Professional Septic Tank System Services in Vancouver Island North
We offer complete septic tank system services at Able & Ready Septic Tank Services, including cleaning, maintenance, and pumping in Vancouver Island North. Our professional team has the right skills and experience to ensure that your septic tank is properly cleaned and maintained to work just as new. You can rely on us for prompt and dependable emergency services and expect nothing less than excellence. Our staff will reach the site on time and will handle everything hassle-freely. We will also educate you thoroughly on the subject and share tips on how you can maintain your septic system better. Call us today to avail our septic tank system services. You can also check out our FAQ section where we’ve answered the questions we get often.
How Septic Systems Function
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The wastewater from your toilets, sinks, showers, laundry, dishwasher, and any other household plumbing fixtures drains into your septic tank. Your tank is designed to hold this wastewater long enough to allow the solids to sink to the bottom and the oils and grease and other debris to float to the top forming a floating crust of good bacteria. Natural bacteria in your tank will now start to break down the solids. Over time, the solids and floating crust build up and need to be pumped out.
The partially treated wastewater from your tank then flows out to the distribution box where it is discharged to your septic field lines. The water then percolates into the soil through small holes in the pipes where natural filtration and microorganisms in the soil remove any remaining harmful partials.
The cleansed and treated wastewater passes into the groundwater and returns to the water cycle. A failing septic system can pollute our streams, lakes, shorelines, and groundwater.
As a homeowner, you are responsible for ensuring that your septic system is properly maintained.
Septic System Maintenance
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Septic systems need regular maintenance to ensure that they continue to function properly. Locate the components of your septic system. To properly inspect and clean a septic system, we require access to the inlet pipe, main tank opening on the solids side, the water chamber and outlet. Knowing the location of the distribution box is also recommended as we can open and look to see if debris has made it into your field.
Maintenance includes regular pump-outs, monitoring, and inspection. We recommend 3 to 5 years between pump-outs depending on size and usage.
If your system doesn’t have a septic filter, consider having one installed to reduce the number of solids entering your septic field.
If you have a treatment plant, set up a regular maintenance contract with us to have your system accessed every 6 months to a year depending on the system.
Decrease your water consumption. Using large quantities of water flushes the solids into the drain field even before they can settle in the septic tank.
Use septic-safe products and minimize the amount you use. Keep grease and fats from cooking out of your system. We recommend using a paper towel to wipe down any greasy dishes before washing. Remember, you need good bacteria in your septic tank, so anything anti-bacterial will upset the balance in the septic tank and cause the good bacteria to die off. Do not flush wipes of any sort into the septic system.
Signs of a Failing Septic System
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Along with regular maintenance, it is important to know the signs indicating that something is wrong with your system. You should look for the following signs to know if your septic system is failing:
- Slow draining sinks and toilets or gurgling sounds in the plumbing
- Sewer odours, sewage surfacing, lush growth, or soggy wet ground over the drain field.
- When opening your tank for service or inspection, there is no floating crust. This indicates the good bacteria has died off and debris may be getting out to your septic field.
If you notice any or some of the above indicators in your septic tank system, call us right away.