Q. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CESSPOOL AND A SEPTIC TANK?
A. A Septic Tank is a chamber through which all waste water from the home passes. The tank collects the water and allows the heavier solids to sink to the bottom forming a "sludge". Lighter solids such as soap, grease and oil rises to the top and forms "scum". Natural bacterial action works on the solids, helping to break them down. Cesspools (or leaching pools) are pits into which concrete, brick or cement block walls have been placed. Wastewater flows into the cesspool and drains or "percolates" into the soil through perforated walls
Q. HOW OFTEN SHOULD I HAVE MY SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECTED?
A. Septic systems should be inspected and pumped a minimum of once every three to four years.
Q. WHAT CAUSES THE THICK CRUST IN MY SEPTIC SYSTEM?
A. The crusting is waste materials that have congealed into a solid mass. This condition is dangerous and indicates a need for service of the system.
Q. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF A FAILING SYSTEM?
A. Slow drainage when flushing toilets. Water backing up into sinks, toilets, tubs and washing machines. Unusual "gurgling" sounds when running water or flushing toilets. Areas of grass of a deeper green color than the surrounding grass on your lawn. Noticeably soggy areas of the lawn or soil. Depressions forming in the soil. Unpleasant odors in, or around the house.
Q. WHAT ARE ENZYME TREATMENTS?
A. Enzyme treatments promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in your system. According to the Long Island Liquid Waste Association, "Natural bacteria generated by the solid waste partially decomposes the waste in the system and can reduce the amount of solid material by as much as sixty percent."
Q. HOW DO ACIDS AND OTHER ADDITIVES HELP MY SEPTIC SYSTEM?
A. Acids added into the cesspool help dissolve the solid materials that have passed into the cesspool from the septic tank and are now clogging the drainage pores and soil around your cesspool. Enzyme additives help naturally digest the solids in the tank.
Q. HOW DO ROOTS GROW INTO SEWER PIPES?
A. The amount of tree and shrub root growth depends on the environmental conditions such as soil depth, water supply, temperature and the amount of sunlight the tree is receiving. Roots generally extend up to two or three times the height of the tree, but can extend as far as seven times the height of the tree.
During conditions where there is little rain and in the winter, roots will travel long distances in search of moisture. When trees and shrubs get thirsty, they follow the trail of moisture vapors escaping from small cracks, holes, or poorly sealed joints in the water and sewer lines.
Q. HOW CAN I CONTROL ROOTS IN MY SEWER?
A. If roots have entered your pipes, one of our experienced technician can remove the roots using powerful cutting blade, especially designed for this purpose.
Q. MY SYSTEM RECENTLY BACKED UP FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS, WHY SHOULD
I START MAINTAINING IT NOW?
A. A backup is the first sign of septic system failure. Acids and enzyme additives will help reverse the clogging trend. A maintenance program is the best way to prevent having to replace the entire system
Q. ARE THERE ANY OTHER REASONS FOR A BACKUP?
A. Yes. Clogged pipes will also cause a backup. Greases and soaps coat the inside of the pipes until the accumulation builds to a clogging condition. Roots can also clog a pipe. When roots locate a source of water escaping from around a pipe seam or crack, the roots will infiltrate the pipe. The solution is electrically cleaning the line to remove the blockage.