Sonora, California septic maintenance firm? Think of it like this: You would not take a car; you are potentially going to purchase, to a mechanic for a pre-purchase inspection / evaluation and ask the mechanic to check it out but to not open the hood. This would defeat the purpose of the pre-purchase inspection with a restricting limitation of not being allowed to open the hood. Additionally most counties require a person or business conducting septic system inspections and evaluations to be certified through COWA and NAWT, (California Onsite Wastewater Association & National Association of Wastewater Transporters). Although COWA and NAWT teach Pumping is Mandatory and “Must be Done” prior to a system inspection/evaluation, this is generally not enforced.

Don’t pour grease down the drain. If you pour grease down your drain, it could clog your septic tank drain field. Grease doesn’t allow the soil around your drain field to absorb liquids, which could cause a back-up and result in the added expense of digging a new drain field. Purchase the right kind of garbage disposal. Consider investing in a top-of-the-line garbage disposal, which will do a better job grinding your food waste. The more ground your food, the better it will be absorbed in your septic tank system.

The most common cause of a failed system is overloading it. This can be caused by the consecutive use of high-volume activities such as laundry, showering, and running the dishwasher. Space out their usage as well as follow water conservation efforts year round. If your drainfield is flooded, your first step should be to drastically reduce water use in the house until you notice it is dry at the surface. Pumping the septic tank may be an option, however should be considered after the area above it is dry, otherwise it could cause the tank to float out of the ground, damaging the inlet and outlet pipes. Consult a professional septic service provider for advice.

A Dosing System introduces the effluent waste water from the septic tank to the drain field in intermittent intervals (doses) throughout the day. This allows the soil to absorb the “dosed” water in the drain field before more water is introduced. These types of systems are used in soils with poor absorption rates or shallow soils. There are two common types of dosing systems: The Siphon Dose and the Low Pressure Dose. A siphon dose system (not pictured) does not use an electrical discharge pump. It uses a siphon bell ( an inverted bell that is open on the bottom and traps air) that cycles as the water level rises and cause the effluent to dose into the drain field by a siphon action (Click on the link to the left to see how it actually works). A low pressure dosing system uses a pump in a pump chamber (as shown in picture on the left). The pump turns on intermittently through electronic controls and sends the effluent to the drain field in intervals throughout the day. Read additional information on kinds of septic systems.

Your drain field is likely several hundred feet away from your home but it’s directly impacted by everything you put into your septic system and maintaining it is important. A few things to avoid: Don’t plant trees or other vegetation on top of or near the drain field. Trees and shrubs should not be within 100 feet of the field since roots are attracted to the moisture and can easily start growing inside the drains. Planting grass is desirable because it will help reinforce the soil and prevent erosion. Don’t drive cars or other vehicles on top of the drain field. Heavy machinery will compress the soil and lead to broken drain pipes.

Foothill Sanitary started in 2001. A family owned business with a strong work ethic and true integrity. Our desire is to help our customers with their septic and portable toilet needs. We take the time to educate our customers about their septic systems so that they understand its function and how to prolong its life span. Our portable toilets are cleaned and disinfected very well so that you always have a nice usable unit.

The home’s sewer line drain pipe needs to slope 1/4 inch per foot downhill to the inlet side of the septic tank and the outlet pipe needs to flow downhill at least 1/8 inch per foot downhill to the leach field, where the septic tank effluent enters a manifold or distribution D box. Beyond the manifold or D box the leach field trenches (for an Infiltrator chamber system) are excavated perfectly level at a depth of at least seven inches below the grade of the manifold pipes or D box (for chambers). And covered with at least one foot of soil atop the trench or chamber. Trenches can be deeper, if the site dictates, but rarely more than three feet below finish grade. Find more info at https://www.foothillsanitary.com/.