s not the way you should go. Instead, ask professionals for an assessment and the real solution so you don’t end up costing yourself more than you should. For best practices, maintenance, and other tricks, call the experts and get advice you can trust. The last thing you want to do is cause more problems than you already have…or make them worse.

Septic systems can last for a long time and you only have to pump them out every few years if you treat them right. If you need septic tank pumping in Sonoma, CA, call the expert at American Sanitation Inc. If you aren’t sure what you need, call us anyway and we can help you figure that out. You can get a septic cleaning, pumping, and inspecting schedule set up so you know what is needed and when. That will help you recognize when the time is coming. If things go wrong before that, you know something else is going on. While you might still want help right away, we’re here to help you figure out what you need so you can get things running smoothly yet again.

When you buy a house with a septic tank and you’ve always been on city sewer before, you might have questions about what you can and cannot do. One thing to know is that no matter how good you are to your system, you will still need septic tank pumping in Petaluma, CA every few years. However, the better you are to the system, the more infrequent those pumping needs will be. You want to take the best care of the system so it will take good care of you and your family as well. Here are a few things you don’t want to put down the drain since you know it will end up in your septic tank:

Solid Waste

While you might have a garbage disposal in your sink, that doesn’t mean you should use it constantly. Put any solid waste in the trash. Run the garbage disposal as you wash dishes and crumbs and other things go down the drain. But don’t count on it to cut everything up. The more solid waste that goes down the drain, the slower your septic system is likely going to run. You don’t even want something small like coffee grounds going down, if you can help it.

Anti-Bacterial

There are lots of chemicals that kill bacteria and while you may want to use those on kitchen counters, you do not want to use them in your septic tank. The tank works by using bacteria to break down the waste that is in the tank. If the bacteria are killed off, there’s nothing left to break down the waste. The tank will fill up and need to be pumped out sooner than it would have otherwise, which will cost you more.

Lots Of Water At Once

The septic tank can only process the waste water so fast. You will want to space out what you do in your home with the water. While it might be convenient to run the washing machine and dishwasher at once, that’s too much water doing into the drain field at one time. Instead, space things out and do only one at a time so the system isn’t overloaded.

Grease/Fat

Putting grease or fat down the drain is an easy way to get rid of it, but it can cool and then clog the drains, causing slowdowns in the entire system. If it makes it down the pipes and to the septic tank, the same thing happens there. It’s best to wait for those things to cool and then put them in the garbage.

When you are in need of more advice about septic systems, whether you need septic tank pumping in Petaluma, CA, or you want to understand the rules of the road a bit better, the professionals at American Sanitation Inc are here to help. Give us a call and ask questions whenever you have them. We’re here to help you keep things running well.

Have you heard about flushable wipes? They have been readily available for a few years and they allow you to get cleaner, so you don’t feel uncomfortable after you use the rest room. But while flushable wipes might be okay for certain systems, they can cause septic tank pumping in Petaluma, CA to be necessary a lot faster if you have a septic system. Here’s a professional take on these products from people who know what septic systems can handle.

Do Not Flush Flushable Wipes

IF you have a septic system, it’s not a good idea to flush flushable wipes down the drain. It sounds like you should be able to, given their name, but the good marketing of the product does not mean that they are a good idea for everyone. Regular toilet paper, when it comes into contact with water, will immediately start to deteriorate and pull apart. The weave in that kind of paper makes it break down in sewers are well as in the septic tank. Wet wipes, on the other hand, stay wet and together. You are sending a solid substance into the septic system when you flush a wipe of this nature.

Septic systems rely on bacteria to break down the things that go into the tank. Toilet paper is able to break down all on its own, so the bacteria is not as needed for that substance. Wet wipes, however, have a mix of different fibers, some of which aren’t organic. The bacteria can’t break it down. Any wipes that go into the tank, stay there. That can fill the tank up a lot faster than you want, causing you to need pumping sooner than you should.

Flushable wipes can gather together and form a clump in the pipes or, if they make it to the tank, they can form a mass there. That mass can cause backups in your pipes or a sludge layer in the bottom of the tank. It won’t dissolve and the tank will have to be pumped out a lot more often, especially if you are using them regularly. You’re adding to the solid waste in your tank every time you use a wipe and flush it.

If you really appreciate the effects of the flushable wipes, by all means, use them. But dispose of them in a trash can instead of flushing them down the toilet and to your septic tank, no matter what the packages say.

No one wants to have to have septic tank pumping in Petaluma, CA done more often than absolutely necessary. The professionals at American Sanitation Inc can give you more tips on what you should and shouldn’t do with your septic system to keep things in good shape so you can space the pumping sessions out as far as possible. Give us a call any time you have questions or if you need maintenance or repairs. We’re here to help you with any issues that arise over the years you own your home with a septic system.

Everyone wants to be as friendly to the environment as they can these days in every way possible. So what does it say about your home if you have a septic tank? When you think about your septic tank and things going wrong, you think about backups, slow running toilets, foul odors and other things you don’t want happening. But if your septic tank needs septic tank pumping in Novato, CA, there are also serious environmental risks.

Septic systems are more friendly to the environment than public sewage systems, in general. Sometimes city sewer systems use chemicals to treat water so it can be discharged. Experts agree that for the environment, septic systems are the better choice. But failing septic systems can give issues as well. Groundwater can be contaminated, and it could even have an impact on nearby bodies of water.

As long as you care for septic systems, they operate well. But here are some of the leading causes of failure within that system that can cause issues for you, and the environment:

An Overwhelmed Tank

If it’s been way too long since you’ve had septic tank pumping done or the tank has filled up faster than normal for whatever reason, the system may be overwhelmed. Another way to overwhelm the tank is to run a lot of laundry, do a lot of dishes, and have a lot of people taking showers all at once. You have to space things out with the septic system.

Damage To The System

Whether something broke down in the house, in a pipe, or in the tank itself, if anything is damaged, it can cause the whole system to fail in some way or another.

Faulty Construction Or Design

You only want professionals to design and install your septic systems. IF there’s an issue with the way things were put together, you could have a myriad of problems over the years that could lead to a complete replacement at some point.

Improper Attention

Any septic system is going to meet attention and maintenance over the years. If you ignore it, it will eventually fail. One thing that has to be done is septic tank pumping.

You may not know why our septic tank is failing, only that you are having issues within the system. You don’t want to harm the environment and you don’t want to problem to come back in the future. That’s why you need professionals to diagnose and care for the problem as soon as possible. With any luck, a simple septic tank pumping in Novato, CA will do the trick. But whatever is needed, American Sanitation Inc can figure it out for you, explain it all to you, and help you get things in order. We’re here to help answer questions about maintenance as well so if you have anything you want to know, just give us a call and ask. If you’re new to your home and don’t know much about septic tanks, we’re here to help you get things situated as well.

If you’ve owned a septic tank for long enough, you know that septic tank pumping in Novato, CA is something you have to do from time to time. The tank gets full, no matter how well you treat it, and septic tank pumping is something that goes along with having a septic system. While your septic system isn’t the most pleasant thing to think about, it’s an important part of the house. There are times when things are running slowly, and you need to pump the tank out. There are other times when the whole tank might need to be replaced. Here are some signs that tell you to replace the tank.

Sign 1: Tank Issues Continue

If you have your tank pumped out and still have problems, or there are issues that follow issues and it seems to be continuous, the tank probably needs to be replaced. The tank might be overflowing, and the contents might not be broken down inside in the right manner. It can sometimes be easier to replace the tank than to try and fix things, especially on an older tank. Consult with professionals to see what is best.

Sign 2: Puddles Of Water

When your septic system is working right, there shouldn’t be standing water in the yard. It could be sewage ad that will have a rather unpleasant scent to it. The puddles can be a health concern so you’ll want to have a professional take a look at it as soon as you can. It might mean that you need septic tank pumping, or it could be that you need the whole tank replaced in order to take care of the issue for good.

Sign 3: Back Ups And Clogs

If your pipes are draining slow, it could be because of a clog. But sometimes, those backups and clogs are signs of a larger issue. Again, it could be that your tank needs to be pumped out or, it might be that you need a new tank completely. You never want sewage to back up into your home so if you see the drains slowing down, it’s important to get things checked out.

It can be hard for most homeowners to tell the difference between when you need septic tank pumping in Novato, CA and when you might need the whole tank or system replaced. If your septic system is relatively new, chances are when you see signs like those above, you need a pumping. But if the tank is old, it could need replacement. The best thing you can do is call the professionals at American Sanitation Inc whenever you see anything of concern and ask questions, have them come out and check things out, and give their professional assessment and opinion. We treat your home as our own and we only recommend to you what we would do if we were in your situation. We’re here for septic advice, pumping, replacement, and more to keep your home operating well.

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.