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Category: Septic System Treatment

What You Need to Know About Septic System Care

Posted on by Brendan Manley

How your Septic System’s Cesspool, Dry Well, Conventional Septic System, Leach Field works and how to keep them working? In this post, we’re going to take a deeper dive into how your septic system functions so you’ll have a better idea of what you need to do to keep it working properly.

All systems work first by separating the solids from the liquids. This is accomplished by the use of a baffle in the center of the septic tank which has two chambers: one called the primary; and one called the secondary. This allows solids to settle in the primary side of the tank, by using a baffle separating the tank’s two chambers. The solids that remain in the tank are then consumed by aerobic and anaerobic bacteria.

In the secondary side of the septic tank, there is a baffle that’s attached to the outgoing pipe. It further separates any remaining solids from entering the drain field, leach field or drainage structure.

Effluent is the liquid that leaves the tank flows to a Distribution Box and then into your drain pipes. This effluent contains both liquid and sodium; it’s the sodium that affect the performance of your drainage field, causing the system to fail.

The Problem

Hardpan soil is formed when sodium combines with soil causeing failures. Once a septic fails Bio-Mat forms in your system. The second cause of drain field failure is when organic (i.e. grease) overloading occurs.

While the amount of grease that goes in a drain field can be controlled, sodium is a little more difficult to control. Sodium comes from our diets, the soaps we use, our medications, our water supply and our water softeners. Directing water softeners elsewhere is difficult, because of other hazards associated with salt brine.

The Solution

Luckily, septic system care isn’t rocket science. The single biggest thing you can do to maintain your cesspool, drywell, leach field is to have it pumped and inspected every two years. Leave a small amount of solids in the tank to ensure you have an active colony of bacteria present. Some other things you can do include:

  • Making sure your baffles are intact, which will help prevent any solids from entering your drain field pipes.
  • Every five years it’s important to flush out your drainage pipes, or flush out your wet well, using a high-pressure sewer jet or a pressure washer.
  • To jet out your drain lines, open your distribution box or dry well to pressure wash the walls.
  • Look for signs of concrete erosion. This indicates the last stage of septic failure, when your system’s rotting sewage creates hydrogen sulfide gas, which erodes concrete.
  • Treating your soil and taking care of the biological heath of your system will help ensure your drain field performs for years to come.

Need Help Now?

If your system is showing signs of failure, have your system’s drain pipes jetted out, or your dry well walls pressure-washed, and then add four gallons of Septic Drainer evenly in your drain field pipes or directly in your dry well. The rule of thumb is to add a gallon of Septic Drainer for every 50 feet of 4-inch piping, or for every foot depth of dry well. Also add 1/2 quart (or 16 ounces) of Bio-Septic Boost for every 1,000-gallon septic tank, and then add 3.2 ounces per month for five months in your toilet.

Ongoing Septic System Care

For maintenance, add a gallon of Septic Drainer in your toilet every three to six months, and add 2.5 ounces of Bio-Septic Boost in your toilet monthly. Every five years, add four gallons of Septic Drainer directly in your drain pipes or dry well, after jetting the drain lines or pressure-washing your dry well. Add 1/2 quart of Bio-Septic Boost in your tank and then 3.2 ounces in your toilet for the next five months.

For more information on Bio-Septic Boost, visit its dedicated product website.

Rain and Septic Drain Fields – The True Effects

Posted on by Mark Reynolds

There are some misconceptions on the relationship between heavy rain and saturated septic leach fields.best septic treatment So in this blog, we’ll discuss these falsehoods and provide you with factual information you can utilize in the future.

The truth is, if a septic system is failing, heavy amounts of rain will only accentuate the problem, making the failure more noticeable. The heavy rain isn’t the real culprit; it’s really the failed septic system you need to worry about. Heavy rains that cause significant pooling near your septic drain field are a potential red flag that you need to take action, and quickly.

So with that being said, there are many steps you can take to avoid a failing septic system and drain field or leach field. For starters, remember to have your system pumped every two years and inspect the tank’s baffles. The baffles prevent solids from entering the drain field.

We also recommend adding Septic Drainer to maintain your drain field’s drain ability. We also recommend adding  Bio-Septic Boost  a bio-stimulant nutrient that maintains your system’s biological health. These products work together in synergy as part of our overall septic system care package. Interested in repairing your system or preventing failures? Click Here.

rain and septic drain fields

Septic Maintenance Tips: Our Top 3

Posted on by Mark Reynolds

It’s Mark Reynolds here, with a little advice on taking care of your septic system. Don’t let the prospect of septic care overwhelm you. If you focus on a few core preventative maintenance tasks, you’ll save thousands of dollars in repair costs down the road.

During my many years in the septic business, I have learned much about what works. Here are my top three recommended septic maintenance tips to keep your septic system working smoothly:

  1. If there’s one thing you should do, it’s to have your system pumped and inspected every two years. I can’t stress this enough. It’s essential.
  2. The second best thing you can do is add both a soil conditioner and bio-stimulant nutrient. This keeps your system’s bacteria healthy and your septic drain field soil draining properly. Healthy bacteria are essential for a healthy septic system.
  3. The third thing you can do is hydro-flush your drain field pipes and vacuum your entire system. Always leave a small amount of material in your tank.

Be sure to read the Septic Drainer blog regularly for more useful information on how to keep your septic system running smoothly. You can also learn more septic maintenance tips at our sites, Bio-Septic Boost and www.septicdrainer.com.

septic maintenance tips

What Are Septic Drain Fields?

Posted on by Mark Reynolds

Not all septic leach or drain fields are not the same, but then again they are. Here are a few examples of the different design types:

1) The conventional type, consisting of a two-chambered septic tank, distribution box, stone, sand and perforated plastic piping.

2) The raised mount system type, consisting of a three-chambered septic tank. The third chamber, a pump chamber raised system built up on sand, distribution box, stone, sand and perforated plastic piping.

3) A specialty system, consisting of a two-chambered septic tank and an array of either drainage mats or membranes.

All these systems have one thing in common: a type of soil drainage system where once the sewage drains through 59 inches of soil, it’s considered purified. Hopefully this answers the common question: what are septic drain fields?

Remember, Septic Drainer and our companion product Bio-Septic Boost are the ideal solution for septic system preventative maintenance and repair. When used together as directed, these products can rejuvenate and fix even failed septic systems, saving you thousands of dollars in repairs. Try out our comprehensive care package and you will see clear results, guaranteed!

Learn more about septic systems by reading our exclusive Septic Drainer blog and visiting our sites at Bio-Septic Boost and www.septicdrainer.com

what are septic drain fields

How to Repair Septic Systems Using Septic Drainer

Posted on by Mark Reynolds

Hello, it’s your friends at Septic Drainer here. In this post, we’d like to share information and steps to take that will explain how to repair septic systems using our Septic Drainer line of products.

First, some context. Did you know that according to the U.S. EPA, 90% of septic failures are in the drain field, leach field or seepage pit?

Did you also know that there are many types of septic drainage systems? If you refer to the pages of www.septicdrainer.com you will see many of these types of septic drainage systems illustrated for you, to better understand what system you might have. Your local or county building permit department normally stores your septic system’s design plans. These drawings are usually called “as-builds,” which consist of a hand drawing or a professional drawing of the layout of the system. No we can move on and dig into how to repair septic systems.

The Steps

After locating your important structures you should mark them, like your tank access cover or your distribution box, which makes future locates easy. A great way to mark these important locations is with Septi-Marker. Septi-Markers are low-profile 5-inch wafers that mount above the structures, but at the base of the grass level. Septi-Markers are lawnmower-safe.

Once you’ve located your structures and exposed them, we recommend flushing the drain lines or other structures with a pressure washer or pressure jetting unit, while vacuuming any debris — such as bio-mat or water — and at the same time leaving the structures as clean and dry as possible. Your next step will be adding Septic Drainer, a soil conditioner that opens your soil and allows liquid to drain. It’s best to add Septic Drainer directly into your drainage pipes or structures.

Your final step would be to add Bio-Septic Boost, which will accelerate the growth of aerobic bacteria. It’s this bacteria that will consume a byproduct of hard pan soil, called bio-mat. Bio-Septic Boost should be added to the solid side of your septic tank or any inside house drain.

Remember: Once you restore your system, you should add a gallon of Septic Drainer every six months in any clean-out closets to the drainage structure, or simply in the the toilet. It’s recommended to add 2.5 ounces per month of Bio-Septic Boost in any inside house drain.

Also, be sure to have your tank pumped every two years and repeat the above repair process every five years.

— Mark Reynolds

Mark Reynolds

Spring Septic Care Reminder

Posted on by Mark Reynolds

Hey folks, it’s Mark Reynolds here with an important spring septic care reminder. It’s time to have your septic tank pumped!

Regular septic pumping is an essential preventative maintenance task that often goes ignored by homeowners. That can be a costly mistake, since septic pumping provides a few critical services for your septic system:

1) Septic pumping removes solids from your tank. This helps the process of breaking down waste and ensures your system doesn’t overflow and/or fail.

2) It also enables an inspection opportunity to check your tank for structural failures, including being sure your baffles are intact.

3) Septic pumping also oxygenates the system, which aids the health and grow of beneficial bacteria needed to break down waste in your septic system.

You should also consider a septic treatment, such as adding a bio-stimulant nutrient to feed your bacteria with Bio-Septic Boost. And you should add a soil conditioner to keep your soil percolating, like Septic Drainer. Both products are an important part of our overall care package.

Give your septic professional a call today to assess spring septic care. Ask for a quote on septic pumping and inspection. Remember: You could be saving thousands of dollars tomorrow!

— Mark Reynolds, your septic guy!

spring septic care

Septic Treatments – Know The Facts

Posted on by Mark Reynolds

Hey, folks! It’s Mark Reynolds here to talk about septic treatments and their impact on your septic system’s biological and soil health.

Septic systems require biology and permeable soil to function. Adding harsh chemicals from septic treatments harms your system’s biological health. For instance, someone using bleach in your toilet will destroy the active bacteria in the system. An oxygen-deficient system can cause aerobic bacteria to die. Adding too much laundry detergent or household cleaners also causes biological failure. Adding sodium to the system causes failure too, by stopping water drainage and air flow.

Your system has both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Anaerobic bacteria live without oxygen. Think of it this way: Anaerobic bacteria live below the surface of the water, and aerobic bacteria live above the water surfaces. A septic system requires both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria to function properly.

When your system’s soil stops allowing liquid to drain, the oxygen in your system stops flowing as well, which starves aerobic bacteria of oxygen and causes them to die. When aerobic bacteria die off, anaerobic bacteria — bacteria that live without oxygen — take over.

Aerobic bacteria aspirate waste in the air, while anaerobic bacteria secretes its waste organically as a sulfide. (Another term used for this waste is “bio-mat.”) This bio-mat forms over a system’s failure point, which is the layer of soil called “hard pan.”

The septic treatment that best maintains both the aerobic and anaerobic bacteria’s biological health is a product called Bio-Septic Boost, which is a bio-stimulant nutrient. If you add bacteria, you need to add both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, and by adding a bio-stimulant nutrient, you’re enhancing the growth of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, without the risk of adding the wrong type.

Hardpan Soil

When your septic’s soil mixes with sodium, especially in clay soils, it creates Hard pan soil. This sodium comes from our diets, laundry detergent, chlorinated water and of course, water softeners. The septic treatment that corrects and prevents hard pan soil is a soil conditioner called Septic Drainer.

It’s our recommendation to add 2.5 ounces of Bio-Septic Boost per month directly in any toilet or drain for maintenance applications. We also recommend adding one gallon of Septic Drainer every six months directly in an toilet or inside drain. If your system is failing or has failed, we recommend shocking the system with higher dosages of Bio-Septic Boost and Septic Drainer.

Protect one of your second-biggest home investments: your septic system. It only costs an average of $ 0.52 cents per day. Let’s not forget to have your system pumped every two years. Every five years, have your drain field lines flushed and the entire system vacuumed out. Be sure this includes the field lines, the distribution box and the septic tank.

Order Septic Drainer and Bio-Septic Boost at www.septicdrainer.com or by phone at 518-812-0000.

RCS II, Inc

Winter Septic Treatments: Recommended Schedule

Posted on by Mark Reynolds

winter septic treatments

Hey folks, it’s Mark Reynolds from Septic Drainer here, to talk about winter septic treatments.

The internet at times is a great resource for information. It’s like a 24/7 “how’s it made show,” and for us information junkies, it’s pretty cool. So with that in mind, we’re proud to be a source of information on all things related to septic systems.

Your septic system remains at an average temperature of 55 degrees year round. The temperature is dependent on the depth of the system, as well. In Alaska, the average depth of a system is 20 feet, while our upstate New York depth is just 4 feet.

It’s just as important to maintain both the drain field soil and the biological heath your system in the winter. My recommendation for winter septic treatments is to add a gallon of Septic Drainer (soil conditioner) every six months and add 2.5 ounces of Bio-Septic Boost (biological health septic treatment) once per month. If you’re adding bacteria, that’s great, but by combining Bio-Septic Boost, it enhances the effectiveness of that bacteria by millions-fold.

Order your septic treatment package today. For 1- to 2-day fast shipping, click to Order Septic Drainer Today!

Happy Holidays!

Hygiene Wipes and Septic Systems

Posted on by Mark Reynolds

Every time someone comes up with a new hygiene product, humans benefit. But, the environment suffers in one way or another. This holds true with hygiene wipes, which are continually increasing in popularity. They may be convenient and comfortable, but they can also spell disaster for septic systems and the environment. So read on and think twice before using these products.

In the case of septic systems, hygiene wipes are causing issues that recently affected a system at a local apartment building. The wipes collected inside the drain lines, causing grease to build up behind them, causing a backup. The expense was around $650 to have the tank pumped and the lines flushed. The owner now realizes these wipes have entered the dry well, blocking the drainage holes in the dry well. This means the tank needs to be cleaned out.

Be careful what you put in your systems: no wipes, no harsh toilet cleaners, no paper towels or other hygiene products. Remember that everything you flush down the toilet still has to end up somewhere. You certainly don’t want any of those items in your septic system.

hygiene wipes

For more information visit Septic Drainer and Bio-Septic Boost or call 518-812-0000

Water Softeners and Septic Systems

Posted on by Mark Reynolds

Hey, it’s Mark Reynolds here, to talk about water softeners and the salt brine that discharges into your septic system.

Water softeners are whole-house filtration systems that remove calcium and magnesium from your water supply through a process called ion exchange. These are the same minerals that cause water hardness and its negative effects in your home. Unfortunately the byproduct of the process is sodium, which can cause septic issues.

It’s a little-known fact that salt can affect the performance of your septic system’s drain field. When salt combines with the soil, especially in clay soil, it binds up causing Hard Pan, preventing liquid percolation. This condition is called hard pan soil. The average homeowner discharges 56 pounds of sodium in a septic system’s drain field per year. Water softeners will further add to the sodium problem.

Adding a soil conditioner like Septic Drainer prevents hard pan soil conditions, as well septic drain field failure from hard pan soil. So if you have a water softener, we recommend adding a gallon of Septic Drainer to your toilet or tank. This will offset the additional sodium released into your septic system, keeping your drain field working just as it should.

Visit www.septicdrainer.com and Bio-Septic Boost or call 518-812-0000

Thank you,
Mark Reynolds

water softeners

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