Wastewater Lift Station – Tips for Finding the Best One

Wastewater lift stations are the types of things that most people do not even think about until they need one. Yet these handy devices are integral for many small businesses in Texas. Essentially, they help wastewater move when gravity is against you, helping your business stay clean and within local regulations. If you are looking for a wastewater lift station in Houston, then here are a few tips to help you find the right one, and some advice on making sure it keeps running as efficiently as possible now and into the future.

1. Look at Wet Well Materials

Wastewater lift stations can be roughly divided into two parts: the wet well and the controls. The wet well itself is essentially a basin housing the inflow and pumps. For a wastewater lift station in Houston, the material will generally be fiberglass or concrete. Some are metal but these are increasingly rare because of their malleability and cost, especially compared to fiberglass.

2. Think about Design and Controls

While most wastewater lift stations run on their own, it is always important to consider the design and controls of the device. For the controls, you will need to think about ease of use. Are the controls simple and easy to decipher? If you needed to, could you shut it down or make adjustments as necessary? Look for a device that makes operation easy so that you can take control when necessary.

3. Connect with a Qualified Lift Station Maintenance Company

If you own a wastewater lift station in Houston, then it will require maintenance every once and awhile. This can be anything from routine check-ups and tune-ups to actual full repairs on broken stations. Since lift stations are actually quite complicated devices, it is best to leave these sorts of jobs to professional companies like Drane Ranger. Since we have the experience and tools necessary to keep lift stations working at their absolute best, we can make sure that your lift station is working as efficiently as possible, and for longer.

4. Make Sure Your Lift Station Gets Regular Cleanings

Lift station cleaning is one of the most important aspects of many local businesses. Without regular cleanings, your lift station can actually be vulnerable to costly repairs, which is why so many companies choose to have regular, scheduled lift station cleanings through an experienced and professional company. For people with a wastewater lift station in Houston, many choose Drane Ranger. We can make lift station cleaning easy and effortless, coming at regular intervals to ensure that your lift station is clean and working as efficiently as possible.

If you have or need a wastewater lift station in Houston, then be sure to contact Drane Ranger. Our maintenance packages and repair services can ensure that your lift station works for years to come. Without the right services for your lift station, you could end up paying more in costly repairs, plus the fact that a dirty lift station will work much less efficiently.

Why Should Restaurants Clean Their Grease Traps Regularly?

As a business owner you are well aware of the vast amount of tasks that you need to do on a daily basis to maintain your business and keep it running smoothly to maximize profits. Sometimes certain tasks that are more important are prioritized while you forget about the basic tasks, such as cleaning out your grease traps. It is important to regularly do your restaurant grease trap cleaning no matter what else comes up, because it can cause your business problems quickly if it is not taken care of.

Tank Damage

Something that isn’t apparent right away when dealing with your restaurant grease trap cleaning is the damage that can happen to the tank if you don’t perform regular cleanings. If you don’t clean out the system regularly, food particles in your traps can start to decay, which will produce hydrogen sulfur gas resulting in sulfuric acid. Sulfuric acid is a dangerous chemical that can damage the integrity of your grease trap system.

Offensive Odors

When you start to ignore your restaurant grease trap cleaning your customers may not notice it, but rest assured your kitchen staff and guests will eventually notice the rancid odor of a clogged grease trap system when food particles start to decay. Offensive odors lead to customers turning away and a bad reputation, giving you another reason to clean your grease traps regularly.

Fines

Fines levied by the county or city can cost your business precious profits, and if you aren’t taking care of your restaurant grease trap cleaning you could have city inspectors knocking at your door. When your grease trap gets too full, it stops doing what it’s supposed to, and starts sending fats, oils and greases (FOGs) into the municipal sewer system. If too many FOGs enter the sewer system it can cause clogs and backups on a large scale causing issues for everyone. Serious damage means serious fines.

Clog Costs

You might think you are saving money by putting off a restaurant grease trap cleaning, but in the end the cost of regular maintenance is cheaper than dealing with a fully clogged system. If your grease trap system starts to build up too much too often you may start to get build up that is far more difficult to remove. This means more time and more money to clear the trap. Grease traps not properly maintained will cause clogs and backups all over your restaurant, from drains, to toilets and dishwashers.

Detect Needed Maintenance

One of the less thought of benefits of regular restaurant grease trap cleaning is the fact that when you have a company come and clean your traps they can also check on the health of your grease trap system. Having someone capable of detecting any potential issues in your system can allow you to fix the issue before it becomes a major breakdown and avoid major repairs in the future. The expertise of a professional grease trap cleaner is an invaluable investment.

If you are a restaurant owner in Houston and need a professional expert restaurant grease trap cleaning service, contact Drane Ranger today.

How often should a septic tank be pumped?

How often should your septic tank be pumped? You are probably wondering this as well if you have just recently bought a home that needs septic tank pumping, instead of draining waste water into the regular sewer system. The tanks come in different sizes and they fill differently, depending on the size of the tank and how often it is used, that is, the number of people living in your home. You can usually make an estimate based on these factors and have it pumped on a planned schedule.

Maintenance

If there are four people in a house with a 500-gallon tank, the estimate is that septic tank pumping should be done once a year. If there were only two people in the house, then the tank may only need emptying every two years. Not all tanks are 500-gallon sized, so check the size of the tank before you make that estimate. Of course, you don’t want anything to go wrong with the tank which is why the regular maintenance, and ‘good health’ checks on the tank are so important. Keep your mind on the regular need for pumping the tank so that it doesn’t let you down when you least expect it.

Proper Use

You can make a better estimate by considering not only how many people are in the house, but also how the tank is used. Efficient tanks fill up more slowly if only water is put down the drains and only biodegradable materials and paper down the toilet. As long as the items flushed break down quickly there will be fewer problems. Things that don’t break down as quickly are things like disposable wipes, dental floss, cigarette butts, coffee grounds and cooking fats that float in the tank and don’t decompose for a long period of time. People usually find that septic tank pumping is needed more often when these types of items are flushed or put down the drains.

Did you know that using a garbage disposal also contributes to how fast the tank fills? It’s almost like having another person living in the household. Grease, oil and fat cause problems too because they don’t mix in with the water in the tank but instead float on top, or clog the system completely. You will need to call the septic tank pumping crews more often in these situations. Lists are easy to find that tell you what not to put down a household drain if you are on a septic system.

If you have made a reasonable estimate using these tips and advice from the septic tank cleaning company, be sure to make a note to remember when its time for a septic tank pumping. Don’t put it off until the last minute. It is better, in fact, to schedule the cleaning for a specific period of time so that the regular maintenance does not become overdue.

The last thing you want is for something to go wrong. Sewage leaks can be disastrous. Keep in touch with Drane Ranger if you know you will need septic tank pumping services soon. They can help you schedule routine maintenance and give you peace of mind that nothing will go wrong with your septic tank.

The Importance of Commercial Grease Trap Cleaning and Maintenance

A clogged grease trap, and the headache that comes with it, is one of the most devastating crises a restaurant can deal with. A backed-up grease trap often requires that the restaurant be closed until the traps are properly cleaned, and the drains and grease trap are working properly again. What’s more unfortunate in this scenario is that it can be prevented by using a commercial grease trap cleaning service.

Most businesses can’t afford the loss of having to shut down for any reason and its even worse when they must pay a restoration company out of pocket to fix the damage, thus causing more financial loss. A quick solution is to hire a commercial grease trap cleaning company for regular cleaning and maintenance.

Commercial Grease Trap Cleaning and Maintenance – Purpose of a Grease Trap

Commercial grease traps are made to prevent grease, fats, and oils from entering the sewer lines or a business’s septic system. When they’re not monitored and cared for they cool and solidify. Then they stick to the inside of the plumbing, trap particles and eventually the clogging gets so bad that waste water can’t pass, and the gunk backs up into the kitchen’s drains and sinks.

Grease traps are key to stopping these wastes from getting into the plumbing. Commercial grease trap cleaning ensures that the holding tank for the flowing wastewater leaves through a pipe below the buildup of grease, fats, and oils caught by the grease trap. While these particles rise to the surface.

Caring for Grease Traps

The ideal way to stop a plumbing emergency and keep your customers happy is with a commercial grease trap cleaning company that will regularly service your grease traps. Depending on how busy your establishment is you should have your commercial grease traps cleaned every 30 to 90 days.

A thorough and proper commercial grease trap cleaning includes pumping out the contents of your trap and not just skimming the oils, grease and fats off the surface. The wastewater and corrosive food solids must be completely cleared away.

Save Money with a Commercial Grease Trap Cleaning Service

Below are the top 3 ways you save money hiring a professional cleaning and maintenance service.

1. When you schedule regular cleaning, the potential clogs can be stopped before they become issues. This way you can focus on the important parts of your business such as your customers, your employee’s safety and your products and service. A commercial grease trap cleaning company also hauls the mess away.

2. Better efficiency. When you maintain important areas of your business with a commercial grease trap cleaning company your business will run smoother. You won’t have any financial surprises you can’t afford.

3. Safety issues are thwarted when a commercial grease trap cleaning company takes care of the build up of oils and fats. When they clog you run the risk of harming other businesses near you.

If you’re looking for commercial grease trap cleaning in Houston, we can help. At Drane Ranger we offer regular cleaning and maintenance for your business’s traps. We can also suggest ways to care for it between our service calls. For more information or to book an appointment you can visit our website.