Tag Archives: Vancouver septic tank cleaning

Septic Tank Requires Regular Maintenance

Your septic system / tank is meant to separate liquids from solids and to provide some breakdown of organic matter in the wastewater. However, if proper maintenance is not conducted on a regular basis, issues can occur that could impact your septic system, yard, home and belongings.
septic-tank-buyer-path
Below are some clear identifiers that your septic system may not be functioning optimally:
  • The ground around the septic tank or over the leaching bed may be soggy or spongy to walk on.
  • Toilets, showers and sinks may back up or may take longer than usual to drain.
  • Occasional sewage odours may become noticeable, particularly after a rainfall.
  • Gray or black liquids may be surfacing in your yard or backing up through fixtures into the house.

EdenFlo offers preventive maintenance packages  that will help you avoid costly repairs that can sometimes affect aging or neglected septic systems. Based on the age of your system and the number of people using the system, we will give you friendly reminders when it’s close to time to clean your system. Whether you live in Vancouver, Aldergrove, Surrey, Langley, Buranby, New Westminster, Delta or White rock, EdenFlo can provide regular septic service that includes a  a routine maintenance inspection.     Give us a call at 604 575 1414 or email us at service@edenflo.ca to book a complimentary consultation.

When to Have Your Septic Tank Cleaned

Septic tank maintenance doesn’t have to be a headache. The vast majority of septic tank maintenance is preventative maintenance. As long as you keep up with the preventative maintenance and schedule a septic tank cleaning in the proper time frame, your septic system should continue to function well.

In BC, septic tank cleanings can be done by a qualified pump truck service such as Edenflo. A full-service pump truck service company will also offer hydro flushing and hydro excavating services as well as catch basin cleaning and repair. Older systems may need flushing and repairs, but typically, the system only needs to be pumped at regular intervals.

A septic system is quite simple. The tank catches sludge waste from your home. Sewage solids will break down in the septic tank to some extent and the liquid sewage makes its way to your leach field. Thicker solids settle on the bottom of the tank.

Getting the septic system pumped every one to five years is normal. The frequency of septic tank cleaning depends on how heavy the use is. If there are more people in the home and you wash more clothes, more frequent septic tank cleaning will be necessary to remove accumulated solids.

If you have a catch basin, hydro excavation is a process where water is used to loosen the debris that is clogging it. The water is injected to catch the debris and the combined slurry is removed with a special vacuum. Many times, dysfunctional drainage systems can be restored through hydro excavation.

Hydro flushing is a similar service for smaller issues, such as slow drains in a house or commercial business. The pump truck service will flush the drain system with specialized hoses that allow maintained forward pressure and continuous flush until the debris is removed and drains flow freely.

Know the Do’s and Don’ts of Septic Tank Maintenance

If your property features a septic tank, you’re probably grateful for all it does. However, if you don’t maintain it properly, you’ll soon be cursing the day it was ever installed. Continue reading for some easy pointers on how to best take care of yours.

Do’s

  • Depending on how many people live in your home and how big it is, you’ll probably want to make sure that you have your septic tank pumped once every 3 to 5 years. Property managers may have a different need depending on how many residents share a single septic tank.
  • Keep a record of all the occasions your unit is pumped, any times it’s inspected, and all maintenance visits. This will be helpful in case of an accident or when you want to sell your home.
  • Conserve water in order to reduce the amount that ends up in your septic system. This includes repairing any faucets or toilets that leak. Only run dishwashers and washing machines when they’re full. Avoid long showers.
  • Make sure you’re aware of the location of your septic tank and consider marking it off in some way. This way you’ll avoid accidentally building anything on top of it.
  • Divert the runoff water from any roof drains away from the septic tank, as well as any that comes off the sump pump or footing drains.
  • Bring any hazardous chemicals to a TOX DROP instead of dumping them into your toilet or down your sink where they’ll eventually end up in your septic system.

Don’ts

  • Do not let anyone drive over or park on top of your septic system.
  • You should leave working on your septic tank to experts like the ones at Edenflo. However, if you believe you’re up to it, make sure that you don’t work on it without the necessary permits.
  • Don’t use popular additives sold for septic tanks. The truth is that they generally cause more harm than good. Your septic tank is full of human sewage, which has more than enough microorganisms in it to break down sludge.
  • Septic tanks aren’t the most complicated of systems, but it’s important that you treat them correctly. Review the above Do’s and Don’ts, and you’ll be on your way.

Don’t risk ruining your septic tank, call Eden flo for professional septic tank repair and maintenance.

Why Do Septic Tanks Overflow?

Installing a septic tank in your property (if there isn’t a municipal sewer system available in your area) helps in waste water management. Although a septic tank could last for many years, there are times when it begins to malfunction.

Septic Tank and Septic System

One of the most common problems of a septic tank is overflowing. An overfilled tank is not only disgusting; it is also hazardous to health. When the tank overflows, the risk of contaminating drinking water with unprocessed human waste is bigger. This could lead to a number of illnesses that could be prevented if only an efficient septic system was installed.

Too Small a Tank
The size of the septic tank determines how efficient the system will be in processing waste water. For an estimate on how big a tank should be, multiply by 150 gallons the number of individuals in a household. That should be the holding capacity of your septic tank. A small septic tank cannot contain all the wastes and water in a home, so the risk of overflowing is greater.

Sludge Buildup
Septic tanks should be pumped out every three years. If there are more people and if a lot of water is used in the household, then the tank should be cleaned more frequently. Septic tanks spill over when there is too much sludge, water or solids accumulated in the system. To prevent an overrun, have the tank inspected by a licensed septic system investigator to see whether there is a need to repair or pump out the system.

Ground Water
Anaerobic bacteria in the tank break down solid wastes and convert them to sludge. Liquids in the tank go through the drain field and into the soil. When the soil is saturated with water, it becomes inefficient in absorbing the waste water from the tank. The waste water could enter the drinking water system and that could lead to a lot of health problems.

Edenflo specializes in minor plumbing and pump repairs, septic tank inspection and cleaning, and power flushing of storm and sanitary drain lines. Don’t wait for sludge and septic waste to infiltrate your home, ensure you book an annual inspection with Edenflo.

Sewer Line Flushing Keeps the Lines at Home and Your Place of Business Clean

The wastewater and sewage that leaves your home is going to go through the main sewage line. All of the wastewater will go through this line, from the water in the toilet to the water that goes through the washing machine. This is one of the main veins of your home’s system, and that’s why it is very important to make sure that the line is free of clogs and debris. If there were a clog in the sewer line, it would not take very long at all before the sewage started to back up into your home, and no one wants to contemplate that situation.

Sewer Line Flushing for Your Home

Sewer line flushing can make sure that you do not have to go through this type of problem. The flushing of sewer lines will make sure that you do not have any clogs or debris. The powerful jets of water can remove the debris so that everything flows through your sewer line. You should contact the professionals who can take care of this type of problem at the first hint of trouble. In fact, you may want to have an inspection, even if you haven’t noticed any major problems yet. The inspection can ensure that you do not have any nasty surprises waiting for you in your home’s sewer line.

Sewer Line Flushing for the Business

Of course, residential homes are not the only ones that could have trouble with their sewer lines. Businesses may well have a sewer line in need of flushing, as well. If you have a backed up sewer line at work, chances are you will have to close your business until you remedy the situation. This means that you are going to want to have an inspection and receive sewer line flushing to remove any blockages that could be causing an issue with your plumbing.

Do Not Wait

As you can imagine, this is a situation that you want to deal with immediately. The longer you wait, the worse it can become, and that means that repair costs and fixing the damage that it could cause to your home or business would be greater. With the high-powered flushing services for sewer lines available today, the professionals can clean the tank faster and more efficiently than in the past. Do not make the mistake of waiting too long before you have your main sewer line flushed.

Caring for and Eventually Replacing an Aging Septic System

The cost of replacing an entire septic system is something that most people do not even want to consider. The price of replacing a system is many thousands of dollars and most do not have extra money that they want to use to spend on a new septic tank and system. Proper care for an aging septic system can help it last longer so that you do not have to go through the trouble and expense of replacement.

First, you should make sure that you clean and maintain your septic system regularly. Even an aging septic system can work well. You usually have to make very few repairs as long as you have a quality system. The most important partw of caring for your system are cleaning and inspections to make sure that you are not getting to the point where you are going to have a problem.

Second, make sure that you know what is going down your drains and into the system. Always make sure that you are not putting anything down the drains that is not safe. Depending on what goes into the drains and the system, it could cause damage.

With proper care, you can add even more life to an already aging septic system. With a new system, it will ensure that the system lasts for many years.

If You Do Need a New System

In some cases, especially those septic systems that are very old, you may not have a choice except to replace the system. If that’s the case, then you will want to make sure that you choose a high quality system and have professionals install it for you. Remember that you are going to have to have the cleaners come and remove the wastewater from your old tank before removal, too.

It is true that the cost of the system is high, but when you have an aging septic system that is in dire need of replacement, you do not have much of a choice. Try to look at it as a good thing, though. You will know that you have a quality system in place that you will not have to worry about in the future, and you might even find that it can add value to your home. If you are going to sell your home in a few years, being able to let people know that you have a relatively new septic system in your home can help increase the sale price.

Get Proper Help for Commercial and Industrial Food Waste Disposal

Those who are in the food business often have quite a bit of waste, and it can be difficult to get rid of the waste properly without the right help. Whether your business is in the industrial section of food production, or you have a restaurant, you have to make sure that you have the best organic waste disposal and grease trap cleaning service possible. Having a company that is going to be able to help you with both of these things and other areas of food service and production is a bonus.

Are You Looking for Trouble?

Your business needs to know what is going down the drain, and you need to have a way of controlling just how much grease and oil gets into the system. If you start putting grease and oil down your drains, there is a good chance that you could cause a clog in the system. It could cause the entire plumbing system in the building to back up.

Imagine the havoc that this could cause! It could back up your drains and lines, and that could cause your business to have to shut down while you get things sorted with a plumber and sewer line cleaning service. Clogged drains can even cause flooding in businesses, which would mean even more when it comes to repair costs.

When you have a business that works in the food service or production industries, you know that you need to have a grease trap installed to prevent these types of issues from occurring. However, you need to make sure that you clean these traps, as well. This is something that too many businesses are lax about, and that is where some problems start. You need to have quality grease interceptor cleaning service to make sure that oil, grease, and other items are not in the wastewater that goes down the drain because of an ineffectual trap.

Getting the Help You Need

With all of the terrible things that can happen when you do not take the proper precautions about using proper grease traps and cleaning those traps, it is easy to see why it’s so important to have a good grease trap service. You want to have a company that will be able to come in, clean and maintain the traps, and make sure that you do not have a problem with too much grease, oil, and food debris running down the drains.

High Pressure Jetting and Flushing with State-of-the-Art Trucks

Cleaning and maintaining septic tank systems is no easy feat, but with the right knowledge and the right types of equipment in the hands of professionals, it is far more manageable. The power of high pressure jetting and flushing can help to keep septic tanks in much better shape and can help to prolong their lives. When it comes to pumping out unwanted water in an area, the equipment in use is just as important, which it is why it is vital to work with only companies that make use of the best tools.

The Best Equipment Helps Make the Job Faster and Easier

One of the most helpful trucks in the fleet is the Lowboy, which is a low profile vacuum truck that has a high pressure jetting system in it. Because of the design of this vehicle, the professionals are able to reach areas that they just would not have been able to with other types of equipment.

Another one of the vehicles that is a part of the fleet is the Combo Truck. As one can guess by the name, this vehicle is able to do quite a few different things, and it can do all of them quite well. The Combo Truck offers high pressure flushing service, as well as hydro excavating. Because of the larger size that the Combo Truck offers, it means that it is possible to store and collect more debris and water without the need to empty. Here are a few examples of what the Combo Truck can do.

The truck offers a fast way of removing water from areas, and it can even help with the creation of water features, such as ponds. The truck makes cleaning basins and sumps much easier, as well. The high pressure flushing feature of the trucks makes cleaning sewer and drain lines much easier, as well, and they can clean lines from 1.5 inches in diameter all the way to 8 feet in diameter. No matter the size of the problem, chances are these trucks can handle it, and they can help to save time and money.

The People Behind the Machines

Of course, the machines are only as good as the people who are running them. It is always important to make sure that the company working on sewer lines or hydro excavation has all of the training and skill to do the job properly. Without the right people, the right equipment means nothing.

Learn about Edenflo with their Latest Video

Problems with an Aging Septic System

An aging septic system can have quite a few problems. It is true that proper and professional cleaning can help make a system last longer, but that does not mean that no problems will arise.

If you find you are having trouble with your aging septic system, cleaning and pumping might not be the right solution. You have to make sure that this is not going to cause any more damage to your tank. In some cases, you might not want to clean your septic system without more of an inspection. The inspection from the pumping company is going to be able to help make sure that the system is okay and ready for cleaning.

In the case of an aging septic tank, one has to be very careful when it comes to cleaning and pumping. Very old tanks could actually collapse and cause sinkholes in the yard that can become deadly. Pumping out these old tanks has to happen very carefully. If a professional doesn’t vacuum slowly and carefully, it could actually cause those tanks to cave in because of the pressures in the tank. Only professionals should handle the cleaning and vacuuming of old tanks, or newer tanks for that matter.

The septic tank system is certainly one of the most important parts of your home, and you have to make sure that it is in good shape. This is true whether you are selling the home or keeping the home. If you have a business, then you have to make sure that your aging septic tank is still in good shape, too. This means that you have to take care of your system properly with regular pumping and cleaning. This can help to increase the life of aging systems.

Of course, there may come a time when you have no choice but to replace your aging septic system. In these cases, you do not want to delay. Waiting too long when you need to have a new system can be disastrous. The last thing you need is for your aging septic system to break down, leak, and cause expensive cleanup, not to mention potential health issues.

By having professionals come to your home and inspect your system, and cleaning with regularity, you can extend your system’s life. The septic system is an area of home ownership you should never neglect because of the dangers and the costs involved with it.