Five Indicating Signs to Call Septic Tank Cleaning Company

When Was the Last Time the Tank Was Pumped?

Generally speaking, a septic tank needs to be pumped by a tank cleaning company every two to three years. You may need to have it cleaned more frequently, depending on how many people live in your household and how old your septic tank is.

If it’s been more than three years since your septic tank was serviced by a professional septic tank cleaning service in Alvin, TX, don’t delay. Chances are, your tank is long overdue for proper cleaning.

Are You Expecting Guests in the Near Future?

If you’re anticipating heavy septic tank use shortly—maybe your entire extended family is coming to visit (gulp)— it’s a good idea to have your septic tank cleaned and ready for action. If you’re local, you can call a professional septic tank cleaning company, and they will advise you as to what you need to do to prepare for the heavier influx of sewage. Getting your septic tank cleaned means you’ll have one less headache to worry about.

Is there a Bad Smell?

One sure fire way to know if you need to call a septic tank cleaning company in Alvin, TX, is if there’s a bad odor coming from your lawn, or any other area surrounding your septic tank. If there’s a major problem with your septic tank, you are going to smell it. Make sure you contact a septic tank cleaning company right away so that you don’t—ugh—see it.

Are You Worried Tree Roots Are Clogging Your Septic Tank’s Drainage Lines?

Tree roots are a leading cause of pipe blockages, and your septic tank is no exception. If you have a lot of trees on your property, you’ll want to ensure that they aren’t causing any trouble underground. Even if you’ve had your tank cleaned in the last two years, you may want to call a septic tank cleaning service in Alvin, TX, to ensure that tree roots aren’t going to cause you any expensive damage in the near future.

Is Your Yard Wet but It Hasn’t Rained?

If your yard is wet but it hasn’t rained (or you haven’t had the sprinklers on), no—it’s not a new weather phenomenon – your septic tank is most likely leaking sewage. A squishy, lush lawn may just mean that you are long overdue to have a professional septic tank cleaning company in Lavin, TX come out and take a look at your tank to see if everything’s working properly or, if not, to clean or repair your tank.

If you live in Alvin, TX, and own a septic tank, you need to make sure it’s properly functioning at all times. Don’t wait for these indicating signs to tell you it’s time to clean your septic tank. Call a professional today, so that you can avoid expensive repairs and smelly messes. No one wants to deal with a septic tank problem, except for the professionals whose job it is.

What to Expect During a Septic Tank Pumping

Are you a new homeowner or simply new to owning a septic tank? It’s definitely a new learning curve that will have you thinking a lot more about what goes down your drain. Let’s dispel a little of the new-owner worry by taking a quick look at what you can expect to happen during a septic tank pumping.

1) The arrival

When your septic tank pumping expert first gets to your home, he or she will most likely want to consult with you to make sure you haven’t been experiencing any problems with your septic tank.

2) Locating and exposing the tank access lids

Before the tank can be emptied, the septic tank pumping technician will need to locate the tank. Don’t worry if you don’t know where it is; they have tools to help them find it. Your tank access lid may be clearly accessible, or it may be covered by sod.

3) Initial inspection

The septic tank pumping won’t start right away; once the tank access is uncovered and opened, the technician will do a quick inspection to take note of the liquid level of the tank and how that is related to the tank’s outlet pipe. This will help to establish whether you have a problem like a tank leak or a drainpipe or drain field issue.

4) The pumping begins

The technician will place a large vacuum hose into the tank’s manholes to begin the septic tank pumping. The hose is attached to a strong pump on the Honey Wagon (the septic truck). It will continually drain all of the solids and liquids from the tank while a septage spoon and backflushing techniques may be used to loosen and remove any persistent sludge.

5) The inspection continues

As the septic tank pumping is taking place, your technician will be inspecting your tank for signs of trouble. For instance, too heavy or too light backflow as the tank empties may suggest a drain field problem. The technician will also check for signs of structural damage, including holes, cracks, seam leaks, etc.

6) Once emptied, the tank gets cleaned

The technician will follow the septic tank pumping with a quick cleaning by spraying the walls of the tank with clean water. Once finished, the tank is closed back up, the access lid is re-covered, and the technician will inform you of anything observed during the inspection.

Questions you may have about septic tank pumping:

Here are the answers to a few common questions you may have about the septic tank pumping process.

How often do you need to have your tank pumped?

This depends on usage and the number of people in your house. Relax, we don’t just mean the number of flushes (trust me, no one’s judging here); the water that goes down the drain has an impact, too, so if you do a lot of laundry or cooking or just have hard water, that can have an impact on your septic tank, too. On average, you should arrange for septic tank pumping every 1 to 3 years, or when the tank’s total solid accumulation hits 30% – 50% of total capacity.

How long will it take?

Septic tank pumping usually takes 20 – 35 minutes, although this can be slowed down if there is too much accumulation, or if poor flushing decisions or tree roots have led to clogs.

How much will it cost?

This depends on the size and condition of the tank, but you can expect septic tank pumping to cost anywhere from $75 – $300.

Can I do things to reduce pumping frequency?

Make sure you are using water sparingly and only disposing of septic-friendly materials. Avoid flushing things like diapers or baby wipes since they can plug your tank’s hoses. Make sure you aren’t using your in-sink garbage disposal; your septic tank isn’t designed to break down food waste. Try to disperse laundry day over the week, and don’t pour any chemicals down the drain that could corrode pipes or kill the bacteria that help break down waste. Making these adjustments may reduce the required frequency of septic tank pumping, but don’t push this back too far; overloading the tank can have problems and reducing inspections may mean missing warning signs.

Five Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Grease Trap Maintenance

Over time, kitchens will generate dirt and waste from cooking, especially liquid waste such as fat, oil, and grease (FOG). Unlike at home, where you would simply pour FOG into a container for disposal, cooking in a commercial kitchen is slightly more challenging. When waste builds up, it can become a big problem if you don’t have a proper grease trap maintenance service in place, searching for grease trap service near me is a great place to start.

What is a grease trap?

A grease trap, also known as a grease interceptor, can vary in size from small to very large. It is typically connected to a sink, and its purpose is to prevent FOG from ending up in the sewer system. Grease traps can be found in kitchens, especially commercial kitchens.

Why do you need a grease trap?

Large establishments such as restaurants and cafeterias in schools will generate large amounts of waste. This waste, if not dealt with, can accumulate in the sewer pipes and create larger problems including restricted wastewater flow, blocked drain pipes or sewers, and foul odors. The FOG that these types of kitchens produce is far greater in volume and frequency compared to smaller kitchens, so it’s important that the grease trap is regularly cleaned by a ‘grease trap service near me provider, to ensure pipes and the things they connect to remain functional and safe.

How does a grease trap work?

In simple terms, a grease trap functions by cooling warm or hot greasy water. The cooling of FOG allows for the separation of different layers of waste and the grease and oil in the water float to the top of the trap. The cooler water, minus the grease, continues to flow down the pipe to the sewer.

Why does a grease trap need maintenance?

If you aren’t maintaining your grease trap, you risk having it back up, either because it needs to be cleaned or because of an outlet blockage. These types of issues can result in costly repairs for your business. Grease trap maintenance performed on a regular schedule will ensure your drains are running smoothly. The general rule when it comes to grease trap cleaning is about once a month. However, high volume establishments like a restaurant will require more frequent cleanings. It’s more crucial to note when the quantity of grease within the trap hits the 25% mark. It’s at this point that the grease trap is no longer able to perform adequately, and FOG will escape into the sewer line.

Searching for grease trap service near me? Drane Ranger has everything you need to process your general wastewater needs. We are committed to the safe, responsible and sustainable treatment and disposal of all non-hazardous wastewater. Kitchen grease is the number one cause of blockages in pipes and sewer lines, so grease trap maintenance is a must. The city of Houston requires cleaning of all traps, and with over 35 years of experience in the Houston area, Drane Ranger is the best choice for grease trap service near me. Call for a free quote today!

Septic Tank Cleaning – How to Choose the Best Company

How much do you know about how your septic tank works? How often should it be cleaned? What is involved in the cleaning process? And what should you know about it all so that you can choose the best company for septic tank cleaning in Houston?

First of all, don’t forget about the septic tank. If you haven’t had it cleaned for a while, don’t wait much longer. It’s a very necessary part of your environment, and if something were to go wrong with it, you would definitely regret it, and so would your neighbors. As well, it’s not needed just for the cleanliness of everything around you, if the septic tank isn’t pumping properly, proper functioning of the household plumbing isn’t happening. It is important to choose the best company for septic tank cleaning in Houston before an emergency happens.

When you are looking for the best company to help you with your septic tank cleaning in Houston, Texas you should be questioning those you find about the following things:

1) What experience do they have? How popular are they as a septic tank cleaning company in Houston? The best company will be able to do the job correctly and efficiently, so be sure that the company is known and trustworthy.

2) Do they have the right amount of knowledge? A septic tank isn’t that complicated, but there is a lot to know, and it isn’t something that just anyone with a big truck can do. So, in addition to experience, the best septic tank cleaning company will be knowledgeable about the variety of septic tanks out there, new and old, and how all parts work together, or separately.

3) Can they perform a variety of services? Your septic tank doesn’t work alone; there are other systems, like the sump pump and grease trap that also need cleaning. For the most efficient service and simplicity for you, one question to ask the professionals you interview is if they can work on all parts of the systems at once so that you will not need other contractors for similar work. Once you have researched to find the best septic tank cleaning company in Houston, be sure to keep that company in mind for your similar needs.

4) Are they reliable? You want a company who comes promptly for the regular maintenance, and who comes quickly when there is a problem. For the best septic tank cleaning in Houston, the professional company must follow through on appointments and do their work efficiently.

5) Does the company have positive reviews online? The best place for you to find recommendations and the answers to all these questions is to ask your neighbors and friends. As well, read reviews online about the company’s pricing, professionalism, quality, and reliability. If others think highly of them, they will likely do a good job for you too, and it will help you feel good about your choice.

Looking for septic tank cleaning in Houston? Call Drane Ranger to talk about how they can help you keep your home clean and healthy.