Showing posts with label septic tank. Show all posts
Showing posts with label septic tank. Show all posts
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Landscaping to Avoid Root Infiltration
Natural Ways to Protect Sewer Lines and Septic Tanks!If you're a homeowner, it is extremely important to take care of your sewer line system or septic tank to prevent costly damage. Root infiltration is one of the most common causes of damage sewer lines, pipes and septic storage tanks. Over time, sprawling roots from trees and shrubs can make their way through thin cracks and holes in pipes, lines and tanks. Once they've penetrated, they can continue to grow, creating a major blockage that cause unsanitary sewage and waste water to back up into your home...or to leak and soak through the soil in your lawn.
To avoid root infiltration damage, try to avoid planting trees and plants with long root systems or that require a great deal of moisture within the vicinity of your main sewer line or septic tank. These plants will seek out and gravitate toward pipes, lines and tanks. Instead, stick with these sewer and septic safe alternatives.
- Grass: Plain old lawn grass is one of the best (and safest) things you can plant over your septic tank or main sewer line. The roots are very short and grass is relatively easy to care for. Try Kentucky bluegrass or Rye grass, be sure to mow regularly, and treat yearly with a weed-killing formula.
- Perennials: Perennial plants and flowers -- like daisies, daylilies, and poppies -- come back year after year. These plants are a good choice because they are low-maintenance and inexpensive. When planting perennials over a septic tank or the path of a sewer line, lay down topsoil at least six inches deep and cover with a layer of mulch to keep the soil from eroding.
- Wildflowers: Wildflowers also have short root systems that won’t reach deep enough to damage your sewer line or septic system. They provide great color, thick coverage, and a distinct look to any area of your yard. You can purchase individual packets of wildflower seeds in coordinating colors to give your planting structure or choose mixed seeds for a more casual, random garden. Be sure to put down an inch or two of good quality top soil so your wildflower seeds will sprout.
- Septic Tank Mix: Septic tank mix, or prairie mix, is a blend of wildflowers and wild grasses. It’s easy to plant, sprouts quickly, is super-low maintenance, and doesn’t require a bed of topsoil in order to flourish. Septic tank mix is often recommended by professionals because it absorbs excess moisture from the ground and has a very short root system. You can find prairie mix in any lawn and garden or home improvement store.
- Ornamental Grass: Ornamental grasses are also easy to grow and don’t require much maintenance. They tend to spread but don’t grow deep, so there’s little chance of the roots damaging your sewer lines or septic tank. The simplest way to start growing ornamental grasses is to purchase a starter plant in a small container from your local garden center. Once it’s replanted in the ground over your septic tank or sewer line, it should start to spread out within a few weeks. There are plenty of colors and varieties to choose from, making it easy to create a custom look for your home.
- Container Gardens: Most septic tanks need maintenance or repairs at some point. If you’ve invested a lot of time and money planting in this area, you could face a significant loss if the ground must be disturbed. An easy way to avoid this while still adding beauty to your yard is by arranging container plantings over the septic tank. Flowers, grasses and other plants can be potted in attractive containers and set over a layer of pea gravel. That way, if you ever need access to the underground parts of your septic system, you can simply move the containers out of the way until the work is finished.
Repairing and replacing sewer lines and septic tanks can be quite expensive and usually requires digging and tearing up large patches of your yard. Adding these plants can not only help you avoid these costly and destructive repairs, they can also give your yard added beauty and attract songbirds and butterflies.
Related Information from Horizon Services...
Monday, March 29, 2010
Home Water System Basics
When it comes to your home's plumbing and water system, you're probably pretty familiar with those items which are in plain view, such as your your pipes, drains and fixtures (sinks, toilets, tubs, showers, faucets etc.). But what about those components that are down in your basement or working quietly in the background or out of sight? They're just as important. Here is a quick overview of some of the other major components and equipment that make up your home's water system.
Tank Water Heater
This is the most common type of hot water heater found in homes today. Operating on either electricity or gas, tank heaters are made from copper, stone, glass, aluminum or galvanized steel. The tank’s material affects function, cost of operation, and energy efficiency. Metal tanks can rust over time, so it’s wise to invest in a magnesium coated rod, which hangs down into the tank and prevents corrosion. To maintain a tank heater, water should be drained at least once a year so sediment can be cleared out and the interior of the tank can be inspected for damage.
Tankless Water Heater
An emerging trend in water heating is the tankless heater. Rather than storing hot water in a tank, these units attach directly to your home’s plumbing and heat water on demand. As water moves through the pipes the tankless heater warms it so you get hot water only when you need it. Tankless heaters are run by either gas or electricity and are generally more energy-efficient and cheaper to operate than tank heaters. However, tankless heaters cost more up front. Large units are installed where water comes into the house, while smaller units are installed where water is used.
Sump Pump
Sump pumps are used to get rid of ground water that may collect around a home’s foundation or in basements that sit below the water line. There are two main types of sump pump -- submersible or pedestal. Submersible sump pumps have a motor and pump encased as a single unit that rests in a pit or shallow well below the ground. Pedestal pumps have a motor that sits above the water line. Regardless of the type of pump you have in your home, your basement should have drain tiles that direct water into the sump.
All-Purpose Pumps
These lightweight pumps are most commonly used by boaters, campers and homeowners to drain water from flooded basements or low spots after heavy rain. Battery-operated pumps can be hooked up to a car or other vehicle, while other types of pumps run on standard household electricity.
Septic Tank
Made of any one of a number of materials, septic tanks collect and hold sewage as it decomposes. Septic tanks should be matched to the size of your home to ensure adequate space and prevent back-up or malfunction. Tanks must be pumped and cleaned out regularly, once every two years or so, but should be inspected more frequently, about every 18 months. A certified professional can take a look at your septic tank to make sure the sludge level is not excessive and will notify you of any cracks or leaks in the tank that could cause problems. Most experts recommend using some kind of enzymatic additive or septic cleaner once a month to boost bacteria levels and speed decomposition of waste inside the tank. These cleaners will help keep waste levels manageable so that sludge doesn’t back up into pipes or block drainage lines.
More Plumbing and Water System Resources from Horizon Services...
Tank Water Heater
This is the most common type of hot water heater found in homes today. Operating on either electricity or gas, tank heaters are made from copper, stone, glass, aluminum or galvanized steel. The tank’s material affects function, cost of operation, and energy efficiency. Metal tanks can rust over time, so it’s wise to invest in a magnesium coated rod, which hangs down into the tank and prevents corrosion. To maintain a tank heater, water should be drained at least once a year so sediment can be cleared out and the interior of the tank can be inspected for damage.
Tankless Water Heater
An emerging trend in water heating is the tankless heater. Rather than storing hot water in a tank, these units attach directly to your home’s plumbing and heat water on demand. As water moves through the pipes the tankless heater warms it so you get hot water only when you need it. Tankless heaters are run by either gas or electricity and are generally more energy-efficient and cheaper to operate than tank heaters. However, tankless heaters cost more up front. Large units are installed where water comes into the house, while smaller units are installed where water is used.
Sump Pump
Sump pumps are used to get rid of ground water that may collect around a home’s foundation or in basements that sit below the water line. There are two main types of sump pump -- submersible or pedestal. Submersible sump pumps have a motor and pump encased as a single unit that rests in a pit or shallow well below the ground. Pedestal pumps have a motor that sits above the water line. Regardless of the type of pump you have in your home, your basement should have drain tiles that direct water into the sump.
All-Purpose Pumps
These lightweight pumps are most commonly used by boaters, campers and homeowners to drain water from flooded basements or low spots after heavy rain. Battery-operated pumps can be hooked up to a car or other vehicle, while other types of pumps run on standard household electricity.
Septic Tank
Made of any one of a number of materials, septic tanks collect and hold sewage as it decomposes. Septic tanks should be matched to the size of your home to ensure adequate space and prevent back-up or malfunction. Tanks must be pumped and cleaned out regularly, once every two years or so, but should be inspected more frequently, about every 18 months. A certified professional can take a look at your septic tank to make sure the sludge level is not excessive and will notify you of any cracks or leaks in the tank that could cause problems. Most experts recommend using some kind of enzymatic additive or septic cleaner once a month to boost bacteria levels and speed decomposition of waste inside the tank. These cleaners will help keep waste levels manageable so that sludge doesn’t back up into pipes or block drainage lines.
More Plumbing and Water System Resources from Horizon Services...
Friday, February 26, 2010
Regular Septic System Maintenance is a Must!
There are more than 25 million homes in America that have a septic system. If you live in one of them, you may already know that regular maintenance is the only way to keep your septic tank functioning properly. Thankfully, maintaining your septic system is pretty easy, so long as you remember to be consistent with a schedule of treatment and preventative care.A septic tank is actually a sophisticated waste management method that stores and removes waste from your home. Bacteria in the septic tank break down sewage and keep the system functioning properly. When there aren’t enough organisms present in the septic tank, sewage builds up much faster than normal and can cause clogs in the system pipes that force waste back-ups.
The easiest and most effective way to ensure there are enough bacteria and enzymes in your septic system is to use a natural additive like Rid-X or Liquid Plumr Septic System Treatment, which is usually poured straight into a toilet and flushed into the tank. These and other substances like them will add billions of waste-destroying bacteria to your tank without harming the existing enzymes or polluting ground water.
Most septic system manufacturers require once-monthly treatments to guarantee the best results because as water flows into the septic tank each time a toilet it flushed or a drain is opened, it washes away the bacteria and enzymes in the system. Replenishing these bacteria regularly will help your septic system maintain an appropriate amount of beneficial organisms. So mark your calendar, set an email reminder, or leave a big note on the fridge—do whatever it takes to remember this one simple step and you can save yourself a lot of trouble down the road.
Over time, septic tanks and pipes can deteriorate and weaken, tree roots can infiltrate the system causing cracks, and waste matter can form blockages that bacteria can’t reach. Just like you should see your doctor for a physical each year, your septic system should have regular appointments with a dedicated septic system expert to make sure there are no underlying, unseen problems that could lead to serious damage. Septic tank repairs can be pricey, but these costs are nothing compared to the expenses that will surely start to add up if something goes wrong. Then, you’ll be looking at not only extensive repairs to the septic system itself, but also the additional charges associated with clean-up, ground water testing, sanitization, and more.
You should have your septic tank pumped at least once every couple of years (even if you’re religious about monthly additives); an expert with a high-powered pump can remove a lot more waste at a much faster speed than a billion microscopic bacteria working for a full month.When it comes to septic systems, prevention is much easier and more cost efficient than dealing with problems as they arise. Setting a regular septic system maintenance schedule and sticking to it will save you the expense and embarrassment of a messy septic malfunction.
More From Horizon Services...
Monday, January 18, 2010
Plumbing Emergencies: When a Clogged Drain Backs Up Into Your Home
"Help! My toilet is overflowing onto the floor and it just won’t stop! I tried shuting the water off underneath the toilet and it helped a little, but it still keeps flowing. I'm up to my ankles in sewage! What do I do?"You have no idea how many times we at Horizon Services have received that phone call from frantic homeowners! If your toilet starts to back up and overflow, don't panic. The important thing is to get the overflow under control and to identify the source of the problem. That means keeping a cool head and taking an analytical approach.
First off, whenever your toilet overflows, it is a good idea to turn off the water to the toilet because it eliminates any more water from being used until the problem is fixed. The shut off is beneath the bowl, usually on the left side.
Did the overflow begin when you flushed the toilet? When your toilet overflows right after you flush it’s usually a sign that the toilet itself has a blockage. If it turns out that the clog is in the toilet itself, you could try using a toilet plunger to move the blockage through the toilet. That may be all you need to rectify the situation. Give it a few plunges to see if clears the clog. If not, don't continue -- it will probably just make things worse. Call a plumbing and drain professional; they can unclog the toilet quickly, inexpensively and safely.
What if your toilet keeps overflowing even when you haven’t flushed it? Usually this means the clog is in a drain pipe, possibly your main drain pipe or sewer line. If this is the case, when you run water from any fixture such as a shower, the water will back up from the main drain pipe and come out of your toilet bowl because it is the lowest point in your drain system. Of course, this makes it seem like the toilet is the problem, when in fact it’s your main drain pipe or sewer line that isn’t letting water go down. If you stop using water at other fixtures, the toilet will stop overflowing.
If it appears that your main drain or sewer might be clogged, call a drain cleaning professional as soon as possible. Powerful drain clearing equipment is required to unblock a main drain.
If you have a private septic system, the problem may be that your septic tank is full and is causing your main drain to back up into your home. If your septic tank has not been pumped within the last eighteen months, you should have it done to see if this is the cause of your problem. Even if you discover the problem was not in the septic tank, taking care of past due maintenance on your septic system is money well spent.
It's also very possible that the problem is not on your end. If you are on a town sewer system it is possible that the city sewer is blocked and sewage from your home and or your neighbors’ homes is backing up into your home. Check with your neighbors to see if they are having any problem with their main drains. If they are, be sure to call your town sewer department. If your neighbors or town say they are having problems, your town will take care of unclogging the sewer pipe. If raw sewage has backed into your home, you can call a professional cleaning company to handle the clean up and properly sanitize your home.
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