Cochrane Septic
www.septicguys.ca
FAST FACTS
Courtesy of "ROCKYVIEW AQUA LTD" And "COCHRANE SEPTIC". Your Rockyview Resident Specialist.
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR SEPTIC SYSTEM
- Septic system problems and emergencies arise in both new and old homes due to the following:
- Poor or improper installation by contractors pertaining to:
- Non-compliance to specific provincial code requirements and recommended techniques
- Improper use and installation of non-septic type pumps, improper wiring and no high septic level alarm.
- Septic contractors not providing homeowners accurate information on septic system maintenance and cleaning frequency. Some installation contractors have been known to provide absolute miss-information I.e.; "When I install a septic system, it never has to be cleaned out." It is the same type of contractors that locate septic tanks where they are not reasonably accessible resulting in long term inconvenience for the homeowner.
- Homeowner procrastination in cleaning will typically result in pump failure and/or sludge plugging up the septic field. A deteriorated septic tank will cause the same effect.
- Poor or improper installation by contractors pertaining to:
- Minor amounts of grease, home cleaning products, water based paint clean-ups and garborated organics will not adversely affect the conditions within the septic tank. Avoid harsh chemicals in certain cleaning products, oil based paint clean-ups, chlorine (bleach) and such products as they will kill any bacteria residing in the septic tank. Spread out laundering throughout the week.
- It is not a good idea to plant conifers or deciduous trees on or near the septic field, the roots over time, will infiltrate the field and plug off the perforated laterals that distribute the effluent.
- Do not allow any heavy equipment onto the septic field during any period the ground is not frozen.
- Avoid livestock, vehicular traffic, built-up planters, out buildings, trailer parking, skating rinks, ponds, driveways etc. on any area of the septic field.
- Septic field maintenance requires the grass be regularly cut and excess thatch removed.
- Controlling subsoil rodents such as the pocket gopher will be necessary.
- Keep your septic tank lid accessible. Do not bury or build enclosures around the lid whereby one person (septic cleaning contractor) could not reasonably slide off the heavy concrete lid.
- If your lawn is subject to damage from septic truck tire tracking, consider having your septic tank cleaned in winter, when the ground is frozen, Weather conditions, tank access and ground slope may limit this opportunity. Early winter or early springs are usually good periods.
- If you have a shallow bury septic tank, that is, your tank is within 18 inches of the surface, it may be subject to freezing. It is recommended you have the tank cleaned in spring to allow sludge to build up before winter, resulting in a warmer tank. Also, if you holiday late in winter and nobody will be in the home, have someone run some 20 gallons of hot water every couple of days to keep the septic system from freezing up.
- Septic odors may be an indicator your septic tank has gone dead (toxic) usually from inadequate cleaning. The sludge in the tank may turn black and give off a bad odor. Other reasons for odor in the home may be the septic tank is flooded and the home has lost the normal venting system to the roof or the basement floor drain has dried out, in which case it simply requires some fresh water.
- It is futile for the homeowner to check the loading conditions of their septic tank as the majority of sludge builds from the bottom up and the floating scum layer (if any) is not an accurate indicator of loading conditions. Furthermore the accumulating sludge in the gray water (clean) chamber is not evident on the surface. The pumping technician should accurately assess the tank loading factor.