Septic Tank Service – is This Something I Should be Worried About

No doubt about it! Most households agree that their septic tank is crucially important. Unfortunately, as septic tank pumping companies point out, septic systems are too often also overlooked and taken-for-granted.

As septic tank pumping companies explain, ignoring the required, regular maintenance of septic tank systems inevitably causes a serious mess when the septic tank fails, but affects the health of the family, when various harmful substances seep into the home.

The concept is simple. Many residential properties rely on in-ground septic tanks to help manage household waste—the liquid and solid waste that goes down the home’s drains. Unlike standard, municipal sewer system that feed into a large disposal network, a septic tank can only hold a limited amount of waste.

Septic Tank Pumping Companies point out that every residential septic system is designed to efficiently process waste for decades, assuming the septic tank is properly maintained and looked after with scheduled septic tank service from an experienced and professional septic tank pumping service.

Septic Tank Pumping Companies also emphasize that the most fundamental, and arguably the most important factor necessary—and critical—to maintain the efficiency and proper function of a septic system is the regular, scheduled pumping of the septic tank.

Most professionals recommend pumping the septic tank every 3 to 5 years, but it is important to determine the specific recommendations for a septic tank system and evaluating the household’s water usage. The more water, the more often the septic tank will need to be pumped.

Overlooking the regular maintenance and servicing of a septic tank can cause septic tank problems as well as health hazards. The scheduled services of septic tank pumping companies will eliminate some common septic tank problems, like:

Sluggish drains and/or flushing. When a septic system starts backing-up, the sinks, tub, or shower suddenly don’t drain as quickly as normal, or the toilet doesn’t flush as thoroughly as it usually does.

Odors. As the septic tank fills-up, there is less and less space for odor causing gases in the septic tank. Eventually, these gases can drift from the toilet or the sink and other drains inside the house. It not only smells awful but methane gas, hydrogen sulfate and the airborne bacteria in the fumes can be health issues for everyone in the home.

Septic Tank Pumping Companies have the expertise to avoid septic tank back-ups and the worrisome risk of making people sick when odors waft through the home.

Why You Should Choose a Vacuum Truck Service for Your Next Excavation Project

Excavation has always been a heavy, demanding and time and labour-intensive process. Traditional excavation methods are also risky and costly. More labor is required to operate heavy machinery, and it can also be damage repair and safety factors, increasing the odds of accidentally striking a utility line.

That was then, and this is now. Today, vacuum truck services near me (https://draneranger.com/services/general-wastewater-services/) are minimally invasive ways to make excavation precise, accurate, safe and cost-efficient. With different and new excavation methods, such as hydro and air, being increasingly more popular, vs. traditional digging, vacuum truck services near me are the preferred option for many heavy excavation sites.

In simple terms, a vacuum truck is a giant vacuum loaded on the bed of a truck. Depending on the type of excavation, there may also be a water pump. The vacuum truck services near me hydro excavation process uses high pressure water to loosen and remove compacted soil and debris, and the vacuum lifts it away. The air excavation process uses the same technique, without the water. The dual-purpose system is much more efficient than conventional excavation, it disturbs the least amount of soil necessary, and replaces the excavated soil.

There are several benefits to vacuum truck excavation techniques. One key benefit is control. Hydro and air excavation are more accurate forms of digging, more precisely pinpointing areas for excavation, and avoiding the safety hazard and the time and expense of repairing damaged areas.

Compared to the bulky machinery that is normally used in traditional excavation, vacuum trucks services near me are smaller and more cost-effective. Not only does hydro and air excavation require a single piece of equipment, compared to the several that used to be needed, vacuum trucks are lighter, easier to operate and control, they are much more cost-efficient and require much less labor.

Vacuum Truck Services Near Me also help make the job-site more efficient, more effective and much safer. The hydro and air excavation process usually requires only one vacuum truck, and eliminates the need for bulky, dangerous heavy machinery on already congested work sites. Vacuum truck services near me can also help avoid injury, and pricey repair of utility line damage on the excavation project work site.

Why Do Commercial Kitchens Need Grease Traps

If a commercial kitchen’s grease trap is regularly maintained and works properly, there’s usually no problem! Unfortunately, some commercial kitchen grease traps are not regularly maintained, they do not work properly and they do become problems.

Professional and expert commercial grease trap cleaning (https://draneranger.com/services/grease-grit-lint-traps/) is important to minimize grease trap problems and maximize kitchen efficiency.

Nearly every commercial kitchen is required to operate and maintain a grease trap in order to prevent sewage blockages. Grease traps primarily deal with fats, oils, and greases (FOG) that are produced during cooking, baking, frying, dish washing, and other commercial kitchen operations. But, as anyone in a commercial kitchen knows from experience, even making sure the amount of FOG materials that are washed away are kept to a minimum, preventing all of them from going down the sink is nearly impossible. That’s where commercial grease trap cleaning is comes in.

Commercial kitchen grease traps are designed to trap and intercept FOG, before the grungy fats, oils, and greases make it to the main sewer. Grease traps are installed in various places in a commercial kitchen—from under the sink to under the back parking lot, and they vary in both size and flow.

Commercial kitchens need a properly functioning and efficient grease trap, to reduce the chances of a grease trap getting full too quickly. Being pro-active with minimizing the solid food waste that goes down the drain, rinsing greasy dishes with cold water, and using biodegradable detergents for cleaning.

Even with the best of care, setting a scheduled maintenance and a commercial grease trap cleaning plan are vitally important.

Grease traps are always do dirty work! Commercial grease trap cleaning is important because FOG always rises to the surface of the water. A tube that dips below the water’s surface can pull out water that has separated from FOG liquids, as sludge and other non-FOG food waste quickly sink to the bottom.

Regularly scheduled commercial grease trap cleaning is often critical for the efficient and safe function of a commercial kitchen. Regularly emptying the grease and sludge collected by the grease trap is essential to keep the grease trap technology working properly. While some FOG materials may decompose naturally, the process is too slow to be timely, so the commercial kitchen grease trap needs to be evacuated every once in a while, no matter how well it’s used.

The recommended schedule for commercial grease trap cleaning varies. It is usually based on key factors like the kitchen’s size, type, and productivity, as well as the size, flow, and the amount of use that the grease trap has.

How to Restore and Increase the Life of Your Septic Tank

Septic tank cleaning companies explain that restoring and increasing the life of a home’s septic tank requires understanding about what a septic tank is designed to do, and how it does it. Septic tank cleaning companies explain that restoring and increasing the life of a home’s septic tank requires understanding about what a septic tank is designed to do, and how it does it.

Septic tank systems are capable of taking all your household waste water, separating out the solids, breaking it down safely, and spreading the extracted water out into a drainage field, in order to ensure your waste in your home has somewhere to go and isn’t being put out onto your lawn.

A septic tank is basically an underground storage container that keeps solid wastes, until they break down naturally. This processed water (effluent) is then able to escape the tank and filter through the soil in the yard, where nature breaks it down further. That’s how it’s supposed to work.

According to septic tank cleaning companies, there are common symptoms of septic tank problems.

  • drains are backing up into the home
  • bad smells coming out of the drains
  • over-green area in the lawn or a soggy lawn and build up of water near the septic tank

And septic tank cleaning companies also warn about some common causes of most common problems.

. Too much water. Septic tanks gradually fill with solid waste. The grey water is allowed to pass through the tank and out into the underground drain field lines in the yard. Once the tank is full of solid waste, it can cause sewage backups in the toilets or slow drains in tubs and sinks. How many people live in the house? How much wastewater goes into the septic tank? Are there extra long showers or lots of laundry? How often does the dishwasher run? They all drain into the septic tank. Each of these fixtures / appliances drains into your septic tank.

Every septic system has a certain volume of wastewater that it can safely and efficiently handle. The specific volume of the system depends on its size, but for most residential systems, it’s somewhere between 600 and 2,000 gallons of wastewater. Remember: less wastewater means longer septic tank life.

. Septic systems are not trash incinerators. All that waste flushed down the sink or toilet has to go somewhere. Hard waste, called “sludge,” accumulates at the bottom of the septic tank.

The only reliable solution is prevention. Trained professionals of septic tank cleaning companies not only do septic tank pumping but also inspect the entire septic system to ensure all the equipment is working properly.

Septic tank cleaning companies explain that how often a septic tank should be pumped depends on the capacity of the tank and how often wastewater is flushed into it. The rule of thumb is to pump the tank every three to five years. The experts at septic tank cleaning companies suggest that most homes can get about 30 years out of a septic system, with proper, routine maintenance.

When it’s running efficiently and properly maintained, the septic system will have a long lifespan.

Wastewater Lift Station – Why Do You Need Them?

In wastewater transport, pumping stations are designed to collect and transport wastewater to a point of higher elevation. Pumping stations are also known as lift stations. Wastewater lift stations in Houston are typically designed to handle wastewater that is fed from underground gravity pipelines and stored in an underground pit or wet well. The wet well is equipped with electrical instrumentation to detect the level of wastewater present.

As many Houston households, businesses, and industries agree, wastewater lift stations in Houston are essential equipment. And a thorough inspection and maintenance of wastewater lift station valves, pipes, pumps, and all other functioning parts is an essential service.

The problem-free and efficient function of the wastewater lift station in Houston is crucially important.

The average sewage system is a lot more complex than some think. It is a multi-step process with many components, all of which work together to manage wastewater. Wastewater lift stations in Houston are important for managing wastewater, raising sewage from lower elevations to higher elevations where gravity makes collecting and separating the waste more efficient.

A wastewater lift station in Houston is a key part of an effective sewage collection system that allows raw sewage to flow underground in sloped pipelines, known as gravity pipelines, and uses gravity to keep costs down. The process of wastewater lift stations in Houston saves a substantial amount of money in the front-end construction and excavation costs of digging for sewer pipes.

Although the function of wastewater lift stations in Houston is important, regular inspection and maintenance of the lift station is also very important, because a wastewater lift station in Houston consists of pipes and multiple working parts and components.

For example, a large commercial facility like a warehouse must monitor its wastewater lift station and schedule inspections and maintenance from licensed professionals. Everything from a power supply to remote monitoring and control must be in good working order, so wastewater can be effectively collected and treated.

Professional wastewater lift stations in Houston maintenance should also include guaranteed safe disposal of sewage and related materials.

In addition to the lift station valves, pipes, pumps, and all other functioning parts, professional maintenance should also include logging and monitoring flow readings, cleaning floats, greasing motors, and testing power supplies and backup generators.

The regular inspection and maintenance can help avoid some common warning signs of wastewater lift stations in Houston trouble.

Debris can accumulate in wastewater lift stations over time, causing slow drainage and interrupting the flow of water. Drainage speed is one of the first indicators of a wastewater lift station problem. Bad odors—also caused by debris accumulation and possible clogging—from a wastewater lift station in Houston are also common early warning signs of future system failure.

Septic Tanks: Why They Fail and What You Can Do

Proper septic tank maintenance is both basic and complicated but it is very important.

By design, septic tank systems are meant to take household waste water, separate out the solids, breaking them down safely, and spread the extracted water out into a drainage field, ensuring the waste in the home has somewhere to go and isn’t being put on to the lawn.

According to septic tank maintenance (https://draneranger.com/services/septic-tank/) professionals, the only thing that a typical septic system is prepared to handle naturally is human waste and toilet paper (which is designed to be broken down by the bacteria in the tank).

Unfortunately, septic tank maintenance reports show that unsuspecting homeowners and guests can flush seemingly harmless objects or dump substances down the drain that will disrupt the bacteria or clog the system. For example, flushing paper towels, cigarette butts, cotton products, diapers, feminine products, and even “flushable wipes” can all cause septic system problems.

Septic tank maintenance cautions that excessive water use is also a big culprit. Septic tanks have limited capacity and can only manage to process a certain quantity of wastewater at a time. The home’s septic tank was designed to handle a specific flow rate of water, based on the home’s size. Usually, the septic tank should discharge wastewater at the same rate as or faster than it takes on water. So, when it takes on too much water, it can’t do what it’s supposed to do and may cause problems.

Septic tank maintenance professionals explain that the separation of waste happens with the flow of wastewater. The natural separation process of solids and liquids of different densities and gravity results in the scum rising to the top, the sludge sinking to the bottom, and the watery effluent in the middle. Once separated from the other materials, the watery portion of the wastewater (effluent) flows out of the septic tank through the underground distribution system of perforated pipes, stone, and sand out into the ground several feet below the surface.

When the septic system takes on too much water, the tank fills up before it can empty out again. The excess water can’t enter the full tank, so it has to go somewhere else. Usually, this “somewhere else” is right back into the home.

The #1 cause of septic system failure is due to biomaterials and they are the cause of 97% of failures to septic systems that are otherwise maintained and taken care of properly. Household substances and everyday objects can cause big problems. They can disrupt and even kill off the important bacterial environment that digests waste in the septic system. Septic tank maintenance professionals warn about NEVER dispose of bleach, gasoline, paint, paint thinners, grease, harmful oils, or large quantities of antibacterial household cleaners.

Proper septic tank maintenance and professional septic system pumping (which includes removing the sludge and scum as well as cleaning out the effluent filter) every 3-5 years will keep the septic system running smoothly for years.

How to Identify a Problem with Your Grease Trap

Unknowingly, some restaurants bring it on themselves!

Restaurant grease traps are essential parts of a kitchen’s daily operations. The business couldn’t function without it. Problems with a grease trap commonly referred to as a grease interceptor can quickly become a headache and a costly mess as it grinds a kitchen operation to a halt ––costing the business time and money.

Flushing trash. It’s a big mistake for grease trap problems. Pouring used cooking oil and other food-related waste down the drain inevitably causes grease trap issues, such as slow drainage, clogs, overflows, and foul odors. Trash, cooking oil, and other debris should never be flushed down your drain and into the grease trap.

Something stinks! A foul odor coming from around the grease trap is an indicator of a grease trap problem. Fats, oils, and grease (FOG) degrade the longer they sit in the trap, and will eventually lead to foul smells. Because bacteria eventually breaks down the solidified material, causing it to spoil and give off a bad smell. Grease trap cleaning service professionals explain that if the opening of the trap gets covered or clogged, the gases that form foul odors will flow ward from the grease trap and into the restaurant.

Slow drainage. The warning from grease trap cleaning service experts is that, if you notice the sink or other drainage areas in and around your kitchen are draining slowly, it could be an indicator of a problem with the grease trap. More specifically, a clog may have formed—or is forming—from solid food waste or other debris that has found its way into your drainage pipes and eventually your grease trap. When the fats, oil, and grease (FOGs) that your grease trap catches solidify, they eventually begin to build up and slow down the water flow to and from the trap.

Overflow! The most obvious symptom of a grease trap problem is an overflow. Maybe grease itself escaping through the manhole cover in the trap or a backup in the kitchen. An overflow means the problem has already gotten fairly severe and likely needs urgent help from a grease trap cleaning service. Grease spills are tricky messes to clean up. There is a specific way to handle them, and if done correctly, the spread of an overflow can be minimized.

A full cleaning by a certified and qualified grease trap cleaning service will eliminate the problems. Fix the clogs, pump out the sludge and grease, often hydrojetting to force out the debris into either the neighboring compartment or into the sewer line, and everything is scrubbed down to remove all remaining residue. Grease trap cleaning service pros agree that grease traps should be emptied every three months.

What are Grease Traps and How Do They Work?

Grease traps (also known as grease interceptors, grease recovery devices, grease capsules and grease converters) are plumbing devices (traps) designed to intercept most greases and solids before they enter a wastewater disposal system.

The essential need for grease trap cleaning service (https://draneranger.com/services/grease-grit-lint-traps/) and scheduled maintenance is because grease traps work on the basis that animal fats and vegetable oils (grease) are 10 to 15 percent less dense than water and that grease won’t mix with water. Fats and oils float on top of water.

Restaurant and food service kitchens produce waste grease which is present in the drain lines from various sinks, dishwashers and cooking equipment such as combi ovens and commercial woks. Rotisserie ovens have also become big sources of waste grease. If not regularly and properly removed by a grease trap cleaning service, the grease can clump and cause blockage and back-up in the sewer.

Common wastewater contains small amounts of oils which enter into septic tanks and treatment facilities to form a floating scum layer. This scum layer is very slowly digested and broken down by microorganisms in the anaerobic digestion process. Large amounts of oil from food preparation in restaurants can overwhelm a septic tank or treatment facility, causing the release of untreated sewage into the environment.

Professionals who provide important grease trap cleaning services explain that high-viscosity fats and cooking grease such as lard solidify when cooled, and can combine with other disposed solids to block drain pipes.

FOGS (fats, oils, grease, and solids) are the major enemies of the drains and garbage disposals of commercial kitchen. Grease trap cleaning service technicians explain that when the FOGS start to cool, they solidify, and result in a thick, waxy substance that adheres to the walls of drainpipes. The end result is in slow drains and often total clogs.

When the outflow from the kitchen sink enters the grease trap, the solid food particles sink to the bottom, while lighter grease and oil float to the top. The relatively grease-free water is then fed into the normal septic system. The food solids at the bottom and floating oil and grease must be periodically removed in a manner similar to septic tank pumping. A traditional grease trap is not a food disposal unit. Unfinished food must be scraped into the garbage or food recycling bin. Gravy, sauces and food solids must be scraped off dishes before entering the sink or dishwasher.

A grease trap is basically a box of water that traps grease and food waste (for example from washing dishes) and prevents it from blocking the waster system pipes. Over time – the grease trap will become completely blocked with grease preventing water flow through it. It’s time for a grease trap cleaning service.

What are the Myths and Facts about Septic Tank Systems?

There’s a lot of misinformation about septic tank cleaning in Houston, Texas.

A popular myth is that septic systems don’t really pose a hidden threat to water quality. Professionals who do septic tank cleaning in Houston, Texas warn that when the effluent is not adequately treated, as in a failing septic system, it is a health hazard and can cause many human diseases. Studies have found that failing septic systems can become chronic sources of nutrients and interact with nearby waterways.

There’s also a common misunderstanding that septic systems are designed to be maintenance-free. Neglecting system maintenance leads to system failure. There is a need for maintenance of septic systems, or an accumulation of pollutants happens.

Professionals who specialize in septic tank cleaning in Houston, Texas explain that some people consider a septic system similar to a garbage disposal. It is NOT! Garbage disposals can overload a system with solids causing the need for more frequent tank pumping and can increase wastewater strength beyond the capacity of the system to properly treat it.

Technicians who work on septic tank cleaning in Houston, Texas warn about even coffee grounds. They don’t readily digest and can get into the septic system’s leaching bed, where they can contribute to system failure. Also, don’t flush plastic, condoms, rubber, coffee grounds, citrus rinds, eggshells, dental floss, diapers, baby wipes, kitty litter, cigarette butts, fats, greases, paper, paints, solvents, varnishes, thinners, waste oils down into the septic system. It inevitably leads to septic system failure.

There’s a myth about additives helping the septic system. Some septic tank additives on the market with chemicals, yeast, bacteria, or enzymes claim to improve septic tank performance or reduce the need for routine pumping. Septic tank cleaning in Houston, Texas points out that adding a stimulator or an enhancer to a septic tank to help it function or “to restore bacterial balance” is not necessary. The naturally occurring bacteria needed for the septic system to work are already present in human feces. Professionals suggest: Let nature take its course.

Some homeowners mistakenly assume clogged septic systems must be replaced. Not always. Many clogged septic systems can be restored with maintenance. Three of the most common causes of clogs — indigestible sewage solids entering the leaching bed, slimy biomat growths blocking the holes in the perforated leaching pipes and tree roots physically clogging the leaching pipes — can usually be solved without replacing any part of the system.

A dangerous myth is ambitious DIY homeowners entering the septic tank. Septic tank cleaning in Houston, Texas is unanimous with the caution: Never enter any septic tank. Poisonous gases or the lack of air can be fatal. Any work to the tank should be done from the outside.

How Long Does It Take to Clean a Grease Trap?

Commercial grease trap cleaning is essential maintenance that often gets forgotten or skipped. Commercial grease trap cleaning is essential maintenance that often gets forgotten or skipped.

Sure signs of grease pit trouble are:

. when drains back up frequently

. there is pest infestation around the drain

. grease flows back into the sink

. slow draining

. odors coming from the drain

FOGS (fats, oils, grease, and solids) are the major enemies of the drains and garbage disposals of commercial kitchen. In their natural, liquid form, people don’t think twice about pouring it down the drain.

Commercial grease trap cleaning professionals warn that, when the FOGS start to cool, they solidify, and result in a thick, waxy substance that adheres to the walls of drainpipes. The end result is in slow drains and often total clogs.

A grease trap is basically a box of water that traps grease and food waste (for example from washing dishes) and prevents it from blocking the waster system pipes. Over time – the grease trap will become completely blocked with grease preventing water flow through it.

The structure has a baffle inside that retains the wastewater long enough for the grease to solidify and rise to the top, while the clean water flows through.  At the surface, the grease trap has removable lids used for inspections and cleanings.

Regular commercial grease trap cleaning—using the proper, professional equipment and techniques— usually takes from 20-30 minutes and is crucial for efficient operations and helps keep the number of down.

A safe and recommended commercial grease trap cleaning rule of thumb is to use the One Quarter Rule. Every three months. It complies with local regulations and for some busy restaurants, the traps should be emptied more often.

Keeping an eye on the grease trap and when it is a quarter of the way full (every three weeks), it is time to clean it out. The reason for the One Quarter Rule is because, at that point, the trap becomes no longer effective.

Commercial grease trap cleaning technicians vacuum the grease trap, scrape the grease trap clean and flow test to confirm proper draining.

Commercial grease trap cleaning works with cool water to allow the FOGS to float to the top. Wait ten minutes once the hot wastewater has been released from the dishwasher or sink and cools. The grungy fats, oils and greases are accessed by carefully prying off the grease tank cover. A delicate and critical component, known as the gasket, can be damaged if lifting off the cover without precaution.

Not only do commercial grease trap cleaning professionals efficiently remove and thoroughly clean grease traps, a key part of commercial grease trap cleaning is disposing of the waste safely.