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Top Qualities to Look for in a Septic Contractor

Posted on by oiradmin

At one time or another, as homeowners, we’ll find ourselves in a really bad mess. It’s our responsibility to fix every issue in our household and that may include the septic systems.

Most homeowners have little knowledge about their septic systems. When problems arise with your septic systems, you have to be prepared in facing the people who are offering their services to you. You should at least have an idea of who you should choose.

In order for you to get your money’s worth, here are some qualities of a good septic contractor.

  • They should be good in answering all your queries. An excellent contractor will do everything in his power to properly explain to you the process of properly maintaining your septic system. If they’re able to do that, you are probably hiring a highly experienced contractor.
  • For you to check their credibility, you can base on their years of experience.
  • They should have excellent reviews and strong recommendations from past clients.
  • They should offer flexible hours of operation. For example, they’re able to conduct regular maintenance even after regular business hours for you to avoid taking time off from work.
  • Great contractors will have to show professionalism and trustworthiness. They will have to present to you a detailed plan of their scope of work along with the total cost before they get to work with you.
  • Septic experts have all the top-notch equipment for the job. You should select a team who uses high-quality equipment.
  • If possible, look for a septic contractor that has a wide range of services including installation, maintenance and repair. In this way, you can have hire the same experts for other concerns regarding your septic system in the future.

Septic System Do’s and Don’ts

Posted on by oiradmin

If you want to your septic system to last long and avoid getting headaches from it in the near future, you must follow certain measures.

Follow these septic system do’s and don’ts to care for your home, health, property value and environment.

Do’s:

  • Make it a point to have your septic tank inspected and pumped when necessary by professionals every three years.
  • When doing the laundry, make sure that you spread the loads throughout the week. Washing all the laundry at once can be harmful to your septic system.
  • Try using liquid laundry detergent. It is better to use this because powdered detergents use clay which can cause buildup of solids in the septic tanks.
  • Transfer grease into a container for it to harden and be thrown in the trash.
  • Remove the trees with huge roots near the leach field. Its roots can clog the system.
  • Keep a permanent record indicating the location of the key parts of your septic system as future reference for proper maintenance.
  • Be more efficient with using water by fixing plumbing leaks.

Don’ts

  • Don’t throw garbage into your septic systems.
  • Don’t excessively use chemicals as they will disrupt the growth of certain bacteria that helps in the decomposition of wastes in the septic systems.
  • Don’t plant trees near your drain.
  • Don’t drive heavy vehicles on the drain field. These can damage the drain pipes.
  • Don’t let food items such as coffee grounds, oils, fats, meat and vegetables in the septic system.

Following these Do’s and Don’ts will help prolong the lifespan of your septic system. A flooded yard is the last thing we want to have in our homes. And by the way, damaging the septic system can severely damage your finances, too.

The Importance of Drain Cleaning

Posted on by oiradmin

You mostly rely on your drain system to dispose wastewater effectively. Oftentimes, these drain systems get clogged up from grease, food particles and other wastes. Blocked drains can largely impact the balance of pressure in your system. It can even lead to cracked or burst pipes. Here are some reasons to consider drain cleaning.

  1. Eliminate Drain Clogs

Drain clogs can be really frustrating. Cleaning the plumbing fixtures from grease and other buildup is great way to avoid clogs in the drain.  Over time, every organic matter such as grease and soap buildup can accumulate in the drain pipes. It prevents water to flow through the pipes making it a critical issue.

  1. Avoid Damage to Pipes and Fixtures

Standing water in your drains can cause permanent damage to your pipes and fixtures. When these clogs get really severe, pipes can even burst and may require more than just repairing. You will be burdened by replacing these pipes. Early prevention and maintenance measures must be done before this happens.

  1. Keep unpleasant odors from clogged pipes

Clogged drains can also produce foul odors. These foul odors come from the different substances and wastes stuck in the pipes. Having foul odors coming from the drains can be upsetting. You may avoid this by regular drain pipes checkup.

You may not notice the importance of regularly cleaning the drain until it is too late. Cleaning the drain can be quite easy, thanks to the new technologies and products available today.

It will be more difficult for us to handle if we overlook the maintenance of these pipes. You can also opt for specially formulated products for simpler and easier treatment of drain pipe build-up. Preventive maintenance should be highly considered because it can avert issues before they lead to more complicated problems.

The Wonders of Deodorizers in Portable Toilets

Posted on by oiradmin

If you have ever been in a porta potty before, you will have to agree that deodorizers can be a necessity. Deodorizers improve the customer’s experience and increase their levels of satisfaction.  We all know that maximizing customer satisfaction can also lead to maximized profitability.

What benefits do we get from the humble restroom deodorizers?

There are different types of deodorizer depending on your requirements. Deodorizers always come along with the cleaning materials. Cleaning the portable restroom isn’t enough. The restroom should also “smell” clean.

  1. Deodorizers get rid of unwanted odors.

Usually, bathroom odors are caused by the various bacteria found in human waste.

The typical deodorizers neutralize those bacteria in order to prevent foul odors. They also have concentrated fragrances to overpower the unpleasant smell in the porta potty.

There are also eco-friendly organic deodorizers available for those environmentally conscious customers. These deodorizers contain natural extracts to neutralize bacteria and the odors that come with these.

  1. Some special deodorizers don’t just mask the odors.

There are specially formulated deodorizers that don’t just mask the unwanted smell in the bathrooms. These deodorizers clean the holding tanks also. That’s like hitting two birds with one stone.

  1. Deodorizers give the best customer experience.

Customers who use the portable restroom will be satisfied about the pleasant smell. This will give them the idea that the portable restroom is properly maintained. This will give you more opportunities for higher profitability.

Without these deodorizers, the portable portable restrooms can’t get totally clean. We don’t have all the time and resources to clean the restrooms to avoid the unpleasant odors. Using the right deodorizer for your needs can ultimately cut you some slack.  You will be needing to understand the conditions that cause restroom orders to be able to choose the right deodorizer. The method of deodorizing is also equally important.

3 Things Every Homeowner Should Know About Septic Systems

Posted on by oiradmin

A septic system consists of a septic tank and a drainage system. Septic systems are common in rural areas but can be found in urban places, too.

A septic tank is a huge, watertight container placed underground connected to your home’s septic line. It is where all the water and waste is collected. It can be rectangular or cylindrical, and is usually made of concrete, polyethelene, fiberglass or steel.

A septic drainage system consists of pipes and drain field or mound. If the level of fluids inside the septic tank get high enough, it flows out of the tank into the pipes then eventually ends on the drain mound or field.

We have here three important things to note about septic systems:

  1. Septic systems, like all other things, have a lifespan.

Unlike what most people believe in, septic systems don’t last forever. Its lifespan will be determined by many factors. It will depend on how it was installed, or if it has been properly maintained, inspected and pumped.

  1. Every homeowner needs to be cautious of what is being flushed or poured down the drain.

There’s a number of things that should never be flushed down the septic system as it would highly affect the drainage and would cause even bigger problems. We should not let tissues, feminine hygiene products and everything that don’t dissolve down the drain or the toilet. Also, we should avoid using too much chlorine bleach or chemicals that can kill the bacteria that the system needs to function well.

  1. Your septic system will need to be inspected and have scheduled pumping.

We do not want our septic system to fail because untreated sewage may be released causing it to go into the surface or around the tank. It might get even worse that waste would be forced back to the pipes of our property.

The key to having a septic system that functions well and last a longer lifespan is regular and proper maintenance. You can regard pumping your septic as a preventive maintenance.

The Role of Bio-augmentation in Biological Waste Treatment

Posted on by oiradmin

Have you ever heard of bio-augmentation before? Bio-augmentation is the process of adding archaea or cultured microorganisms into the subsurface to speed up the degradation of target wastes. It can be a very efficient operational tool in handling biological waste treatment

Bio-augmentation usually requires the observation of indigenous varieties present in the contaminated area so as to determine if it is possible to proceed to biostimulation. Exogenous varieties with the capability to perform the remediation process are needed to be introduced when the present indigenous variety are not able to do so.

In municipal wastewater treatment, bio-augmentation is usually used to restart activated sludge bioreactors which are engineered systems that supports biologically active environments.

In a biological wastewater treatment facility, these cultured microbes are used for some practical reasons:

  1. They are able to degrade specific wastes such as phenols, aromatics, waxes, nitrate, etc.
  2. Minimize odors from unstable organic acids by stopping their formation and removing compounds that cause odor
  3. High levels of growth regardless of the elevated or low temperature environment and extreme pH levels.
  4. Speeds up removal of soluble COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) or BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) through strong enzyme growth and production and improved active biomass kinetics
  5. Forms floc to remove solids and high level of turbidity.

Adding specific cultured microbes into a functional biological waste treatment system enables operators to adjust the biomass to its desired output without the conflict of delay in process. Bio-augmentation often avoids unanticipated results as indigenous microbes adjust to the changing waste environment.

Prior the process of adding these cultured microbes, these are carefully tested in the laboratory to be able to meet the requirements for it to be functional. It is made sure that these microbes have good stability, biosafety and have the ability to withstand varying conditions in different environment. These carefully tested microbes are then grown and stabilize similarly with techniques used to produce antibiotics or other pharmaceutical compounds.

4 Simple Tips to Keep Your Portable Potties Clean

Posted on by oiradmin

Renting portable potties for a one or two-day event requires minimum effort to maintain.  You just need to consider the number of portable potties to be rented. You don’t have to stress about the cleaning because it will be the toilet company who will be responsible for that.

However, it is entirely different when hosting an event that lasts for a longer period, let’s say for a whole month. Aside from coping for regular toilet usage for the whole month, there are also external factors such as the mess due to bad weather conditions. You have the option to call a professional cleaning and sanitation service provider to fix it for you but there are still numerous things for you to do when renting out porta potties because as we all know, porta potties can be really dirty most of the time. Here are four simple tips to keep your porta potties clean.

  1. Rent enough portable potties for your event.

Face it, we all have experienced going to an outdoor event with overused portable restrooms. While it is common, we may avoid this kind of situation by making sure that the number of portable potties can serve the expected number of crowd. It is ideal if we base on a 1:100 ratio of restroom to people.

  1. Make sure that they are placed strategically to have balanced usage. 

Another thing to consider is the best spot to place those portable restrooms. It will be difficult to maintain if these restrooms are in just one area. It is better if they are strategically located throughout the event place.

  1. You can get cleaning tablets for the portable toilets

Unpleasant odor is one of the major turn-offs in portable restrooms. Cleaning tablets can be the solution to this. While it won’t be able to clean the toilet but it will definitely help in reducing the odor. A cleaning tablet can last up to one month.

  1. Regularly check for supplies for your portable restrooms.

It is important to have these portable restrooms well-stocked. Portable potties should have enough supplies of paper tissue, hand sanitizer, cleaning tablets and air freshener. You can also opt for other organic solutions to keep it environmental friendly. This gesture could keep your restrooms in good shape avoiding to call emergency services that will cost you more.

Unusual Toilets You May Find Outdoors

Posted on by oiradmin

You’re out again and about to explore the wilderness when you feel the need to poop. You may find toilets outdoor but to your surprise, although it looks like a normal toilet, it operates differently.

We have gathered here some of the toilet types you can find outdoors and guide in how to use them.

  1. Plastic Bag Toilet

This can be the easiest form of improvised human waste holding. Plastic bag toilets are very portable and inexpensive. These are useful when camping. Basically, a plastic bag toilet catches your poop and then you dispose it in the trash. You have the option to bury or burn the bags afterwards.

  1. Incinerating Toilet

Incinerating toilets can be shocking to use at first if you have never seen one before. This type of toilet eliminates the difficulty of disposing human waste as it only produces about a spoonful of ash per human excreta. What it does to your poop is that it burns it. One plus side of this is that the ash is sterile and odor-free. It can also be a fertilizer after because all the nutrients are still intact. There will be a lever that drops your waste into an incinerator.

  1. Composting Toilet

Composting toilets decompose organic matter and turns human waste into compost. In these toilets, you are just pooping into a deep enclosed container with high concentration of microbes to speed up the degradation of the waste, removing harmful pathogens, and finally converts it into useful fertilizer.

In using these, there are carbon additives like sawdust, coconut coir or peat moss to be used after. This promotes aerobic decomposition. Furthermore, it reduces potential order as it improves to carbon to nitrogen ratio. Please note that the lid must be closed so the foul odor won’t come out.

Why You Shouldn’t Use Bleach in Cleaning Your Septic Toilet

Posted on by oiradmin

There are different ways to disinfect your septic toilet. Using bleach shouldn’t be one of them. However, since bleach is a common and a very useful household item, it’s easy for everyone to just grab it and use it for all types of cleaning. Bleach has countless uses. They can be used to whiten surfaces, sanitize, kill germs, and remove stains. In fact, most toilet bowl cleaners you can buy in the supermarket are bleach or chlorine based.

Every chemical you use to clean your sink, toilet, or even what you put in your washing machine can affect your septic system’s lifespan. Therefore, you need to be meticulous in choosing the right product for your septic tank. Failure to do so could result in septic tank problems, expensive repairs, contaminated drinking water, foul odor, and a lot more.

So, why should you avoid using bleach in cleaning your toilet?

See, your septic system is filled with different kinds of bacteria. Each of which has their role in decomposing all your waste. When bleach and other chlorinated chemicals get introduced into your tank, they kill all the bacteria inside that are needed for waste treatment and breakdown.

Thus, the dead bacteria build up in the septic tank with nowhere to go. They consume more septic space that oil, grease, and other solid wastes are pushed out of the tank into the drain field. Putting too much pressure on the drain field can cause failure and you may end up spending money for costly repairs.

Here’s what you should use instead:

Instead of using chlorinated chemicals and bleach, you should use all organic biodegradable cleaning products.

You can also use liquid laundry detergents that are low-sudsing, low phosphate, and biodegradable.

 

 

The Difference Between Septic Toilet and Green Toilet

Posted on by oiradmin

Septic toilets and green toilets basically have the same function. They are both composting toilet tanks. Both toilets store waste and serve as the decomposing environment. These toilets also require consistent cleaning and regular maintenance for both to work properly.

However, you will notice that there are a lot of differences between septic and green toilets if you will have a closer look.

Here are some of them:

  1. Use of Water

Septic systems use water, while green toilets do not. They can also handle different types of waste that come from different areas of the house, like the kitchen. On the other hand, green toilets solely handle bathroom wastes.

  1. Operations

Septic toilets with tanks can be used as a regular bathroom toilet. Wastes are being flushed each and every use to push them to the septic tank where the solid wastes settle. On the other hand, liquid wastes continue to flow to the leak field and into the ground to soak.

Things are way different when using a green toilet. Since there is no water involved, you need to have a direct path to the toilet outlet. Normally, the composting tank has a heater and a fan to keep the waste aerated and warm for easy decomposing.

  1. Cleaning and Maintenance

A septic toilet and tank requires some maintenance. It has to be pumped every three to five years, but you can hire a pumper truck to do the job for you.

On the other hand, composting toilet needs more maintenance. Compared to septic toilets, you have to empty your compost pit once every month, depending on the size of your pit or your usage. You also have to do it manually by hand using a shovel.

  1. Overall Cost

Installation of septic toilet and tanks can be really costly. It requires installation of pipes and system components (not to mention the cost of water used for flushing).

On the contrary, green toilets are great alternatives to expensive toilet systems. Installing these toilets won’t break your bank. Although you won’t be spending on water for flushing, you will have to pay for electricity for heaters and fans.

  1. Hygiene

When it comes to hygiene, both toilets can be problem-free and efficient if installed properly. However, both septic and green toilets can also cause problems. For instance, leach field and discharge pumps can fail for septic systems. When this happens, it can cause a serious public health hazard right in your backyard. You will also need a huge amount of money for fixing.

On the other hand, green toilets won’t cause such huge problems, but can also cause hygiene and clean up issues.