Out of sight, not out of mind..
Maintaining your septic system is a lot like maintaining your car. A little preventative maintenance now can save you $10,000’s of dollars down the road.
Following best practices ensures it will continue to effectively treat all the wastewater preventing soil, ground water, and well water contamination.
1.Septic Tank Maintenance
A number of factors will determine the required pump out frequency of the septic tank such as:
The number of people in the home
The size of the septic tank
What type of cleaning products are being used in the building.
The main deciding factor
will be measuring the thickness of the scum, effluent, and sludge layers inside the tank since the last pump out.
Don't worry, that's why we're here!
When the tank is pumped and cleaned, it's also a great time to give it a quick check for damage, deterioration, leaks, placement/setting of the float switch, and security of the cover.
2. Pump Maintenance
Most new installations use a submersible effluent pump inside the septic tank, while others use a pump mounted inside the building.
Both are reliable and provide years of reliable service with minimal maintenance required.
We will inspect check valve, impeller, inlet screen, and all electrical connections for damage, corrosion, and security.
3. Septic Field Maintenance
This is the most critical component of the entire septic treatment system, but the most neglected component.
The field is where the effluent from the septic tank is pumped, or in some cases gravity fed, to a distribution system which will evenly dose the treatment field. Here, the natural enzymes and bacteria in the soil will break down the nutrient rich effluent as it percolates down through the soil.
Blockages in distribution pipes will cause uneven dosing of the field which can overload and plug up the biomat. This condition will create pools of contaminated wastewater on the soil surface.
In order to maintain efficient and even distribution of effluent to the treatment field we locate the distribution box or header pipe. From there we can flush each distribution branch with a jetter hose to remove any built up debris or blockages inside the pipes. We then inspect the pipes with a camera to check for damage.
4. Winterizing
As you know, Manitoba winters can be extremely long and cold. By properly winterizing a septic system, you can save yourself costly problems during the cold winter months.
The easiest way to avoid winter freeze ups is to have the septic tank pumped in spring rather than fall. It takes many months to build up the required bacteria and enzymes inside the tank which help generate tremendous amounts of heat. This heat is carried through the effluent to the septic field constantly providing warm flow of water which keeps things thawed.
Above you see a field equipped with a snow fence. Straw can also be used.
Our winterization package:
We come out in late fall to spread a layer of straw over the entire septic field, to provide an effective layer of insulation.
This will prevent frost penetration while still allowing oxygen to reach the soil. Come spring, we will be back to clean up and haul away the mess for you!