This is a working model of a basic septic systems pump and alarm for a pressure drainfield, sand filter, or sand mound. Geogrpahically, these two yellow float switches are located in the tanks with the wastewater. The light signifies the pump. When I raise the lower float switch, you must imagine my hand as wastewater. This is what will trigger the pump to turn on. The light comes on. When the lower float is lowered, the light goes off. Now…
Sometime last week we experienced an emergency call about a septic system only being 3 years old and needing pumped already. They have used Rid-X septic tank additives religiously over the past three years. And they thought they didn’t have to pump the septic tank if they used their product. Here is the cut and paste from their website. It’s also on the package of Rid-X they were using. “Q: If I use RID-X®, will I still have to have…
Here is a video of what happens when these screens are not cleaned annually. And there is no “septic technician” in a bottle. There’s no magical chemical that you flush that can clean this screen. It needs to be completely disassembled and cleaned. There’s no other way around it. The consequences of not performing this maintenance, will be a pump that is starved and eventually burns up. And these are not cheap pumps at all. They start out at about $400 to…
Good morning. This week I have a great project. I will try to document and take all kinds of pictures. It is a septic system that has just started to back up. It’s in the plumbing of the house, but hasn’t backed up into the showers yet. For those of you who don’t have “alarms” and sophisticated septic systems there are warning signs to not ignore. 1. toilets are flushing really weird. Not normal at all. A huge sign the…
Done paying taxes, time to head out the door. Fun filled day. I guess a septic tank is blowing up in Yacolt. He started to back up in the house. So he took the lid off the septic tank, and sewage is “mushrooming” out of the septic tank and blowing up all over the grass. But they use enzymes, they should never have a problem. I told the homeowner to turn the bottle of enzymes over. He read the small…
This blog post is about the frequency of septic service. Now this doesnt mean just pumping services. This means annual maintenance for those of you that have pumps involved. Just a little background on septic tanks. They have many functions, but the most important, and obvious is to separate liquids from solids. Now this applies to those of you with pumps or without. All septic tanks are the same for this purpose. Now drainfields and pumps can handle water. Nothing…
Good Day everyone. Now I am sure you are thinking, how can he title his blog title Holiday Blues? Is he having a bad holiday? Answer to both questions are no. I had a great holiday, and I truly hope yours was just as well. The answer to the questions is quite simply. Holiday Decorations. Usually when I get a call about a septic alarm going off. I tell the homeowner to check circuit breakers first. And then check for…