Septic maintenance services in Sonora, CA? Foothill Sanitary Septic provides a 5 page detailed evaluation report the next morning after the day of the inspection. Foothill Sanitary Septic will also accept / make phone calls to / from buyers and sellers to discuss the inspection findings and will gladly educate new owners of how to properly care for their septic system. It is our job that your system is not a headache or nuisance to you or the neighborhood. If you have any questions, please feel free call us at at (209) 257-4396. If you would like to request an inspection, please give us a call or fill out our online Inspection.
Repair leaky faucets. Water that is wasted through leaky taps puts a strain on your septic tank system (not to mention, it also increases your water bill!). Be sure to repair leaky tap right away. Don’t pour household chemicals down the drain. Dispose of motor oil, antifreeze, paint, pesticides and potent cleaners properly. They should never be poured down the drain because they kill bacteria that breaks down solids in your septic tank.
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. This is particularly important during heavy rain, which can quickly overwhelm a drainfield on its own. Also common are blockages, which can cause pipes to be clogged and the drainfield to overflow. To prevent this, avoid flushing anything besides the three Ps (pee, poop, and toilet paper). “Flushable” wipes and FOG (fats, oils, grease) clog pipes so should be thrown in the trash. Avoid the use of a garbage disposal which can improperly break down debris.
A good site to visit for several educational videos regarding septic systems can be found on Washington State’s Department of Health On Site Sewage Systems Home Owner Education Page. The Full video course is 5 chapters and runs 19:02 minutes. You can watch the individual chapters by themselves which range from 2:29 to 6:57 minutes in length. Chapter 3 – Types of Septic Systems is 6:57 minutes and goes over most of the systems described on this page. Septic Systems are Engineered by a Licensed Engineering Company. We at Foothill Sanitary Septic highly recommend Cal State Engineering in Jackson, CA as they are the best. Find additional information on septic system options.
Excessive water use can cause a septic system to fail. To reduce the possibility of a failed septic system due to excessive water usage, following a few water saving guidelines will reduce the amount of water entering your septic system and reduce your water bills. Flush toilets only when necessary and don’t use them as wastebaskets. Install high-efficiency toilets. Check for leaky toilets and faucets — even a small leak can waste up to 200 gallons of water each day. Install water efficient shower heads and take shorter showers. If you have a dishwasher, only run it when it is full. Use proper load settings when doing laundry. Don’t leave the faucet running when brushing teeth or shaving.
Kevin Gause is the owner of Foothill Sanitary Septic and Operation Manager for Foothill Portable Toilets which is owned by Leslie Gause. Kevin has over 20 years experience in solid and liquid waste transporting and 17 years experience in handling all aspects of septic, grease and portable toilet services. Kevin’s commitment is to provide all services with the utmost integrity and honesty. By providing quality workmanship and performing the job the way it should be done, customer satisfaction is achieved. Our first-time customers continually become our long term customers time and time again, choosing us for all their septic and portable toilet needs. This commitment is prevalent throughout the company.
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 information at foothillsanitary.com.