What is a septic system?

A septic system is a large filter. Like all filtering mechanisms, there are components that require maintenance for it to continue to operate effectively. When filters are neglected, over time they begin to fail. With a septic system the failure can result in many costly and unsafe problems such as:

1. Septic coming up in your yard
2. Septic coming back into your home
3. Replacement of parts of the system
4. Replacement of the entire system….if the area even permits the replacement. Once again, this is up to the findings or rulings of the Department of Health.

How do I know where my septic tank is?

When your septic system was first installed a permit showing the layout the of the system was designed by the local Health Department. This permit shows the distances between and depths of the sections / parts of your septic system. The Health Department is required to keep these records on file. You can obtain a copy of this permit for your own records. To help the Health department locate the older records (as in 1985 and older) please try to provide them with as much of the following information that you possible can. Name of the person that originally built the home, the year the home was built, Name of subdivision if you are in one, Lot and block number, Tax plat number. If you can not locate your septic tank on your own, feel free to give us a call. There are several options available for locating systems.

I Had a septic or sewer back up, what to do next?

If a back up occurred in a finished area, got on the carpet, under vinyl flooring or soaked into the furniture, all this has to be taken out and the area should professionally cleaned and treated. The septic / sewage can carry hazardous germs and bacteria that penetrate into the wood and concrete. Follow the link on this site to find more information on this topic.

There is a septic odor in my home, what is causing it?

There are a couple reasons why septic odors comes into a home. If a drain line or toilet does not have a proper seal, a trap may not have enough water in it, there may not be enough bacteria in the septic tank, the vent pipe may not have enough draft to vent properly.

How is my septic tank cleaned?

For systems that are still cover with soil or do not have a manhole access port., the septic tank lid is located and in most cases a hand shovel is used to dig a 2 by 2 foot hole unless it is deeper than 30 inches. Digging deeper hole requires excavating equipment to dig the opening large enough to pull out the concrete septic tank lid. Lids that deep or deeper should have a manhole installed as per the Health Department code and regulations. Once the lid is uncovered it is pulled off and set aside. The waste material is then vacuumed out of the tank. Sometimes the systems has been neglected to the point of the sludge on the bottom is tar like. In such incidences it is necessary to back flush in order to get the sludge out. After the tank is cleaned out, fluids are run through the input tee to make sure the drain line is open. Next the output tee is checked to make sure it is in place and open. Then the tank is check for any signs of cracks or roots present.

Is it necessary to Dig the Tank to Clean it?

Yes, except for systems that have a riser or manhole installed over top of the septic tank access port.

How Often Should Our Septic Tank be Cleaned? The Department of Health and Environmental Safety recommends a septic tank be cleaned every 3 to 5 years (depends on usage). Frequent use of a garbage disposal puts more hard material and grease in the tank, which shortens the time span between tank cleanings. More people living in the household then the system is designed to handle will require cleanings to be done more often. Putting or flushing items down the drains other than toilet paper or what you eat and drink will create the need to clean the septic tank sooner.

Can a tank be cleaned through a clean-out?

No. A clean-out is used to unstop a line from outside of the house and is generally placed within a couple of feet from the house. A tank can be cleaned through a 4: x 6: pipe installed over the tank lid which is called a riser. However, we do not recommend this method of clean-out. In case of an emergency, a riser dos not allow for easy access to the tank lid. With a riser you can not tell if all the waste material was removed, and with pump back systems it is very important that ll of the solid waste be removed. Manholes are a more practical and more cost efficient solution.

Why should I have my output line cleaned?

Over time greases and scum build up on the inside of the drain line. Hard debris and materials passing through the line cling to the build up often causing slow drainage or a clogged line. Cleaning or high pressure jetting the lines prevents such an occurrence. After the line has been cleaned we recommend that CCLS drain and septic treatment is used on a regular basis. CCLS keeps the drain lines clear and restores the needed bacteria to keep your system operating effectively.

Why use the Video service?

When it comes to an inspection on a sewer or septic drain line, the video camera will show the customer the condition of the inside of the line. It is the closest thing to seeing through the ground we have found since Super man. The video camera will show if a line is blistering from the inside out, if the line came about, collapsed, broken or if there are roots in the line. Years ago the drain lines were made of materials such as cast iron, terra cotta or orange berg (pressed cardboard) and all these products deteriorate from the inside out. By using this method we can tell you where the problem area is and how deep it is. Our advice to home owners purchasing a new to them property that was built in 1985 and older, is to have a video inspection on the main drain line. It is best to discover any needed repairs before you complete a transaction.

If I use additives, do I still need to clean my tank?

Yes! There is not one product on the market that will take away all the hard materials in your septic tank. We recommend a treatment that will enhance the performance of your system and keep you drain lines open. Our products contain enzyme producing bacteria that aid in breaking down the solids. This is good because the cleaners , bleach and soaps we use kills the bacteria that septic systems need to function effectively. So again, yes it is still necessary to vacuum out the hard materials that settle on the bottom on the holding tank.

Why Do You Recommend CCLS?

Our years of experience in the business have allowed us to see which products actually do the job. We recommend a liquid that contains a high bacteria count of 50 billio per quart is a good percentage. Liquids are preferred because of the multi-purpose function of removing build-up in drain lines and restoring the level of bacteria and enzyemes in the septic system. Dry products (to fluch down the toilet) have great advertising behind them, however laboratory testing has shown that bacteria level to be the far lower than the liquids. Some dry products are found floating on top of the tank and is vacuumed out when the septic tank is serviced. There are dry products formulated specifically (to mix with water) to reverse a failing system, but for regular use. Be sure to read all product labels carefully and steer clear of acid based products.

Steps to obtain a septic system?

A septic system is a large filter. Like all filtering mechanisms, there are components that require maintenance for it to continue to operate effectively. When filters are neglected, over time they begin to fail. With a septic system the failure can result in many costly and unsafe problems.

What is the cost of a new septic system?

The price of a septic system varies depending on the design and the type of system that is required for the property and the size of the house. There may be a few field lines at a shallow depth or a lot of field lines at a deep depth. It may requires a gravity flow system of a back flow system. It may require a special system such as a drip, sand mound, micro system, or peat moss due to poor drainage. Until the Health Department does a perk test and provides you with a permit containing the layout of a system, no one can give you an accurate price. We can only give ball park or broad figures ranging from 6 thousand to 20 thousand.

What size tank do I need?

The tank size in a septic system is determined by how many bedrooms are in a house. I believe it is calculated by the number of gallons of liquids the average person uses in a day, which is 75 gallons. Get your pen out for the next step...the average number of people in one bedroom is two, so you take 2 x 75 gallons = 150 gallons. Each bedroom accounts for 150 gallons usage per day. A household of 3 bedrooms would amount to 450 gallons of per day usage. The tank size for 3 bedrooms is a 1,000 gallon tank which is designed to handle 500 gallons per day. Reason being, it takes a system 48 hours to process 500 gallons. By the time the next days 500 gallons are coming in the portion of the prior days has filtered through the system.

This is a general idea of the tank size:

# of Bedrooms	Tank Size
3	1,000 Gallon
4	1,500 Gallon
5	2,000 Gallon

How do I know if I need a manhole?

The regulation code for a manhole varies from county to county. If the top of the septic tank is 2’’6” or deeper from the surface of the ground, a manhole is required. Some owners prefer to have the manhole access to avoid disturbing the ground, and it is easy to check the system condition by providing access should you need to unstop the input line. The cost of installing a manhole versus the cost to dig up the septic tank for each cleaning will more than pay for itself.

I’m buying a house with a septic system, should I inspect it?

Yes, by all means do a full inspection. You need to know what you are getting and that it is operating properly. The law suggests what we call a walk and sniff, which is where someone walks around the yard to locate any wet or damp areas. This will only tell you if there is a noticeable problem. Many times the problem begins far before any significant signs appear. More then often than not problem will appear by backing up into the house before it ever comes up through the ground. A full inspection means to have: the septic tank located, dug up, inspect the septic level, crust and sludge thickness (this will detect if there is a problem right away) cleaned / vacuumed out, (the color of the sludge will tell you if there is enough bacteria in the system) flushing fluids through the output line to make sure it is not clogged look for any signs of roots or cracks, make sure the in-put and out-put tees and in place and open, check the area where the permit / plat states the system is located for wet / soggy areas. Inspect the pump tank , lift pump and control panel should there be a back flow system.

What does a Permit Show?

A septic system permit shows the house location, where the input line comes out, how far to the septic tank and size, the output line distance to the distribution box, the number and length of field lines and how deep they will be placed.