Office Hours
Mon - Fri 7 AM to 6 PM
1602 W Valley Hwy S
Auburn, WA 98001
Mon - Fri 7 AM to 6 PM
Auburn, WA 98001
We locate septic system components from as-built drawings. You can look up your system as-built through the health department. Visit the system drawings & service history page for a link.
This is the key: ✓ routine maintenance, ✓ water conservation, and ✓ being aware of what is entering the system. The more water that is used, the more physically stressed your drainfield becomes. Cutting water usage can be done through small changes. See our list of Do’s & Don’ts for some ideas, and what you should and shouldn’t put down the drain. You should also keep a detailed record of all maintenance performed.
We have noticed thicker effluent in most homes with garbage disposals; this leads us to believe that separation of solid material isn’t taking place like it should be. When that separation doesn’t happen, solid materials can flow out to the drainfield. This may not develop into a noticeable problem for many years, but it is negatively effecting the drainfield. We recommend throwing excess food and other waste into the trash.
Don’t “silence & ignore” the alarm! It will hurt your system in the long run. Most likely, this is a pump alarm. It means you either have too much or too little liquid in the tank with the pump. This could mean anything from an electrical issue to a drainfield problem. You could check your circuit breaker panel, but have a licensed O&M Technician check it out.
Yes, over time. Hydraulic overload (forcing too much water to your drainfield) will kill your system. It is only made to handle a designated amount of liquid each day, based on the system’s design. Spread your laundry out throughout the week! Don’t do it all on one day, and use bleach sparingly.
Yes, Finance the full cost of designing, permitting, installing and maintaining your septic system.
✓Competitive fixed interest rates.
✓No upfront cost or prepayment penalties.
✓Qualification criteria are flexible and highly inclusive for a range of property types and incomes.
✓Deferred payment options may be available for homeowners with lower incomes.
✓All loans include a $2,000 reserve to support your system’s ongoing health.
CLICK HERE for more information.
The real answer: when it needs to be pumped. For a family of 4, we recommended pumping every 3-5 years. When 33% of the tank’s volume is made up of solid materials, it’s time to pump. Keeping the bottom layer (sludge) at least 12” from the bottom of the outlet baffle is the priority. This ensures that liquid (effluent) is the only thing leaving the tank.
A septic tank is a holding container for a septic system. It is an underground tank that is typically made of concrete, plastic, or fiberglass. It is designed to hold wastewater from the home and allow the solids in the water to be broken down by anaerobic bacteria. The solids are broken down and then fall to the bottom of the tank, with the solid-free wastewater leaving the tank and going to the septic field where it is filtered through the ground.
For most homes, the septic tank should be pumped out every three to five years. This process removes the sludge from the bottom of the tank to maintain septic efficiency and capacity. Homes that produce more wastewater may require pumping more frequently.
The cost of pumping a septic tank depends on several factors, including the size of the tank and the type of septic system. However, the cost of pumping the tank every few years and having it inspected is much less than a system replacement or repair if it is not maintained.
For most homes, pumping a septic tank takes less than an hour, but this can vary based on the size of the tank and the ability to access the tank to complete the process. Older systems may not have access risers which adds to the time needed to complete the process.
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