Wind River Environmental

How Baking Soda Can Help You Avoid Septic System Emergencies

Wind River — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:31:21 +0000

If you own a residence or business you know that there is no getting around septic pumping service and inspections. It’s recommended that you have your septic tank pumped and inspected every 1 to 2 years. But if you end up having issues with the pipes, drains, or the septic system itself, you may have to schedule septic pumping service and inspections much more often.

This can end up costing you hundreds of extra dollars not to mention putting too much wear and tear on your septic system. If your septic tank or leach field ends up having to be replaced it can cost you thousands of dollars! There are many ways to help take care of your septic system and one super easy and affordable way is to simply start using baking soda.

How does Baking Soda help you avoid septic system emergencies?

Simple, using baking soda mixed with other all natural ingredients can be used as an environmentally safe and natural cleaner for your toilet, sinks, tub, and drains. Using baking soda instead of harsh chemical cleaners such as bleach will keep all that important bacteria from being killed off. The good bacteria in your septic system is necessary because it breaks down all the waste that comes through the pipes.

Without the good bacteria you will end up with clogs, back-ups and odors that wear away at your septic tank and eventually cause a septic system emergency. Using baking soda is very easy.

You can mix about a 1/4 cup of baking soda with 1/2 cup of vinegar and 2 tablespoons lemon to make your own natural cleaning agent. The baking soda will fizz up to help get the dirt and grime in your tub and drains. It’s a great cleaner and your septic system will thank you!

Warning! Flushing These Items Can Ruin Your Septic System

Wind River — Mon, 14 May 2012 10:30:33 +0000

Many people don’t realize how fragile a septic system can be. If you are a new owner of a business or a residence it’s important to take good care of your septic system. A septic system that isn’t working properly or needs to be replaced is more than just an irritation. It can end up costing you thousands of dollars in repairs!

You can also end up with more serious problems than a clogged drain or tub. Back-ups from the toilet and the septic tank can cause sewage odors and even force the raw sewage back into your home or building which can be a health hazard.

Save yourself the trouble with a couple of easy tips. You should always be careful about what goes into your toilet as it affects your septic system. Here are a couple of things that should never be flushed down the toilet.

Wipes and heavy toilet paper. Many people don’t realize that not all toilet paper is safe to be flushed down the toilet. A particularly old or over used septic tank can be more sensitive than others. Something like dyed, heavier toilet paper can even cause problems! To save you the headache use single ply white toilet paper at all times. Also, you should never toss any wipes down the toilet, not matter how they are advertised these are not able to break down enough in your septic tank.
Sanitary napkins and tampons. No matter if you are dealing with a residence or a business you should never allow people to throw their sanitary napkins or tampons down the toilet. They simply aren’t able to break down and will cause major back-ups and clogs.
Hazardous chemicals. The toilet is never a place to get rid of hazardous chemicals. Those should be disposed of properly and that is not in your home. You can end up killing off the good bacteria you need to help break down waste and you will also be contaminating your soil and water.

Moving Your Septic System

Wind River — Fri, 11 May 2012 10:30:40 +0000

You may need to move the septic system and/or septic tank in order to build onto your home or business or to change the landscaping. Whatever the reason, there are ways to safely move your septic system without it costing you a fortune.

Here are 4 tips that you should know if you are thinking about moving your septic system:

First call up your local septic maintenance professionals and speak to them about the move. You will have to design a new layout and from there your local Board of Health will have to approve the design.
You will also have to hire a septic company to pump out all the waste water and material from the septic tank.
From there the septic system company will bring in the proper equipment to move the septic system and/or tank.
Do not temp to do this yourself. It is a safety hazard not only for you but your family and the environment. Although it could be costly leave it to the professionals you don’t want to risk it

What To Expect From Inside Grease Trap Pumping

Wind River — Wed, 09 May 2012 10:30:56 +0000

If you’re a business owner you know how important it is to have your grease traps properly cleaned by professionals. This isn’t something you should attempt to do on your own. You need trained, experienced, professional technicians with the right tools and equipment. You will also need to know what to expect on the day of the grease trap service.

Here are some tips on what to expect from inside grease trap pumping.

When you call and make the appointment ask if they can give you a time range to expect them. This will keep you from having any issues with customers during the grease trap pumping. Depending on the type of business you run you may have to choose a time when you’re not open.
Ask the company if they are aware of all Board of Health requirements and file the appropriate paper work to the town. It’s important to your business that you comply with the regulations so you are not fined or forced to close your business because the company didn’t obey the laws.
Make sure you receive a complete grease trap pumping service. Grease trap pumping service is more than just pumping the grease the technician should properly scrape down the walls of the trap and inspect the condition of the trap itself, baffles and cover. You need to make sure you grease trap is running smoothly not just for the benefit of your business but for the health of your customers and the environment.
After the service is fully complete the technician should give you a service report. The report will give you in detail what the technician did, the condition of the grease trap and any recommendations to help you maintain a healthy grease trap. This is also your proof of service which is important if your health inspector comes in and asks to see your grease trap pumping records

Need Septic Pumping Service?

Wind River — Fri, 04 May 2012 10:30:54 +0000

If you are a home or business owner you know how important septic pumping service is. Not only does it keep your septic tank in top working order, it can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars on a new septic tank or in repairs. It’s important to make sure that you have the septic tank pumped at least every 1 to 2 years. If you’re not sure where you fall in the year range you can speak to your septic pumping company about this when they perform the septic pumping service. They can often tell you based on the size of your home, the size of the tank, and the amount of water usage in the residence or building.

If you've scheduled a septic pumping service and septic inspection here are a couple tips to keep in mind.

Make sure you hire the right company. Make sure you get a referral for the company you’re using or check with a former customer to make sure they are satisfied. Go with a company that has experience and know how in this area. Quality is more important the quantity. Remember septic pumping service is a preventative maintenance and can save you thousands of dollars in the end so spending a few more bucks for a highly qualified septic company is worth your money
Make sure you know the location your own septic tank If you don’t have plans in your files go to your local Board of Health who will have it in their records. Once you know the location confirm how deep it is. If the septic cover is far below the ground you could be charged for digging. Clarify with the septic company their digging policy. If they do charge after a certain amount of inches try to uncover it yourself. Once you have the cover exposed, do not remove it. Wait for the professionals it will be a safety hazard if you have an open hole in your yard.
Always get a service report. When the septic technicians have finished with your septic cleaning they should give you a work order for your records. It should include important information about the condition of your septic tank like the amount of gallons that were pumped, recommended service frequency, and recommendations to help prolong the life of your septic system. Make sure you ask for this!

Need Septic Pumping Service?

When To Call A Professional About Your Septic System

Wind River — Wed, 02 May 2012 10:30:19 +0000

No one wants to think about having a septic system emergency. It can be scary to think that it could cost hundreds of dollars to clean up or have the septic technician inform you that you need to spend thousands of dollars on a whole new septic tank.

Although, there are many things a homeowner can do to maintain and prolong the life of their septic system, there are times you should call your septic system company.

Here are some tips about when to call a professional about your septic system before your system starts to back up in your home.

When you notice bad odors inside or outside the home. If you are noticing bad odors such as rotten eggs or raw sewage smells this is a big red flag that something isn’t working right with your septic system. It could be a number of things from clogs, to a leaking septic tank, to a leach field that isn’t working properly. Whatever the reason you will need professional assistance for this one. Don’t wait, this is often an early sign and you can avoid larger problems if you fix it right away.
Leaking or standing water over your leach field. If you notice the area around your leach field isn’t draining water into the soil you should call in a professional right away. This means the waste isn’t draining through the soil properly and it can cause an environmental or health hazard. Get it checked out right away!
Schedule septic pumping service every 1 to 2 years. No matter how well your septic system is working you should still be scheduling a routine septic pumping service every 1 to 2 years. This is to make sure everything is running smoothly and even the best tanks need to be pumped every couple of years. Don’t wait on this or you can end up with problems that didn’t need to be there!

How To Maintain A Healthy Septic System From Outside Your Home

Wind River — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:45:53 +0000

We all know how very important good septic system maintenance is for our homes and residences. Not only can it save the pipes, drains, and your septic tank from high cost repairs and time consuming clogs and back-ups, but it’s important for your property and the environment too!

There are plenty of things you can do from inside the home to keep everything running properly. These include using less water, keeping all harsh chemicals and hazardous wastes out of the toilets and drains, and only cleaning with all natural ingredients. But did you know you can also help your septic system from the outside of your home too? Here are some tips on how to maintain a healthy septic system from outside your home:

Never plant trees or large shrubs near your septic system. You should only plant grass near the tank and leach field as the roots from trees and shrubs will often get too close to your system and clog up the pipes and leach field lines. This can damage the system causing big repairs.
Always park your cars and other heavy equipment away from the septic system. You don’t want any added weight on your septic tank or leach field as it can cause the soil to compact and not allow the liquid to be absorbed. It can also crack the pipes, septic tank or leach field lines.
Always watch your roof gutters. You don’t want the gutter draining into your septic system as this can cause flooding and major back-ups. You should always make sure to keep your gutter clear and cleaned to avoid any issues.
Watch the area around the septic tank and leach field for red flags. If you notice that the area around your tank or leach field is soggy, has odors like rotten eggs or sewage or there is standing water you need to have the tank checked out by professionals. There could be a leak in the tank or the leach field is not leaching properly and it’s very dangerous and costly if left unrepaired.

Homeowners Guide to Septic System Maintenance

Wind River — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 10:30:58 +0000

If you’re a new homeowner you know how important it is to keep up your home and property in good condition, but what about septic system?

Sadly, this is often overlooked by homeowners new and old and if your septic system isn’t properly looked after it can end up costing you big bucks in repairs and service. So what is the best way to keep your septic system in great shape? You can save hundreds of dollars by doing little things around the house to help keep your water consumption down and make sure you don’t have bad or excess waste in your pipes.

Good septic system maintenance doesn’t take a lot of time or money, it’s just thinking in a Greener and more environmentally friendly way. Here are a couple of tips.

Use all natural cleaning products. One cheap and easy way to help your septic system is to make your own cleaning products to clean the bathrooms and kitchen. Using products that are safe and all natural such as baking soda, lemon, vinegar, and tea tree oil instead of harsh chemicals like bleach will keep your septic system happy and working for much longer. It’s simple really, the good bacteria aren’t eaten away by the chemicals and it can stick around and do its job which is to eat away at the waste.. This keeps clogs and back-ups to a minimum.
Some cleaning products are hard not to use and replace with all natural cleanters. You want to make sure your home is clean and some all natural cleaners don’t do the job you want it to. If you need to use those antibacterial soaps you can counter act their affect on the septic system by using bacteria additives. By introducing the healthy bacteria back into the septic system you can put your mind to rest and know that the bacteria is still there breaking down the solids in the septic tank.
Buy water reducers for your nozzles and toilets. You can save gallons of water each year but purchasing the right nozzles and flow reducers for your showers and toilets. This allows less water to be used when you shower and flush the toilet and that saves pressure on your septic tank as well as conserves our natural resources.
We recommend that you install a septic tank filter if you do not have one. It is an important tool that will protect your leach field by acting as a strainer, keeping the hair, grit, grime, and larger particles not yet broken down in your tank from getting out into your leach field lines. If your septic system has a filter, it should be cleaned at every septic pumping service.
Above all the best preventative maintenance for your septic system is to schedule routine septic pumping service. There is no way to avoid sludge build up, but regular servicing helps keep it at a manageable level. Your septic system must be cleaned properly and pumped on a regular basis to ensure that your system remains at a healthy liquid balance. Regular servicing and septic pumping will help to identify potential problems that could be lurking under the surface.

Don’t Get Ripped Off By Grease Trap Pumping Services

Wind River — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:30:31 +0000

If you need to hire professionals for septic pumping service or grease trap pumping it’s not always easy to know who you can trust. While there are many well experienced and trustworthy professionals out there for pumping and system repairs you can also find yourself in the position of being ripped off. How do you know what to look for? Here are a couple tips when you’ve hired a professional for septic and/or grease pumping service.

1. Always get a set quote for the work. You should never have the professional show up at your home and then give you a price after the work is done (or if the work is half done). Any professional will have set prices for their work and be able to tell you ahead of time.

2. Watch out for “skimming”. “Skimming” the tank or partial pumping is a scam that many people fall victim to. Basically the pumping company only takes off the very top layer of septic or grease from your tank and leaves the rest of the sewage or grease behind. Not only will you be paying more than you should but not fully cleaning the septic or grease tank will lead to the system overflowing in your yard or backing up in your home. It can also damage your septic or grease system, forcing you to spend money on a new one to replace it which can end up being very expensive and time consuming.

Bottom line, don't get ripped off by grease trap pumping services!

How To Extend The Life Of Your Septic System

Wind River — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 10:30:51 +0000

Septic pumping service is an inexpensive procedure compared to replacing your septic system. Septic pumping service is necessary in order to keep your tank, pipes, and drains in good working order. Many professionals recommend that you have septic pumping done every 1 to 2 years. But if you have too much pressure or wear and tear on your septic system you can find yourself in the position of having to have the tank pumped more often. Since no one wants that, here is how to extend the life of your septic system.

Use bacteria additives. Most cleaning products we use on a daily basis are antibacterial which will kill the healthy bacteria in the septic tank that breaks down the waste. Having bacteria in your system is very important because you don’t want the solids going to the leach field. Once in the leach field they will have nowhere to go and will clog up the leach lines.
Decrease your water consumption. It makes sense, the more water your home or business is consuming the more pressure you are putting onto your septic system. Try taking shorter showers, doing less loads of laundry in a single day, and never over running your dishwasher. Also, do not use a garbage disposal. Chopped up food particles from the disposal do not break down in the septic tank so the particles will make their way out into your leach field lines causing clogs. These tips can quickly add up to making a big difference!
Pay attention to what goes down the drains. If you are putting bad waste down the drains or the toilet that can’t be properly broken down you can be sure you’re going to need septic pumping sooner than later. Never toss anything down the toilet like tampons, cat litter, coffee grounds, Kleenex, or wipes. You should also be careful not to let any grease go down your drain from pots and pans, and be sure and use environmentally safe cleaners instead of harsher ones that will eat away at the good bacteria in your septic system.
If you don’t already have one, have a filter installed on the outlet line of the septic tank. This is going to prevent anything you don’t want going to the leach field such as hair, grit, grim, and solids. Once installed, make sure the technician cleans the filter during every septic pumping service .
Above all the most important step to prolonging the life of your septic system is to schedule routine septic pumping service. Having a professional service and inspect your system every 1 to 2 years will keep you on track and a head of any issues. They are the ones that are going to be able to point out if your septic system is in trouble.