How to Maintain Your Septic Tank

Posted on by adminLeave a comment

Septic tanks are common in rural areas wherein a property may not be connected to a sewerage system. They are simple wastewater removal systems that require regular attention to avoid system failure. Keeping up with your septic tank maintenance will help you avoid costly repairs and ensure a smooth operation.

How it Works

Your property’s septic tank works to move wastewater from the household to be treated and disposed of, commonly in a septic drain field (also known as a leach field). Prior to designating land to be a drain field, a percolation test measures the water absorption rate of soil to determine if the area is suited for the job. Wastewater enters the septic tank chamber where solids settle and scum floats. The solids are then digested by bacteria while liquids pass through a dividing wall to a second chamber for another round of settling. The excess liquid then moves on the septic field for further processing in the soil. The process is a simple one, but it can run amok if septic tank maintenance is not a regular practice.

Your septic tank moves a lot of waste for treatment, and unfortunately, sludge accumulates faster than the rate of decomposition. The build-up must be removed, which is often done with a vacuum truck. If the build-up is not taken care of, the septic tank fills and undecomposed material spills into the septic field, wreaking havoc on the environment. The sludge can also clog leach field piping and negatively impact the soil – this translates to a big price tag for repairs. Regular septic tank maintenance will prevent backed-up septic systems and save you from costly repairs.

Maintenance and Prevention

Poorly maintained septic tanks are susceptible to costly system failure. Regular septic tank maintenance is vital to an efficient wastewater system on any property, whether a single home with one septic tank or an industrial park with multiple. It is recommended septic tanks are checked at least once a year to avoid build-up and overflow. Professional septic tank services will help you maintain your septic tank and safely dispose of waste material.

Septic tank maintenance falls on the shoulders of the home or property owner. While professional services are often needed for cleaning and emptying, there are measures you can take to avoid costly repairs.

1. Avoid dumping cooking oil down the drain. A better alternative is storing cooking oil and grease in a container and dispose of once hardened. Cooking pans with excess oil should be washed with hot water and soap in the sink to help greasy material get through the drain smoothly.

2. Take care of what you flush. Using toilets for the disposal of other materials such as cigarette butts, menstrual hygiene products, cotton buds, and food waste can overload the system.

3. Watch out for chemicals down the drain. Pesticides and herbicides can kill the bacteria in your septic system responsible for the waste breakdown.

Properly designed and maintained septic systems are odor-free with a multi-decade life expectancy. If your septic tank is starting to stink up your property, it is likely overdue for a check-up. Check your septic tank regularly and be on the lookout for surfacing sewage, wet spots, gurgling sounds in the plumbing system, and slow drainage. Staying on top of septic tank maintenance will keep your property running smoothly and odor-free.

Waste Management – Environmentally Friendly with the Help of Vacuum Trucks

Posted on by adminLeave a comment

Disposing of wastewater can be problematic for many people. Even if the water is not necessarily hazardous, many people have no idea how and where to dispose of excessive wastewater. Left to their own devices, people may accidentally dispose of wastewater improperly and potentially unsafely. That is where Drane Ranger comes in, with their vacuum truck services in Houston, TX.

Therefore, if you need vacuum truck services in Houston, TX, look no further than Drane Ranger. Drane Ranger is a Houston, TX-based waste disposal company, founded in 1985, that offers a variety of disposal solutions for non-hazardous liquid waste, each in an environmentally friendly and sustainable way.

In addition to other liquid waste disposal services, Drane Ranger offers quality vacuum truck services for wastewater disposal. They offer their services to businesses, as well as to industrial and residential properties that need wastewater disposal in Houston and the surrounding area. So, if you need help disposing of a large amount of wastewater, then Drane Ranger will bring a vacuum truck, as well as a certified waste disposal expert and vacuum truck driver, to your location. In doing so, they will guarantee that your wastewater is disposed of quickly, efficiently, and in an environmentally friendly way.

What Makes Drane Ranger’s Services So Environmentally Friendly?

Committed wholeheartedly to the sustainable and safe cleanup of non-hazardous wastewater since 1985, Drane Ranger should be your first choice for wastewater disposal and vacuum truck services in Houston, TX. Rather than worrying about disposing of wastewater by yourself—something that many people have no idea how to do safely—Drane Ranger does the hard parts of the job for you. After Drane Ranger has cleaned up the wastewater at your location, the water is then taken to Drane Ranger’s high-quality disposal plant, where it is safely cleaned and disposed of in a manner that is environmentally friendly and sustainable over the long-term.

Book a Wastewater Clean-Up Today!

If you have wastewater that you need help cleaning up, then all you need to do is fill out a simple form on Drane Ranger’s website. After doing so, Drane Ranger will send a vacuum truck to your location to help clean up the excessive wastewater. After dealing with Drane Ranger’s vacuum truck services in Houston, TX, you will be left satisfied, knowing that your excessive wastewater has been dealt with in an environmentally friendly way, without a trace. So, do not hesitate to contact Drane Ranger today, and rest easy knowing that your wastewater has been dealt with properly.

Things You Should Know Before Hiring a Grease Trap Cleaning Service

Posted on by adminLeave a comment

If you remember the great “Fatberg” under the streets of Baltimore, Maryland in September 2017, or the various ones in London, England, you can see the importance of ensuring your restaurant’s effluent is appropriately kept out of the city’s sewage system through the proper functioning of your restaurant’s grease trap/interceptor. According to Texas State Law, grease trap cleaning is required not less than every 90 days or whenever there is a need. What does this last point mean? There are a few signs to know regarding when you should clean your grease trap, as well as a few things you should know before you hire a grease trap cleaner.

When to know your grease trap needs cleaning

Clogged / Slow moving drainage

Large deposits of fat and grease can solidify into what’s called a “cap,” which blocks or slows waste movement through the system. If your drainage system takes longer than it used to or isn’t draining at all, a cap may have formed in your system. This will need to be cleaned via grease trap cleaning.

Foul Smell

Without drainage, the stagnation of grease and food solids foments fermentation and rot that create a stench that can waft through your restaurant and make it appear unsanitary. If there is an unexplained stench that remains after all the garbage has been taken out, and a cleaning regimen doesn’t combat it, it may be time for a grease trap cleaning.

When should you clean your grease trap?

You should clean your trap immediately if you encounter either of the explanations above. As mentioned above, Texas State Law requires restaurants to conduct grease trap cleaning no less than every 90 days, if 25% or more of the wetted height of the grease trap, or if the discharge exceeds local standards. Additionally, in the event of non-compliance with state regulations, they can ensure regular compliance by ordering increased cleaning at their discretion.

Things to know before hiring a Grease Trap Cleaning service

Don’t hesitate to shop around and compare services, but you’re going to want a company with experience in the area, one that knows the local regulations and offers you the best services at a cost-effective price point. Spending a couple of minutes looking into the grease trap cleaning service provider’s Better Business Bureau background and review sites can save you hours of headaches in knowing that you’ve hired a compliant and legitimate company.

Don’t go amateur

Remember that non-compliance point mentioned above? Improper maintenance can not only cost you more in the long run, but it can also mean that your restaurant could be considered non-compliant. Play it safe and hire professionals that have years of experience conducting grease trap cleaning.

When considering which grease trap cleaning service to use, consider that Drane Ranger has a four-star review on multiple sites, zero customer complaints with the BBB, and over 20 years of experience in the field. Keep your restaurant compliant, and help keep Houston off the “Fatberg” list by hiring an experienced grease trap cleaning service like Drane Ranger.

Warning Signs Signal for Septic Tank Cleaning

Posted on by adminLeave a comment

You never really think of your septic system until something goes wrong. It is just sitting out there under your lawn, just working to deal with your household waste, but what happens when it starts to fail? There are several warning signs you can look for if you suspect that something is wrong with your septic tank, but of course, you should have regular maintenance performed every few years from a company that specializes in septic tank cleaning in Alvin, TX anyhow. But, if these following warning signs start appearing, you should contact a septic tank cleaning service immediately.

Slow Drains

When you first see signs of slow drains, most people may think their pipes are the cause of the problem. However, if all your drains, toilets, bathtubs, etc. are draining noticeably slower, that may be a warning sign of a much bigger problem, with the culprit being the septic tank. So, if you notice all your drains slowing down, then it might be time to call in for a septic tank cleaning in Alvin, TX. NOTE: If you have a septic tank, avoid any industrial or commercial drain cleaners, and if you use any type of cleaner, ensure it is labeled as being septic tank safe so that they do not kill the microbes working in your septic tank.

Gurgling Water

Just like slow drains, if you notice a gurgling sound every time you flush your toilet, or when you run your faucets, it could either be a sign of a clogged vent pipe, or it could mean your septic tank is full, or that the drain field is full. That means you need septic tank cleaning in Alvin, TX.

Soggy Grass and Water Pools

Your septic tank, if properly installed, is going to be placed under a large section of the lawn. But what it shouldn’t be causing is a buildup of water on the surface. Septic tanks slowly drain water out of them into a drainage area, but if your septic tank is no longer functioning properly and needs septic tank cleaning in Alvin, TX, it may be draining too much water, saturating the soil, and causing your lawn to turn into a swamp, or a pool.

Ultra-Green Lawn

If you know the location of your septic tank (or even if you don’t), and you start noticing grass growing very well in a certain spot on your lawn, that could be a sign that your septic tank is starting to fail. Since the septic system drains excess water into a drain field (while keeping solids inside the tank), extra green grass could be a sign of something more than just water getting into the drain field—it could mean it is time to call for a septic tank cleaning in Alvin, TX.

Pipes Backing Up

Once your septic tank gets full or is starting to fail, it could start back draining into your home, especially when you are draining a large quantity of water at once. If your septic system can’t handle the influx of water and you don’t look into septic tank cleaning in Alvin, TX, it’ll just start backing up into your home, back where it came from and out of any available drains.

Odors and Sewage

Probably one of the most obvious signs that you need a septic tank cleaning in Alvin, TX is if you are starting to smell odors coming from your drains, or even while you are outside near the septic tank. You need to call in an expert immediately before more damage is done.

If you are seeing the warning signs of needing a septic tank cleaning in Alvin, TX, then contact Drane Ranger immediately to get your system cleaned out and brought back into working order. You can even set up a regular maintenance schedule with them to ensure problems don’t come back in the future.