Getting Ready For Spring

When the winter melts away and spring is on the horizon, you might start to enjoy the warmer temperatures, the longer sunlight hours, and you might also start to make a to-do list of things you want to do around the home to get ready for spring. Don’t deny your septic system, and instead, add septic tank pumping Petaluma, CA to the list of things to at least check into as spring, well, springs.

Clean Up The Yard

Yards and landscaping often takes a hit over the winter months. The temperatures are cooler so you don’t necessarily get out there and do much to it at that time. Now that spring is in view, you are going to want to remove debris, prepare the grass for mowing, pull dead weeds, and other such things. Your home’s overall curb appeal can greatly depend on the lawn and landscaping and what kind of shape it is in.

Plant New Flowers

While you are cleaning up the landscaping, you might want to plant some new flowers to bring color to the yard after the winter months. It’s always nice to add that fresh, new look to the landscaping when the winter fades away.

Inspect The Roof

Your roof will also go through a lot during the colder months and you are going to want to make sure it’s still in good working order. Have an inspector come out and make sure you don’t have any loose shingles that could cause rain to leak in during the spring. You want to make any small repairs now before bigger things cause more trouble.

Change Air Filters

You are going to need to change the air filters on your HVAC every six months. It’s something you might want to do just before the spring so you can prepare for the upcoming summer months. Changing the filters regularly will help your HVAC to get the breaks it needs and heighten your home’s efficiency. It will also improve your indoor air.

Plan Summer Events

It’s also a good idea to start planning any summer events you have in mind around the time spring comes into the picture. If you are going on a family vacation, get things booked and thought out. If you are going to have a family reunion, start looking for a date that works for everyone and so on.

Check Septic Tank Maintenance

Just like everything else in your yard, the septic tank went through a hard time over the winter months. Spring is a good time to have the tank checked out and perhaps even pumped out. You have to get pumping done every 5 years, at the very longest. You might need that pumping more often. Check to see how long it’s been and at least have a professional come do an inspection on the unit.

If you want to get septic tank pumping Petaluma, CA done this spring, contact the professionals for an appointment so you can rest assured that your septic system will run well for whatever spring and summer bring.

Guests Can Cause Septic Tank Issues

You might know what you can and can’t do with your septic system, so in generally, the two of you live in a peaceful, co-existing manner. But when family descends over the summer months or around holidays, they might not have a septic system so they don’t know the rules that you live by. Their visit could cause septic tank pumping in Novato, CA to become necessary for a variety of reasons. Here are a few things that can happen.

People Flush What They Shouldn’t

You know that all you can flush, given your septic system, is waste and toilet paper. But family members might have a regular sewage system and they might flush a lot more than that. They could stick Kleenex down there, so-called flushable wipes, and a variety of other things. Before your system is overloaded and the pipes are clogged up, it’s a good idea to let guests know that you have a septic system and it only allows waste and toilet paper to be flushed.

Over Usage Is Possible

You know that your septic system can only handle so much water at a time, so you shower in the morning and run your laundry and dishwasher at night to space things out. When you have guests in the house, everything gets used more, including the shower, the dishwasher and so on. Plus, you might be busier and not pay as much attention to spacing things out. The system can get overused more easily when there are guests in the house. Try to be logical about water usage and space things out as much as you can to give the system time to process things.

The Tank Can Fill Up

If it’s been awhile since you pumped the septic tank out, it’s possible that having extra guests around can overload the tank and fill it the rest of the way up. You can avoid that by making sure you have the tank pumped out regularly. You don’t want to wait more than five years between pumping sessions. If you feel like family visits might be a problem, have the unit inspected before they arrive so you can feel good about the extra people and the state of your septic system.

Sinks Get Overloaded

Again, as someone who lives there, you know what you can and can’t put down the drain. But your family members may not know and they can bring in anti-bacterial hand soap, or they could help with dinner and put a lot of things down the disposal. Let them know in advice, perhaps, what the system can handle so they don’t make mistakes you will regret during their visit.

Whether you have family coming into town or not, it’s always a good idea to keep up with septic tank maintenance. If it’s been 5 years or longer since you’ve had septic tank pumping in Novato, CA done, it’s a good idea to move forward with that maintenance step. You don’t want the system to back up on you.

Getting Through Bathroom Remodeling

If you decide to remodel a bathroom, it might mean taking that bathroom out of commission for a week, a month, or even longer, depending on how the process goes. You are going to have to get creative and work through the project in whatever way works for your family. You might want to rent portable toilets in Petaluma, CA, for example. Here are a few things you can do to get through the bathroom remodeling situation.

Create A Bathroom Schedule

If you have a second bathroom in your home, it will be busier than it was before when you had two. Create a schedule so you know who will be showering and when. It will help there from being a line forming out the door. There are going to be situations where someone needs the room without scheduling things, and that’s okay. But you can schedule the larger things, like showers, that you know need to happen, to avoid too much congestion around that room during the remodel.

Rent a Hotel Room

IF you don’t have a second bathroom, or you simply can’t get by with just one, you might want to rent a hotel room for bathroom use. You might hit the hotel each morning and allow half the family to shower there. Or, you might have some of all of you stay there if there is only one bathroom in your house and it’s out of commission, a hotel could become a necessity.

Make Friends With Neighbors

If you have good friends living next door, you might be able to make arrangements with them to use a spare bathroom that they don’t utilize very often. IF they have a guest bath, for example, and no guests, you can perhaps grab a key from them to send a kid or two next door to shower and get ready in the morning. Or, you can use it for emergencies only, like when someone is showering and another person needs the facilities in another way. Having a useable bathroom right next door can really help you through the situation.

Rent A Portable Toilet

Portable toilet rental is another good idea that you could consider. You can have the portable toilet stationed outside your home and use it to keep the family’s needs in check while you remodel. The portable toilet unit won’t have a shower, but the toilet is the most important part of a bathroom as it is. If you have a second bathroom, it can be busy with showers, but the urge could arise for other family members and the portable toilet can come in very handy.

If you decide to rent portable toilets in Petaluma, CA to help your family get by while you are remodeling a bathroom in your house, there are many options to consider. Standard units are always available, but you could also get a fully flushing model, which will feel much more like a real bathroom than a portable one. You can also get more space with a handicap option.

Myths Surrounding Portable Toilets

You have likely heard a lot of myths and mistruths about a variety of different things. While it’s not something you have likely thought about, there are even myths surrounding portable toilets in Sonoma, CA! Go through these myths so when you need to rent, or even just use, portable toilets, you can go about it with a clear mind.

1-Portable Toilets Are Unsightly

You may have seen a lot of different portable toilets, and perhaps they all looked the same and are all a bit unsightly. But your experience in portable toilet companies and location might actually be limited. There are actually a variety of different portable toilet options on the market and some are brand new and sparkling clean. They look nice and are pleasant to use as well, which is what you really want when you have the need arise.

2-Portable Toilets Are Tiny

If you have been in a portable toilet before, you might have had a hard time turning around because it was small. Yes, there are some tiny ones out there, but there are also tons of portable toilet options that allow you to have more space. You can, for example, get a handicap accessible toilet that has more space and a zero entry. This is a great thing for families who have a mom or dad helping a child, for example.

3-Portable Toilets Smell Bad

Portable toilets that aren’t cared for well and are left without maintenance are going to have a bad scent. That’s common sense! But not all portable toilets are like that at all. You can get portable toilets that are maintained well and they will have a pleasant scent to them. When you have to rent portable toilets, you don’t want people turned away because of that.

4-Portable Toilets Kill The Mood At A Nice Event

If you have a nice event, like a wedding or another upscale event, you don’t want any portable toilets you have to have on site kill the style you are going for. The Good news is there are options. You can get fully flushing toilets that allow your guests to feel like the bathroom is a real bathroom. The running water, the included sink, and the plentiful space can help you to get the mood you want all the way through the event.

5-Portablt Toilets Are All The Same

You probably have a preconceived picture in your head about what portable toilets are. Those are standard units. But there are others available today. You can get a handicap accessible unit, for example, with a zero entry and more space. You can get a fully flushing option with running water and a sink. There are other options to consider as well. Don’t assume they are all the same until you talk to the professionals!

Whether you need to rent portable toilets in Sonoma, CA, or you find yourself in the position of needing to use one, it’s good to know that you are able to have a clear cut vision of what they really are, and can be.

Troubleshooting The Septic Tank Situations

If you have a septic system within your home, you need to know how to treat it and what to watch for. Septic tank pumping in Novato, CA is something you are going to want to have done on a regular basis. Between those times, watch for other things that might be going wrong and that can help you to figure out what you need to do to keep things healthy.

Why Is The Toilet Gurgling?

If your toilet normally flushes smoothly, but now is making a gurgling noise, the septic tank might be getting full. Check your records and see how long it has been since you had the tank pumped out. If it has been several years, have the professionals come out for a consultation. They can test the tank and advise you as to whether or not things need to be pumped out at that time.

Why Are The Drains Backing Up?

Drains can back up for a variety of reasons. You might have a clog, for example. You could snake the drain and see if you can get the clog to free up. It’s best not to use the drain clog chemicals that you find in the store as they can harm your septic tank. If snaking the drain doesn’t work, or if you notice that lots of different drains are backing up at once, then you probably need to have a septic tank pumping done. Things are filling up and they have nowhere to go—that’s why they are backing up into the house.

Why Do The Drains Stink?

You don’t want unpleasant smells in your house and you know the things in the septic tank aren’t friendly in the scent department. When the drains start to stink, it could mean that there is waste in the pipes that can’t fit into the septic tank. Have professionals take a look and see if you need to have the tank pumped out. It can alleviate the bad scents and prevent back ups from occurring.

What Am I Doing Wrong?

If you seem to have one or more of the above issues quite frequently, you are going to want to figure out what you are doing wrong so you can prevent the need for service as often. You will need to examine what you put into the tank. You only want to flush waste and toilet paper, for example. What are you putting down the sinks? Anti-bacterials are bad and kill off the things in the tank that eat the waste. Talk to the professionals and get tips from them about what you want to do, and how you need to treat the system, to prolong the septic tank pumping ritual for as long as possible.

Even if you treat your system well and in all the right ways, you will still need septic tank pumping in Novato, CA every few years. The experts recommend that you pump the tank out every 5 years or more frequently, depending on tank size and usage habits.

When Is Septic Tank Pumping A Good Idea?

Septic tank pumping in Sonoma, CA is something every septic system is going to need from time to time. However, if you are new to having a system, you might not know when you need to go about having that done. Every system is different and it’s a good idea to know what the signs are so you can move forward in the right manner. Here are a few signs that it’s time to get septic tank pumping done.

When It’s Been More Than Five Years

Every septic tank is going to need to be pumped out every five years, or even more frequently. When you get into your new house, find the paperwork or talk to the professionals about the last service. If it’s been five years or more since the tank was pumped out, it’s a good idea to move forward with the process to prevent issues from arising.

When The Drain Field Floods

The drain field is the portion of your yard where the waste is let out of the tank as it is processed. IF you notice that the drain field is flooded with visible water, or if the grass is simply a lot mushier than normal, talk to the professionals about pumping out the tank. If there’s not enough room in the tank, it might be releasing more than the yard can handle.

When Drains Slow Down

You might notice that the drains are draining slow, that’s a sign you need to pay attention to. When you’re standing in the shower and the tub backs up and you have standing water, for example. Or when you are washing off a dish and you turn the water off and the sink gurgles as the water tries to make its way down the drain. If one drain is running slow, there could be a clog. But if every drain is slow, it might be because the septic tank needs to be pumped out. Call the professionals for a consultation and go from there.

When Sewage Backs Up

Sewage backup is something you don’t want to have happen, but when it does, you need to address things fast. Septic tank pumping is something you are going to want to do as soon as possible to prevent taking the system out of commission, or to prevent a larger mess than you already have.

When Drains Emit Scents

You never want to have foul scents coming from the drains, but it can happen when there is waste lingering in the pipes because the septic tank is too full. If you notice scents, have the professionals run a septic tank pumping so you don’t have a backup that could create more of a mess in your home.

If you think you might need septic tank pumping in Sonoma, CA, the professionals are there to help at any time. You can also call them for advice, suggestions, and tips on how to treat the septic system attached to your home.

Uses For Portable Toilets

You have probably used a portable toilet in Novato, CA at some point in your life and perhaps you didn’t enjoy the experience. But there are a lot of portable toilet options today and with the right maintenance and care, even standard units can give the user a pleasant experience that meets their needs. There are many places where you might see portable toilets. Here are a few:

Construction Sites

Construction sites almost always have a portable toilet nearby. The workers are there for long hours and since they are building something, there isn’t always running water and a working toilet as of yet. If there’s a new house going up in your neighborhood, you might see a portable toilet in front of it. For larger building or construction sites, there could be a bank of toilets. It depends on how many people are on-site at a time and how long the workers are there as to how many portable toilets will also be there.

Renovation Situations

Families that need renovations for their bathrooms might want a portable toilet at the side of their house to help meet needs during the interim. The bathroom can get torn up and even if you have another one, it might get too much use for your family to get by. You can use a portable toilet near the home and allow the workers to get the job fast without being in the way.

Outdoor Events

Whether it’s a craft show or a concert in the park, there are often going to be portable toilets at an outdoor event. There aren’t a lot of buildings in certain locations and those buildings might even be locked. Having banks of portable toilets for this events will be a common thing to see.

Emergency Occurrences

You could have a pipe burst in your house, causing major repairs to be made. Perhaps a natural disaster rolls through and you throw a bathroom out of commission. If there are emergency situations, renting a portable toilet can help you to get by until things are repaired and back to normal.

If you have a need for portable toilets in Novato, CA, it’s good to know that there are a lot of different options available. Standard portable toilets are always a go-to, but there are also fully flushing options. These portable toilets allow you to feel like you have a real bathroom, complete with running water and handwashing options. And then, there are also handicap bathrooms that have zero entry and more space on the inside. That can help families as well as those with mobility problems. You will run into various portable toilets on many different occasions. It’s nice to know when you might need to rent one yourself as well and what you could get for the various needs that you have to meet. Talk to the professionals about the options, your budget, and all of the different things that are available to you. They can help you to figure out just what you want for your event.

What To Do About Drain Odors

There are lots of things that can cause drain odors in your home and there are certain things you can try in order to rid your home of those scents. You might need septic tank pumping in Petaluma, CA, for example, or there could be something else at play that could cause you to have those smells wafting around the drains. Here are some of the things you can try to get things in order within your home.

Clean The Overflow In The Sink

Many sinks have an overflow area and it might have some things stuck in it that are causing foul scents from coming up and into your house. Clean out that drain and make sure it’s clear and ready to roll. That could clean up the smell and help you to prevent back ups from occurring at the same time.

Snake The Drains

Drains can capture things that stink instead of letting them go all the way down into the septic tank. Eventually, that might cause the drains to back up, and that’s an even bigger problem. Before you have a huge clog, you could try running a snake through the drain to disperse any clogs. You might pull some things out, or you could push things along into the septic tank. Either way, it could help you to get rid of the bad smells you are noticing around the drains.

Look At Leak Possibilities

If you have a leak somewhere in the pipes, that could cause odors of many kinds in lots of areas. Have your water bills been getting bigger even if you haven’t used more water? Inspect the pipes for leaks or have a professional come take a look so you can address scents and possible leak issues all at the same time.

Have The Septic Tank Pumped

Septic tanks need to be pumped out every 5 years, at the most. You might need to have yours done more often if you have a smaller tank or use more water due to having a lot of family members in the house. If you notice smells around the drains, check and see how long it’s been since you have had the septic tank pumped out. If it’s been awhile, it might be time to have that checked out and pumped. You can also simply call the professionals and let them come inspect your whole system. They might find a clog and suggest pumping at the same time. It’s something you can’t prevent, even if you treat the septic system well. You are going to need things pumped out at some point or another.

When you notice something amiss with your septic system, even if it seems like a small thing, it’s important to address it sooner rather than ignoring it and allowing it to possibly get worse later. Have septic tank pumping in Petaluma, CA done on a regular basis and you can prevent backups and hopefully even unpleasant drain scents.

Harmful Portable Toilet Pranks

The Portable toilet industry has seen growth over the years, and mischief is something that is always going to be present. But there are some pranks that are funny and others that are harmful. Many of the pranks revolving around portable toilets in Petaluma, CA are harmful. If you want to knock on the door while a friend of yours is in there and then run away, so be it. But don’t do any of the following things or you could be in deep trouble. Someone could even get hurt.

Tipping Someone Over In The Toilet

Tipping a portable toilet over when someone is inside is a huge danger. You don’t know what might happen to the person inside, after all. They could be throw about and injured to a high degree and you could be the cause of those injuries. It can also cause a real mess for the rental company, and the property that has the portable toilet on its grounds. It might cause you to smile to think about doing this, but don’t actually tip over a portable toilet. It’s not worth the risk.

Set Off Fireworks Inside

Fireworks can be a good time, when used properly. But there are times to use them and times to keep them at home for the right time. Setting fireworks off inside a portable toilet is never a good idea. Will they make a cool bang? Sure. Will they cause damage? Definitely. They might even start a fire and people around the area could be harmed. It’s dangerous and could lead to property damage and you could be in big trouble from that prank.

Trapping Someone Or An Animal Inside

There are a lot of people who are claustrophobic and whether you are or not, the idea of being trapped inside a portable toilet is probably not something you enjoy. So don’t trap anyone else inside one as a prank. You don’t want to cause them any undo stress and it’s downright mean. The same goes for an animal that might wander into a unit. Leave the door open and let them wander back out. Trapping them inside is cruel and could cause them to injure themselves. Or, if they are in there long enough, they could even die. And they could damage the unit at the same time.

Placing Items In The Tank

Portable toilets are meant to hold human waste and toilet paper, but that’s all. Don’t treat them as a wastebasket and put other things down the hole. It isn’t something that will likely get you into trouble (depending on what you put down there), but it can cause issues for the rental company and it’s not very kind of you to intentionally cause other people trouble.

When you use portable toilets in Petaluma, CA, they are handy. Use them correctly and save your pranks for the whoopee cushions and other things that can cause a laugh, be done safely, and not get you into huge amounts of trouble all at the same time.

Installing A Septic System

When you move to a property, perhaps outside of city limits and beyond city water and sewage’s reach, you might have to install a septic system. You are going to have to learn the ropes, understand how to maintain the system, and get septic tank pumping in Sonoma, CA done on a regular basis. But before you worry about any of that, here are some of the tests and steps you will need to take to get the installation done in the first place.

Have Tests Done

Your property is unique and the professionals are going to have to come out and do some soil tests and other such things. They will want to put the septic system in the right location and that takes some testing and investigating. Make sure you allow for proper amounts of time so you can ensure the septic system installation can be done in a timely manner.

Obtain The Proper Permits

When you put a septic tank onto your property, you are likely going to need permits. The company you are working with on the job can help you obtain and fill out the paperwork so you can get the permits you need to move forward. You should not have the septic system installed until you are able to secure those permits so you can move ahead legally without recourse in the future.

Go Through The Design Process

The professionals are going to have to design the septic system for your property. Where will the tank lie? How large will it be? How will it connect to your house? And so on. This process takes a little time and you are going to want to make sure you have experienced, reputable professionals working on it so you have peace of mind that everything will work out to your advantage as you move forward with the process.

Have The Installation Done

After you have the permits and design in order, you can have the installation done. Make sure you have professionals on the job for this part of the process as well. It might feel like the last step, but it’s one of the most important ones that you will go through. Improper installation can lead to a whole host of issues later on so it’s best to make sure things are done right upfront.

Get Maintenance Recommendations

Once the septic tank is installed, you are going to want to have some discussions with the professionals about maintenance. There are certain things you need to do for a septic system in order to keep it healthy and working well for your family. You can’t put certain things down the drain that you might be used to using, for example, and you are going to need to run regular maintenance.

One thing that will have to be done every 5 years (or more often) is septic tank pumping in Sonoma, CA, even if you treat the septic system well and follow all of the rules in the in between times.