Tag Archives: septic tank

Studies Prove Compliant With Regulated Septic Tanks

Posted on by
Reply

No Complaints When It Comes To Inspected Septic Tanks

septic system

Community councils have visited hundreds of homes, businesses and farms, which have registered septic tanks and asked about its functionality. The results have shown that more than half the interviewed people are happy with how septic systems and tanks are working in their properties or in a place nearby.

This helps prove that if you keep good care of things and follow the recommendations that experts share with us all of the time, you should not have any problem with your septic tanks.  Researchers have gone the extra mile and also handed out pamphlets and other sources of information in order to help people improve the conditions of their septic systems and make them function properly at all times.

Although some septic system owners were notified at least 10 days prior the researcher visit, it is obvious that they have been taking good care of their septic tanks for a very long time.

So if you own a septic system, remember that they can be very helpful and you only need to take good care of them, inspect them regularly and make sure that a septic tank expert helps you when needed.

Please remember to share and like this blog post, so that more people can read about the studies that some researchers are doing on septic tanks and so that more people can see that these systems are really not dangerous at all.

A Little History About Septic Systems

Posted on by
Reply

The Invention Of The Septic System

Septic System

It is believed that septic systems, first appeared in France and that a man by the name of, John Mouras, first thought of them.  The records show that septic tanks started appearing around 1860 and since then, they have made our communities a nicer place to live.

Mouras’ septic tank design was made out of concrete and clay.  It was built in Mouras’ home and the tank was in his yard.  When Mouras was dismantling the system, after using it for 10 years, he noticed that his waste was not there anymore and that only some liquid remained.  With the help of some scientists, Mouras found out that this was a great way to get rid of human waste and soon submitted the papers that he needed to get a patent.

By 1881, Mouras had a patent on his septic system design and two years later, the system was being used in the US.   The British would then take the system to Africa and from there it would reach other countries as well.  The importance of the septic system cannot be emphasized enough and if it wasn’t for people like Mouras, our communities would be entirely different.

While today, not many people consider installing a septic system in their home, there are millions who still benefit from them and that are thankful for this invention.

Septic Tanks And Running Water During Cold Temperatures

Posted on by
Reply
Septic tans and cold weather

Septic tanks and cold weather

Septic systems can easily freeze when there are cold temperatures and frost is running deep under the ground.  People, who live in rural areas and have a septic system installed in their properties, should be very careful about running water to keep their lines open.

If the temperatures are really cold and you keep adding water to your septic system, it could cause the entire system to freeze completely and lead to more problems in your home.  Residences, which have a septic system installed, should consider installing an alternative method for keeping their water pipes flowing with water properly, as this will prevent their septic systems from freezing.

Mark Mathre, who is an environmental health specialist, stated “lots of communities are having trouble with freezing water lines, which is a fairly new issue for the larger systems.  The easy fix is to tell people it’s a good idea to let the water drip.  That is one of the worst ideas for a septic system, because it really increases the risk of freeze up.”

Here are some more tips, which will help any septic system owner, to prevent freezing and other problems:

  • Do not let water run, if you own and are using a septic system.
  • Dripping fixtures, like toilets and faucets, should be repaired immediately.  If at all possible, using a condensation discharge from a high-efficiency furnace can help to prevent your septic system from freezing up.
  • Immersion-type tank heaters and stock tank heaters are also a good way to prevent your system’s tank from freezing.
  • Insulating your septic tank is an excellent way to prevent it from freezing and this can be done by piling up snow or covering the top of your septic tank.

If you are having other types of problems with your septic tank you can always contact Lake Norman Septic and we will help you solve your problems.

Thankfully, the cold winter days are almost over now and you will not have to worry much longer about your septic system freezing up.

Do Septic Systems Affect Water Quality?

Posted on by
Reply

Studies on The Effects of Septic Systems in the Environment

septic systems

Around 25% of homes in the United States are not connected to the community sewage systems and have a separate septic system installed.  The Environmental Protection Agency has found that at least 48.5% of homes in the State of North Carolina also have a septic system installed.

According to data from a study in Atlanta, there were around 500,000 septic systems in the area during 2006 and it was predicted that the number would grow at least 12,000 more units per year.  Mussie Habteselassie, who is a researcher from the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences said, “Home septic systems are still very common and not just in rural areas.  On-site septic systems drain into drain fields where the soil treats the waste water. The soils filter out the contaminants in the waste water before it reaches the ground water and the streams.”

The University of Georgia is currently leading a three-year study in order to find out if septic systems do affect water quality.  Water samples have been taken several times during a year in order to determine what septic systems can do to underwater canals and rivers.  The samples have been taken during both wet and dry seasons, which will give a much better explanation of what goes underground and how much contamination a septic system can produce, if any at all.

People are under the impression that septic systems take away water from their streams and rivers, but the recent study’s results are proving that septic systems could in fact help to increase the overall level of water in these kinds of settings.  The time of year and season seems to influence the amount of water that septic systems supply to streams and rivers, but further samples during 2014 will yield more information about this.

There is still a lot of uncertainty about the bacteria and residues that septic systems can send to rivers and streams, but the studies are proving that these systems do not affect the water in our environment and that septic water is naturally treated thanks to the soils composition and other climate factors.

At Lake Norman Septic, we worry about our environment and we are always looking to find new eco friendly methods for improving your home.  Feel free to contact us for any inquiries or to get an answer to some of your questions.   We are always ready to help you out and we want to make your home feel comfortable for you.

Knowing More About Septic Tanks And Their Contents

Posted on by
Reply

Thinking About When To Clean Out Your Septic Tank?

 

Lake Norman Septic

Lake Norman Septic

Today, there are about one-third of US citizens, who have a septic tank or system installed in their homes.  It almost always functions right and it helps them to treat the waste that they produce on a daily basis.  Most of you may not know it, but septic tanks or systems, are actually quite simple and it does not take much technology to make them work.  Our ancestors had their own type of septic systems and today, we have barely modified a few things, from the creations that they made thousands of years ago.

Septic systems are basically made out of a single pipe, which takes all of your household’s waste to a single place.  Other pipes are connected to this main pipe, so that they can transfer all of the waste that goes through them, to same reservoir.  These pipes need to have a gradual inclination, as this will allow waste to flow easily and to reach the place where it will be treated.

Once waste is in your septic tank, you can both treat it and leave it there for a few months, or you can call some professionals, to haul all that waste away for you. The question is how often you should clean out your septic tank, or how can you easily treat your own waste and wait for a few months to haul it all way.

According to some experts, it would be wise to get your septic tank and system, pumped at least once per year, but there are many people, who prefer to get this done more than once every twelve months.   It will all depend, on what level of cleanliness you want for your home and how large your family is.

If you are uncertain of how often you should get your septic tank and system pump, you can always give some professionals a call and at Lake Norman Septic, we are always ready to answer all of your questions.    We do not want you to have problems with your septic tank and this is why we recommend you that it is pumped and cleaned, at least twice per year.

This will save you a lot of money in the long run and you will also prevent a lot of health hazards in your backyard and home.  It is also important, for all homeowners to monitor their septic tanks and systems, as this will also help you to determine, when it needs to be cleaned and pumped.   If a problem does arise, there is always a solution, but the simple solutions, will no longer be an option for you.  This means, that preventing septic system and tank problems, is a much wiser decision for any home owner and that hauling away all your waste on time is a god idea.

So if you have any doubts about your septic system or tank, you can always contact us and we will gladly help you to solve all of your inquires.

Prevent Clogs on your Septic Tank with Tree Root Removal

Posted on by
Reply
Tree Root Removal

In some cases, cutting down a tree doesn’t necessarily kill it. The stumps of some trees will send up suckers and this means that their roots are still alive. If the tree was planted near a septic tank or a sewage system, the roots can still get into the pipes and clog them and quite possibly break them. This can create an expensive mess for the homeowner to clean up. So how are tree roots removed once and for all?

One way to kill the roots is to grind away the stump. The operator should use a grinder with carbide teeth. The stump should be ground at least half a foot below the surface of the ground. The hole should then be filled with soil, and then an auger should be used to take out any tree roots in the pipes.

Another way to get rid of a stump quickly is to use chemicals, though these should be used with care and kept away from children and animals. The gardener will need to drill holes in the stump and pour in the chemicals. These can be sulfuric or nitric acid, sodium disulfite or potassium nitrate. The gardener will need to follow the directions on the packages of these stump removers carefully. When the stump is finally destroyed, copper sulfate can be flushed down the toilet to kill and take away any roots that remain in the drains.

The stump and roots can also be simply dug up. Sometimes a gardener can do this with hand tools, but big stumps may need a backhoe to tear them out of the ground. Any roots that are left will simply decay.

The gardener or homeowner can also burn the stump out, though he or she will need to check with the local authority that regulates building codes to see if this is permissible. The gardener should cover the stump with kindling as they would a fireplace. The stump needs to be closely monitored until it’s completely burned. The gardener should also take into account that a stump can burn for weeks.

Preventive Home Sewer Maintenance by Septic Tank Pumping

Posted on by
Reply

septic tank pumpingSeptic tank pumping removes sludge buildup from the tank and helps maintain a healthy home septic system. To understand the benefits of this process, you need to understand how a septic system works.

The septic tank is the first step in a septic system. Wastewater from the home flows into this tank where natural bacterial and enzyme action break down solids into liquids which rise to the top of the tank. The liquids then flow into a drain or leach field where it soaks away.

But not all solid waste breaks down. Some accumulates as sludge and sinks to the bottom of the septic tank. If the level of sludge rises high enough to flow into the drain fields it can clog the field and would render the septic system unusable. Think of septic tank pumping as preventive maintenance to make sure the system works well for years to come.

Homeowners should consider pumping the septic tank when the sludge levels reaches somewhere between a third and a half of the tanks capacity. Open the tank at the access cover and probe with a long stick. You should be able to determine the level of sludge and liquid based on the residue on the stick. If probing the septic tank isn’t something you look at as a fun weekend activity an annual or twice a year cleaning, depending on level of use, could be planned as a preventative measure.

Contract with a reputable septic cleaning service to have the tank pumped. This commonly involves using a pump and truck system to remove the sludge and liquid in the tank. The septic tank cleaner should use specialized hose attachments, sometimes called septage spoons to clear even the corners of the tank. It is not necessary to wash or flush the tank but all sludge and liquid should be removed.

There are steps homeowners can take to reduce the requirements for septic tank pumping and improve the overall health of the system. Limit things going into the septic system to water, toilet paper and human waste. Never flush disposable diapers, paper towels or even waste food. These items do not break down in the septic tank and contribute to the sludge buildup. In addition, limiting the amount of water introduced into the septic system by the use of conservation toilets and repairing leaks promotes the overall health of the septic system.

What is Septic?

Posted on by
Reply

septic systemWhat exactly does the “septic” in “septic system” refer to?

According to Dictionary.com, “septic” means “pertaining to or of the nature of sepsis; infected” or “putrefactive.” It comes from an original Greek word meaning “rotten.” FreeThesaurus.com lists synonyms including dirty, germy, infectious and unhealthful.

Clearly, nobody would want to be around anything that is septic.

So why would anybody want a septic tank or a septic system?

The “septic” in “septic tank” or “septic system” refers to the environment in the tank, which is, yes, septic because of what goes into it from sinks, bath drains, washing machines and toilets. This septic tank environment is rich in anaerobic bacteria, meaning bacteria that do not use oxygen. These bacteria break down the nasty elements that settle to the bottom of the tank into food for other bacteria. What goes into a septic system is indeed dirty, germy, infectious and unhealthful for us, but makes a lush banquet for our single-celled friends. The leftovers remain settled on the bottom, to be cleaned out periodically by trained technicians who can haul it off from our property and dispose of it. From there, it can go to a sewage treatment plant, a cesspool, or an approved landfill.

In some areas, the sludge from septic tanks is portioned out as fertilizer. In a few areas, it’s used to generate electricity by being broken down to release methane, which is then burned as fuel for a generator.

What of the stuff that doesn’t settle to the bottom? The fluid in the septic system makes its way to a drain field, where the organic material serves as a fertilizer for whatever plants are growing there.

Thus, while what goes into the septic system is indeed septic for us, it is nutritious for bacteria and plants, and can even become a renewable source of clean energy.

Solving Septic System Problems with Air

Posted on by
Reply

septic repair

A septic system is designed to clean household wastewater and restore it to the ground. This occurs through a two-step operation that involves bacterial digestion to break down solid material and soil filtration to remove toxins. Oxygen is vital to this process. Without air, the system cannot work properly and wastewater will back up, possibly contaminating wells and other water sources. The leach-field, the component that handles this function, is a common culprit in septic systems that perform poorly.

Over time, soil in the field can become densely compacted and deprived of oxygen. The aerobic bacteria responsible for waste digestion die off and the water is unable to percolate through the ground. Pathogenic bacteria and viruses are not filtered out and nitrogen accumulates in the soil. Homeowners may notice slow draining toilets and sinks, frequent blockages in plumbing fixtures, bare patches of ground around the system, and sewage odors inside the home. During servicing, a technician may note that water flows backwards into the holding tank.

Repair traditionally requires digging up the old system and relocating it or installing a new system. Although costly and time consuming, it may still be the best option in many cases. If the old septic system is damaged beyond repair or there is a significant increase in the demand for wastewater processing, a new tank and field line are necessary. Occasionally the old system can be left in place and used as a backup for heavy workloads.

For septic problems caused by poor soil drainage and aeration, lakenormanseptic.com recommends the Terra-lift technology as an affordable alternative. Using special equipment, high-pressure blasts of air are injected deep into the ground at various locations. Creating large fractures in compacted soil, new drainage channels are opened thereby increasing oxygen levels and loosening the dirt. Inserting plastic beads into the ground ensures that the new fissures remain open and prevent soil re-compaction. Ultimately, this leads to better waste water filtration and lower nitrogen levels in the system.