Portable Toilet History And Evolution

When you see portable toilets in Napa, CA, do you ever wonder where they came from? Maybe not, but someone had to have the idea at some point and when you are desperate and use the first available VIP portable toilet you can find, you are thankful that it was there. While it may not change your life as much as the lightbulb invention, it can definitely make the world a better place to live—especially at outdoor events.

The Portable Toilet Evolution

Portable toilets go all the way back to the 1940s when they were designed in ship yards as a different type of plumbing facility to be used on a temporary basis. Ship builders realized it caused a lot of productivity loss when workers had to return to the docks to use the facilities. The portable toilets that were created on the ships weren’t anything fancy, but they helped get the job done faster. These early portable toilets, however, were heavy, hard to move, and smelly because they were hard to clean. The public psyche revolving around portable toilets today still dates back to those times. The construction materials then were wood and metal. IT’s a whole different set of materials today. In the 1970s, the cumbersome structures were created with more synthetic materials, like fiberglass, to improve their usage and reduce their weight. However, maintenance and smells were still an issue.

Portable toilets have come a long way since the wood versions and now, they are self-contained, much easier to maintain, and don’t need a power source. They also don’t have harmful chemicals in them as they used to because there are different ways to inhibit odors. The safe liquids that are used for odor control now is harmless and does the job a lot better. Plus, portable toilets are maintained a lot better and more efficiently between uses.

While hand sanitizer has been around for quite some time, it is now a mainstay with a portable toilet. In the past, some people didn’t like using them because there was no way to wash up after. There are often portable sinks and hand sanitizing stations right within or right outside the portable toilets. Perhaps they didn’t need to wash up on the ship building in the 40s, but today, spreading germs is always a huge concern.

If you need portable toilets rental in Napa, CA for an outdoor event of some kind, there are lots of options. None of them are big and heavy, made of wood, or hard to maintain. And the company American Sanitation Inc can take care of any maintenance needs you end up having. Give us a call at (707) 554-8258 and we can go over the options with you. We have standard models, of course, but we also have full flushing, handicap, and other such elements that you can consider, depending on your event and its needs. You can stop by and see some of the choices in person at 1729 Action Avenue Napa, CA 94559.

Keeping Portable Toilets Clean During Long Events

Sometimes, portable toilets Santa in Rosa, CA are put into place for a one-day event, like a wedding or outdoor concert. Other times, it’s a fair, a carnival, a festival, or something else that spans a number of days. You don’t want those toilets to fill up or lack cleanliness because it can hurt the event’s reputation and even its success. How can you meet the challenge and keep the portable toilets clean and sanitary for a longer period of time? Here are some tips to help you achieve your goals:

Tip 1: Careful Placement

The first way to work on cleanliness is to place the bathrooms well. Toilets need to be placed strategically around the venue so everyone can find them easily. You need to also have handwashing stations right outside. Try not to place them in the full sun because they can get too toasty and have a scent. Also avoid muddy surfaces or places that get muddy easily when it rains because people can then drag that mud into the portable toilet.

Tip 2: Get Enough Toilets

When in doubt, go with more toilets than less. The portable toilet company can help you work out just how many you need, but you will want to make sure you have enough. Order based on the length and size of the even. You will also want to include handicap accessible options and perhaps portable toilets with baby changing stations. Too few bathrooms make the ones you do have sanitary disasters and there will be longer lines and dissatisfied attendees at the same time. You will need more cleaning services throughout the days if you have too few toilets.

Tip 3: Add Hygiene Supplies

Make sure the toilets all have proper hand-washing capabilities nearby, either within the portable toilet or right outside. They should have soap, water, and even garbage cans so people will spread fewer germs. You could also put some hand sanitizer nearby, air deodorizers, and even disinfectant wipes to help keep things clean. Make sure toilet paper is high in stock at all times in each portable toilet as well.

Tip 4: Have Attendants

You need to assign volunteers or employees to oversee the bathrooms from time to time. They will want to make sure things run smoothly and will check up on the portable toilets to make sure they are clean and well-stocked. They can also be in charge of calling the rental company if you need an extra service during the event.

These are just a few tips on how to keep your portable toilets Santa in Rosa, CA clean and operable for the duration of a longer event. To get more information on how you can keep things in order, contact the professionals at American Sanitation Inc. Based on how many people you expect and how large your event is as well as how long it will last, we can advise you on how many portable toilets you need. Call us at (707) 554-8258 or visit us at 1729 Action Avenue Napa, CA 94559.

Landscaping Around The Septic Tank

There are a lot of things you can do to keep you septic tanks Santa in Rosa, CA healthy from inside your house by not flushing certain things and so on, but you also want to think about lawn care and landscaping and how that can impact the system as well. It is important to care for the lawn and landscape around the tanks in a certain way to keep the system as healthy as possible.

Landscaping

When you want to landscape in an area around your septic tank, consider the root structure the plants have. You are going to want plants that have shallow roots, so they don’t go too deep. Plants with aggressive roots that love water could clog or even displace pipes around the septic system. IT’s best not to plant trees or large shrubs nearby because they can damage the tanks and pipes as well.

Definitely avoid willows, maples, birches, and elms because they are the most aggressive in their root system. If you want to have a tree nearby, oaks, cherry, dogwood, and crabapple trees are less aggressive. Make sure the trees are planted at least as far away as their roots generally spread when they are fully grown, but it is best to put them even farther away to be safe. Roots can spread 2-4 times the diameter of the canopy on a tree and 1-3 times the height of a tree. Remember the drain field of your tank does best in direct sunlight so you don’t want to shade that area if you can help it.

Lawn Care

While you might be cautious about what you plant around the septic tank field, you are probably going to have grass around it and that can be beneficial. It can prevent the soil from eroding and help the draining maintain in a natural way. When you have grass, you have to cut it, right? You should put in a low-maintenance grass species that will do okay with a lot of watering. You don’t need to water that area since the drain field will function in that manner itself. Don’t fertilize that area, either, since that can get into the tank and cause issues. Watch the grass around the drain field and if it suddenly changes in one way or another, it can signal a problem in the tank.

If you need advice about landscaping you should plant around you septic tanks Santa in Rosa, CA, or how to go about caring for the lawn in that area, the professionals at American Sanitation Inc are here to help. We can also give your systems regular check-ups to ensure everything is running well for your family. Give us a call at (707) 554-8258 and we’ll answer your questions, or you can stop by and chat with us in person at 1729 Action Avenue Napa, CA 94559. We want to make sure your septic system runs smoothly so it’s not something you have to think about or deal with on a regular basis.

Portable Toilets For Long-Term Use

When you think about portable toilets in Napa, CA, what comes to mind? Perhaps a construction site, an outdoor event, an evening concert, or something else of that nature. In general, portable toilets are used on a sparing basis for events and locations that don’t have toilets. They aren’t a regular, every day thing in your life. But there are also portable toilets that are meant for long-term use and there are certainly situations that call for them. Here are a few to consider.

Home Remodeling

Even if you have more than one bathroom, if you take one out of commission to remodel the space, that puts a lot of pressure on the other existing bathroom. If you have a large enough family, one toilet just doesn’t do the trick. That’s where a long-term portable toilet comes in handy. You don’t have to get what you think of as a standard portable toilet, though. You can get a fully flushing version that feels just like a real bathroom, complete with a sink. It can really help your family function as everyone gets ready in the morning or when someone has to go badly, and the other bathroom is tied up.

Business Situations

There are many ways that portable toilets can help businesses as well. If there’s a water main break or other damage to the restroom, businesses may need to have a portable toilet nearby for employees and/or customers. These toilets can even be handicap accessible if the needs call for it or if businesses want to be inclusive for their customers. There are construction locations, of course, that can use regular portable toilets, but there are lots of other options today that can help a business out in a pinch. Whether they are moving to a new location and don’t yet have running water or a working bathroom or the one they have is out of commission, long-term rentals are a great choice.

There are plenty of choices on the market today and long-term portable toilet rentals mean a great deal to a business or home in need. The portable toilets can be serviced by the rental company as needed, whether that’s weekly or even more often. That all depends on how much they will be used, and you can work that out based on your prospective needs. The company can always increase the services, if necessary.

If you need a long-term porta potty rental in Napa, CA, contact the experts at American Sanitation Inc to check out the details. You can get a standard portable toilet, or you can get something that flushes and feels like a real bathroom. There are also more spacious, handicap accessible options. Call us at (707) 554-8258 and tell us about your timeline and needs and we’ll make recommendations for what might fit your home or business the best. You can also come check out the choices at 1729 Action Avenue Napa, CA 94559 and we can give you pros and cons as you look things over.

Septic Tanks And Medication

If you have septic tanks in Napa, CA, you have probably been warned about what you can and cannot flush down into the system. However, there are certain medications that can have an impact on the system and that may not have been on your radar. Pills are small and flushing them away is a simple way to get rid of an expired bottle. However, you need to pay attention to pharmaceuticals that are being flushed, just like any other substance. It’s standard practice to get rid of prescription drugs if you have leftover and no longer need them by flushing them. But there are new standards that can help protect your septic tanks. You could, for example, mix them into coffee grounds or kitty litter and throw them away. You could participate in a medication take-back program. But if you have a septic system, you should not flush them. Even if you heed this warning, you also need to think about the medication that reaches the system through waste.

Medications Natural Path To The Septic Tank

When you get a prescription for a certain medication, you may never get rid of it down the toilet by pouring it in and flushing it. However, you ingest it and then process it and the waste you create and then flush still takes some of the prescription’s power with it. It’s hard to know how much of the prescription remains that way because that can vary from person to person, but you are still flushing prescription medication into the system when you use the toilet for its intended purpose.

Medication Impact

Septic systems are unlike sewage treatment plants in that they operate on a much smaller scale. Because of that, the impact of anything on them is much larger. You don’t want to flush chemicals down the toilet and that is why you need to pay attention to medications. Antibiotics, for example, kill off bacteria within the body to help you to get well. However, they can also kill the bacteria in the septic system, which is bad for the tank. The bacteria there is what breaks down the waste within the tank.

What To Do

Medications can be life-saving and they are miracles of modern medicine that can really help you. You need to take what your doctor prescribes, but there are things you can do to counteract them. If you are taking something short-term, like three months or less, your septic system can recover on its own. You can have a tank cleaning after the medication is complete, if you chose. IF you take something for longer than three months, minimize other products that are used to kill bacteria to reduce further stress on the system. Have the system evaluated after you start your medication to see how it is affecting the ecosystem in the tank.

If you need a Napa, CA septic tank check-up due to your medication, contact American Sanitation Inc at (707) 554-8258 or visit us at 1729 Action Avenue Napa, CA 94559 with questions.

Get Portable Toilet Placement Just Right

Whether you’re hosting a social event, like a wedding or outdoor concert, or working on a construction site, portable toilets in Napa, CA are a necessity. They are necessary for guests, employees, and many others, when there’s an event or worksite outside that, doesn’t have access to plumbing facilities. Once you recognize that fact, the next step you have to take is deciding on how many portable toilets you need. After that, you have to figure out where to place them. Placing the portable toilets in the right location is a safety matter as well as one of convenience. Here are a few things to remember as you look at the location for the proper placement.

Dry, Level Areas Are Key

When you place portable toilets, you want to have a level area that is also dry. If you place the toilets on a muddy area, they could sink and become off kilter. The location needs to be both dry and level to begin with to give you the best placement for your portable toilets.

Accessibility Is Important

You also want your portable toilets to be accessible and convenient in location so your employees or guests can get to them when needed. You don’t want them to have to make a long trek across a field to get there, if they don’t have to. Keeping them in good locations for the sake of those who will use them is in everyone’s best interest.

Keep Them Close To Food And Drinks

If you are going to have food and drinks at your event, it’s best to keep portable toilets near those vendor sites. You don’t want them too close, but also not too far away. They should have hand washing stations as well so those who don’t want to use the facilities, can still wash their hands before they eat if they need to. When there are food and drinks nearby, the possibility of needing the portable toilets is much more likely.

Remember Space Limitations

If you have only a certain amount of space, you will have to keep that in mind as well. You have to fit your portable toilets into the space you have available without infringing on the worksite or the outdoor event.

Get Professional Advice

The good news is that you don’t have to know everything about placing portable toilets. There are professionals who can offer you recommendations about how many you need, based on how many people will be on location, and where best to place them.

If you have the need for portable toilets in Napa, CA of any kind, contact the experts at American Sanitation Inc for help with the process from start to finish. Give us a call at (707) 554-8258 and tell us about your location, the number of people who will be there, and the length of time you need the toilets and we’ll help you with the details. You can also visit us to see different styles at 1729 Action Ave Napa, CA 94559.

Outdoor Wedding Survival Tips

Outdoor weddings can be lovely events, but let’s face it, you never know what they are going to bring. During the summer months, it could be sweltering hot or it could rain. The background in the pictures could include blue skies or dark clouds. You just never know. If you want to host an outdoor wedding, here are a few survival tips that you and your guests will appreciate, including portable toilets in Santa Rosa, CA.

Have A Drink Station

While most guests as well as the couple getting married wait until the reception to start the real drinking, it’s never a bad idea to have a water cooler/drink station during the actual wedding when you are having things outside. That way, if it’s hot, anyone can get a cool glass of water or a fresh bottle of water that will help everyone cool down and stay hydrated. Some people may think to bring a drink of their own, but not everyone will and you’re responsible for their safety.

Pass Out Fans

Some couples have people stand at the door of the church, passing out bulletins, rice, bubbles, bird seed, or other items. For an outdoor wedding, if the heat might be high, have those greeters pass out paper fans instead. You can get something inexpensive or have something nice created to remind people of your big day.

Provide Shade

On a hot day, if you’ve chosen a location in the full sun, it’s nice to provide shade for your guests. Either have a tent that goes up over the seats or perhaps pass out hats or umbrellas for them to use. Umbrellas could also come in handy if there’s a mist in the air and you decide to move forward with the outdoor location.

Feature Portable Toilets

When you think of portable toilets, you might not think glamour, but for an outdoor wedding, they are a necessity. There are plenty of options on portable toilets, including toilets that actually flush and feel like a real bathroom. You can make guests feel as if they are using an indoor facility, even at an outdoor wedding. The most upscale portable toilets come with sinks included and even have running water.

While there are a lot of important considerations for an outdoor wedding, having facilities for your guests and your wedding party is high on the list. Consider various styles of portable toilets in Napa, CA as options to suit your needs. Depending on your location and how many guests you will have, you can determine how many you need and where to place them. The experts at American Sanitation Inc can help as well. We’d love to talk to you about your outdoor wedding or reception when you call us at (707) 554-8258. We can also show you the different types of portable toilets we have available for you to rent when you visit us at 1729 Action Ave Napa, CA 94559. Check out more details on the options online at American-sanitation.com.

Septic Tanks And Commercial Cleaners

If you move into a home with a septic tank in Santa Rosa, CA, hopefully, your realtor or the previous homeowners fill you in on what you can and cannot do with that tank. If not, you can always do some research on your own. You may have already heard some things, like the idea that commercial cleaners aren’t a good idea. Natural cleaning products have become more popular over the years, like vinegar. Part of that is because people are more aware of harsh chemicals and their effects on health, the world, and our families. These cleaners, of course, also often end up in the drains, which can have an impact on the septic system.

What’s wrong with commercial cleaners if you have a septic system? Well, they are often full of harsh chemicals, and those products can really help to fight off bacteria. However, you want bacteria in your septic system. There’s a good kind of bacteria and that’s a big part of what makes the system work the way it does. Whenever a chemical goes down your drain, it ends up in the septic tank and it can find its way to the drain field and contaminate the soil. Plus, it can kill off the bacteria that is working in the tank to break waste down, which you also don’t want.

Commercial cleaning products have been known to fill the home with chemicals and possibly even fumes that you don’t want to breathe in. Many families are moving to vinegar and other cleaners that they know are safe and natural. It’s a gentle switch that usually costs less than cleaners and is better for the home overall. Vinegar is non-toxic and just as gentle when it reaches the septic tank as it was in the home. Since it’s natural, it won’t be bad within the tank, or when it reaches the drain field.

If you’re new to having a septic tank, contact professionals for more tips on how to care for the tank. Sometimes, the things you do in your daily life can have a big impact on how often you will have to have maintenance and will need to run repairs. You want the tank to last as long as possible and run as efficiently as possible.

If you need advice on septic tanks in Santa Rosa, CA, you can do your research online, but it’s also smart to contact the experts at American Sanitation Inc with questions. Call us at (707) 554-8258 and we’ll see what we can help you with over the phone. We have plenty of pointers on how to care for your tank so you can get the most from it as the years go by. You can also visit with us in person at 1729 Action Avenue Napa, CA 94559 or set up a time for us to come to your house and look things over. Septic tanks only run well if they are maintained well. Visit our website at American-sanitation.com for more details about what we do.

Why Is There Water Running In The Septic Tank?

If you have a septic tank in Napa, CA, you probably know that you are supposed to listen for septic system gurgling or even bubbling noises. That sound could be a sign of a blockage or even or poor draining and it’s not something you want to hear. But if you’re new to having a septic tank, you might hear water running. Is that okay? Here are some of the potential reasons you might hear that noise:

Groundwater Leaks

Sure, a lot of water runs through your septic tank every day, but there might be groundwater leaking into the tank as well. Some septic tanks are made up of concrete and there might be a crack in the tank. If the tank is steel, rust damage could be the cause of the leak. Physical damage to the septic tank is never a good thing. You don’t want ground water taking over the tank, especially if there’s a storm that could cause runoff to get worse. Have the tank inspected in case this happens to be going on.

Waste Buildup

If your drain field isn’t draining properly, the wastewater that usually leaves the septic tank could be clogging and not draining properly. Wastewater could eventually flow back into the tank, which wouldn’t be a good thing for your house. You’ll want to check and see if something like that is going on as well.

The Septic Pump Is Off

Gravity is often a big part of septic tanks. They use gravity to pull water from the tank and place it in the drain field. If the drain field is uphill due to the property layout, the pump has to move things along instead of gravity. If that pump is off for any reason, waste water can flow back up into the tank and cause that running water sound.

What Should It Sound Like?

When you buy a home with a septic tank, or have one installed, you want to know what it normally sounds like. Healthy systems shouldn’t really make much, if any, noise. Water running or even a trickling sound warrants an inspection. Keep an ear on things so you know what they normally sound like and can notice when changes occur.

If you have any doubts about your septic tank in Napa, CA, contact the professionals at American Sanitation Inc. We can install new systems, maintain current ones, and diagnose and run repairs, if necessary. Give us a call at (707) 554-8258 with any questions you have or visit us at 1729 Action Avenue Napa, CA 94559 to talk to us about what’s going on so we can give you advice. You can also visit our website to get more details on our services at American-sanitation.com. We want to make sure your septic system is in the best possible condition to serve your house without issues. Maintenance is imperative and we’ll help with those details as often as necessary. We’re the experts and you can call us any time!

Septic Tank Installation Times

There are certain things that take time and efforts to install and septic tanks in Santa Rosa, CA are one of them. It takes planning and time and it includes tests and other processed before the actual installation actually takes place. If you are getting a septic tank, here are the steps you have to look forward to in order to get everything lined up just right.

Step 1: Percolation Test

This test determines the soil’s volume, consistency, and texture and checks how well the soil could filter wastewater. You want your septic tank to be installed properly and it’s important to have this test done so you can get the results, which can take up to two weeks.

Step 2: Obtaining The Permit

You will have to get approval for the septic tank and the drain field from the city. Every county and city has different requirements so you’ll want to check local codes, the application and approval process can be aided by a professional company and it can take days or even weeks to obtain the right paperwork.

Step 3: The Design Process

After you get the permits, an engineer with a septic tank company can design things to make the septic system and drain field work with your house. The design will depend on factors like the slope of your land, the trees nearby, and so on. The design has to suit your property and this step can also take a few weeks.

Step 4: Installation

Once the other steps are complete, you can schedule your professional installation. The installation process can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. It depends on the property, the soil, the size of the tank, the weather, and other factors. You will have to have several inspections along the way to confirm that things are going according to the plans and are safe and up to code.

Keep in mind that every septic system is a customized job. Your home and property are different than anyone else’s. You may not be able to tell exactly how long your process and installation will take when you compare the job to other people, but the professionals can give you a customized idea based on experience.

When you are ready to look into getting septic tanks in Santa Rosa, CA, the experts at American Sanitation Inc. can help you with every step of the process. Call us at (707) 554-8258 and we can help answer your questions and get you on the right path for every step. We understand the complications that can arise and we’ll get you through any of those you face. Stop by and talk to us in person, if you’d like, at 1729 Action Avenue, Napa, CA 94559 and then invite us to your property to take a look at your set up and offer advice as to what we recommend moving forward. We’re here to get a system set up for you in the right manner so you can maintain it later on without any issues.

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