Critical Septic System Tips

If your home isn’t hooked up to the public sewer, you will likely have a septic pump. Depending on your soil conditions, you could have a different distribution system. All septic systems need septic tank pumping in Novato, CA from time to time and it’s a good idea to have regular inspections as well. Here are some critical tips to keep the system as healthy as possible for as long as possible.

Pump As Needed

The septic system is always working, even when you aren’t using water or flushing. The system is always working to break down waste. The more water you use, the more it has to work. But even if it’s used at a reasonable level, every septic tank is going to fill up and will need a thorough pumping every now and then. The average is every 2-5 years, but check with your inspector to see what the right interval for you may be.

Don’t Flush Wipes Of Any Kind

In the bathroom, you should flush waste and toilet paper. That’s it. Never flush wipes of any kind, even the wipes that say they are flushable. These wipes don’t break down and they can get stuck in the pipes. That can cause things to back up into your house, which is the last thing you want. Even if they do make it into the tank, they still don’t break down, which makes the tank fill up faster.

Use The Trash More

Make sure that everyone in your house knows not to flush anything but toilet paper. Anything else should go into the trash can. Similar rules are important in the kitchen. Even if you have a garbage disposal, it’s best to throw things away instead of letting them go down the drain. You especially want to avoid putting oil down the drain. It can harden in pipes and cause blockages. Let those things cool and throw them into the trash can as well.

Avoid Anti-Bacterial

Bleach, chlorine, or any item that is an anti-bacterial (even anti-bacterial soap) should not be used in your septic system. You don’t want those things going down the drain because they can kill off the good bacteria in your septic system that is working hard to break down waste. Without that bacteria, the system will fill up and need pumping much faster.

There are other rules that pertain to your septic system and keeping the septic tank pumping in Novato, CA to a minimum over the years. The professionals at American Sanitation Inc can help you understand those rules so you can keep the system in good working order without too many issues between pumping and maintenance checks. We understand that not everyone knows the ins and outs of septic systems and that’s okay. We’re here to help with every aspect of septic tanks, whether you need help, want maintenance, or are completely new to owning such a system. Give us a call and ask whatever questions you have about septic systems in general.

Don’t Overburden Septic Tanks

Whether your house is large or small, if you have a septic system, the tank on that system is limited. No tank has unlimited space, right? You will have to get septic tank pumping in Sonoma, CA done on occasion to clear the tank out and keep things operating smoothly, but that should only have to be done every few years. In order to avoid further maintenance and repair issues, you don’t want to overburden the septic tank itself. Here are a few ways you can do that.

Using Too Much Water At Once

Whenever you run the dishwasher, take a shower, or flush, that water goes into the septic tank. If you do a lot of things that use water at the same time, the tank will have trouble processing it all. It’s best to spread out the big-ticket water items. Instead of showering while the dishwasher and washing machine are running, shower in the morning and run the washing machine at night. Space out your water usage so you don’t overwhelm the tank.

Keeping Heavy Items On The Tank

You don’t want to place vehicles, gardening tools, outdoor furniture, or other heavy things on top of the septic tank. Know where it is in your yard and then keep the heavy things away from it. That can overwhelm the tank as well and the grass in the area is probably often wet anyway so keep things away from that area.

Planting Foliage That Isn’t Septic Safe

You can plant things around the septic tank, but if they aren’t septic safe items, they can do more harm than good. Planting a tree, for example, that is known for shooting roots out all over could harm the septic tank or even move it. You will want to plan water-wise, septic safe plants that don’t interfere with what the tank is trying to do. If you want to do some planting around the tank, talk to your local landscapers or septic professionals to get ideas for what works best.

Flushing/Draining Things You Shouldn’t

It’s always wise to be careful about what you put down the drain, but when you have a septic tank, that’s even more the case. You want to make sure you don’t flush anything but toilet paper and waste, for example. And there are certain things you don’t want to wash away down the drain, like cooking oils and fats or anything anti-bacterial. Avoiding some of those things you shouldn’t do will keep the system from being overwhelmed.

There are other things you need to know about over burdening your septic tank so you don’t have to get septic tank pumping in Sonoma, CA as often and if you want the full list of dos and don’ts, the professionals at American Sanitation Inc can help you. Give us a call with any questions you have, whether you have had a septic tank before, or you are new to these kinds of systems. We’re here to give you advice, tips, and maintenance help.

Keeping Portable Toilets Warm In The Winter

There’s nothing worse than having to use portable toilets in Petaluma, CA in the sweltering sunlight in the middle of summer—except maybe having to use one in the freezing cold during the winter months. Granted, California generally has nicer weather than other areas of the country, but if you have to use a portable toilet in the cold, it’s a good idea to take these tips into consideration. As the person who is offering the portable toilets, think of yourself and what you would want when using them. Give that to your guests as well.

Place In The Sunlight

In the summer, you likely want your portable toilets in the sunlight so you don’t have to worry about the smells as much and you want to keep it as cool as you can for guests. In the winter, the opposite is true. You want the portable toilets to be in a sunny area, so they stay warmer. It’s hard to get down to business and remove clothing when it’s super cold inside the portable toilet.

Remove Cold Debris

While it may not be the norm, if there happens to be snow in the area, you will want to make sure to remove it from around the portable toilets. You don’t want guests to have wet feet, making them even more cold, and you don’t want them dragging that into the portable toilets, either. If it rains and then the temperature drops and there are frozen bits around the toilets, that should be removed or salted as well so people don’t slip. You want the area to be as safe as possible, which might take a little extra work.

Consider Indoor Locations

Of course, this all depends on where you are and what you need, but if you can place the portable toilets inside, like in a barn or another such thing, you might want to do that for the winter months. That will give them more warmth and shelter from whatever might be going on outside.

While California weather is generally warmer than other areas of the country, there are still cold snaps. Think about how you would feel having to use a portable toilet during some of the coldest times and then transfer those feelings to any guests you might have coming through. You want the best for yourself—and for them.

If you need help placing, cleaning, and considering what you need for portable toilets in Petaluma, CA, the professionals at American Sanitation Inc are here to help. Give us a call and you can come by and see what we have to offer. We’re here to help you get just what you need any time of the year. We want you to stay warm and have your needs met in every way possible. We’ll take you through the options and the steps you might need to take to keep things warm and toasty for everyone who needs to use the units you have provided.

Septic Tank Additives: Do Or Don’t?

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.

Don’t Put These Things Down The Drain Into Septic Tanks

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.

Keeping Portable Toilets Clean For Longer Events

No matter what kind of event you are having, if you are going to be in need of portable toilets in Sonoma, CA for multiple days, you might wonder how you are going to keep things clean and presentable for the duration. When you work with these tips and the professionals in the industry, you can keep things looking nice for the whole event. Here are a few things to keep in mind.

Place Toilets Just Right

You will want to survey the land and place the toilets in the right locations. If you place them strategically, they will work better for you. For example, don’t place them where there is a tendency to be a lot of mud or people will drag that through on their shoes. You will want to perhaps try and put them in a shady location if it’s going to be hot, so they don’t get as stuffy inside. The right location can make all of the difference in keeping them operational during longer events.

Have Enough Toilets

When you speak to the professionals, you will want to figure out how many toilets you need to keep things as clean as you can. Think about how many people you plan to have around, how long the event is, and other such specifics so you can get the right number of toilets for the event you have in mind. If you don’t have enough, they will likely get very messy and dirty very quickly and the guests won’t be as happy, either, since the lines will be longer.

Stock Hygiene Supplies

Make sure the toilets have handwashing stations with plenty of paper towels and soap. You will also want to have garbage cans nearby so people will clean up after themselves and not leave those things lying around. You could also put in some cleaning tablets, air deodorizers, and other such things to keep things nice for longer periods of time.

Get Professionals On The Cleaning Jobs

Depending on how long the event is, and how busy the toilets will be, you might want to set up a schedule for the professionals to come in and check out the toilets, emptying them and cleaning them as needed. You can also assign a staff member of your own for the event to walk around and check them at a regular interval to make sure they are stocked with toilet paper, wiped down, and so on.

While having portable toilets in Sonoma, CA is a necessity for certain events, you want to make sure they are clean and presentable for the duration of longer events. The professionals at American Sanitation Inc have worked with clients from a variety of different areas and we are sure to be able to answer your questions on how you can keep your units clean and nice for the guests who will be attending. Talk through the choices and options with us and we’ll reach a good solution for your venue and time period.

Winter Events That Need Portable Toilets

Every season of the year will find a need for portable toilets in Novato, CA in some situation or another and winter is no different. Winters in California, while they can be chilly, still have lots of reasons to be outside. When you are outside somewhere without indoor plumbing available, portable toilets can be a necessary. Here are a few events that could call for portable toilet placement.

Outdoor Winter Sports

While there aren’t lots of places in this area that get cold enough for ice skating, skiing, or other winter sports, when you do come across those occasions to partake in the fun of winter, there needs to be portable restrooms available. Ice skating often happens around ponds and skiing on mountains and hills. It can be a hassle to have to sludge away from the area to find a restroom, but sometimes necessary. Instead, portable toilets might be present to help people meet their needs and increase their length of enjoyment in the area.

Family Gatherings

While the number of family members who are able to gather for the holidays can vary from year to year, if your family is pretty steady and consistent at certain times, it’s a good idea to consider a portable toilet. IF the home used to gather is on the small side or you want to get together in a picnic shelter so the kids can play outside while the adults play cards, portable toilets could be the answer to your issues. Portable toilets, even near a house, can help to meet the needs of larger group gatherings.

Holiday Concerts

There’s nothing better than listening to Christmas music in the park to get you feeling the spirit of the season. But you’ll be feeling something else a lot less pleasant if there isn’t a portable toilet nearby when you need one. Park restrooms aren’t always open over the winter months and when you need to go, having portable toilets is much appreciated.

Renovations

Since this area of the country doesn’t have bad winters, you may still see renovations going on during the cooler months. IF you started this fall and things moved into the winter, you might want to continue getting things in order as soon as you can. If your bathroom is out of commission, though, and you have a family to consider, portable toilets can help you get by.

There are other reasons that portable toilets in Novato, CA could be utilized over the winter months. If you think you might be in need or renting one or more, contact the professionals at American Sanitation Inc to get their recommendations. We have lots of different options ranging from standard toilets with handwashing stations all the way up to fully flushing toilets with sinks included. We’re here to help you meet whatever needs you have for whatever type of event you are holding this winter. You can come by and see options or call and we can chat about what you need by phone.

Septic Tank Pumping And Flushable Wipes

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.

Septic Systems And The Environment

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.

Questions To Ask Before Renting Portable Toilets

Most people don’t rent portable toilets in Petaluma, CA very often and it is important to do it right when you do. If you need portable toilets for an event or location for any reason, there are certain questions you should ask in order to get the right fit. The last thing you want is to have a need, think you are meeting it, but still failing to actually do so. Here are a few questions that you will want to include when you talk to the rental company.

What Are The Benefits Of These Portable Toilets?

While you may have been in a portable toilet before, chances are the companies you visit with have different options. They may have several variations, or just something different than another company you call. You need to know the perks of the toilets you consider so you can compare them. It’s a good idea to have the features you need listed, but if you aren’t sure what you need, find representatives that can help you figure that out.

How Many Do I Need For This Event/Location?

You may not have any idea how many portable toilets you actually need and that’s okay. The experts at the portable toilet rental company can help you figure that out. It will depend on how many people you expect, the duration of the event, the size of the area, and many other things. You may just need one or you might need several dozen, it all depends.

What Does Maintenance Look Like?

If you are having a one-day event, the company may just drop the portable toilets off, situate them in the right location, and pick them up later. There may not be much need for maintenance during that time. But if they are there to stay for weeks on end, there can be a maintenance arrangement that has the company coming back out to empty the toilets and perform other maintenance duties.

How Can People Wash Hands?

There are generally two main options and they depend on what kind of portable toilets you get. Some portable toilets come with a fully flushing option and running water. They also have sinks that allow people to wash their hands when they are done using the facilities. The other option is a more standard portable toilet outside of which you can place a hand washing station that anyone coming in and out of the area could use to clean up.

When you need to rent portable toilets in Petaluma, CA, the professionals at American Sanitation Inc are here to help. Call us and ask any questions you have. We’d like to hear more about your event and its location so we can help you figure out the details. When you have ideas, we want to hear those as well. It’s our job to help you figure out what will work the best, so you don’t leave anything to chance. These are good questions to help you start off on the right foot.

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