WHAT HAS YOUR PROFESSION TAUGHT YOU?

What perspective has your profession given you?

We all obtain knowledge from our work environment.  Sometimes that knowledge scares us a little…or a lot!  It definitely gives us a perspective that is unique to our work place.  I once had a friend who waited tables at a local restaurant when we were in college.  It was one of my favorite restaurants but she claimed she would NEVER eat there based on what she saw in the kitchen.  Because of what she said, I found myself a new favorite restaurant.  She and I both obtained a new perspective of that place!

I have a former student who now works in a dermatologist’s office.  I see her post warnings on Facebook to NOT use tanning beds or to make sure they ALWAYS wear sunscreen.  Every day she sees what harmful UV rays can do to a person’s skin.  Because of this, she will never use a tanning bed or go without sunscreen when she is outside. She used to tan, but her newfound perspective from working at the dermatologist’s office has changed her mind to all of that!

I think we all possess knowledge that gives us a different perspective based on what we see every day in our work place.  These experiences teach us “what NOT to do”or “what TO DO” to avoid problems!

So, what about the septic business?  Is there anything “to do” or “not to do”? 

Absolutely.

For the most part, our “to do” or “not to do” lists are very simple, but many people still blow off claims or warnings despite our recommendations.  I think  many times customers think we are trying to push services on them, but I’m pretty sure they would change their mind if they answered my phone for a week or followed my husband around for a short time.  For us in the septic business, here is our “to do” list!

1.        TOILET PAPER BRAND

Toilet paper may seem like the silliest thing for one to be concerned about, but it can cause a huge problem if you live on septic.  We probably take a call for someone who is backed-up (meaning septic wastewater is coming back in to the house, not going out…) every other day.  This is a gross and disgusting mess for many and depending on how bad the back-up is, and it can be quite costly to clean up.  The crazy thing is, 90% of the time the reason someone has septic coming back into their house is because they are using the wrong kind of toilet paper.  Everyone likes to use the stuff that feels good on the bum, but let me tell you, the better it feels the worse it is on your septic system.  Almost every toilet paper manufacturer has claims on the packaging that their paper is “septic safe” – but they aren’t taking into account how their paper can get caught in the line or baffle or a system.  The stronger the toilet paper, the longer it maintains its integrity even once it is wet.  If toilet paper remains strong while wet, it has a much higher probability to clog up the line causing back-ups into the house. 

The solution?  It is simple.  Change toilet paper brands.  The cheaper and lesser ply the better.  Save yourself the headache of a mess or an extra pumping bill (or cleaning service bill!)  Use cheap toilet paper that breaks into pieces once it hits water and you’ll be fine!

2.       RISERS TO THE SURFACE

Today, most septic systems installed should have a tube from the top of the septic tank to the surface of the ground.  This is what code is for septic systems.  However, if someone doesn’t quite know what they are doing or the system was installed many years ago, your tank could be buried without a surface access point.  It is very simple to fix this issue by adding a riser (or a tube coming to the surface with a lid) for just a couple hundred dollars.  Why is this important?  Well, the simplest and most logical reason is so you know where your tank is.  However, this also is important if you have an emergency.  If your system is backing up into your house, someone will need to get to your tank ASAP.  If you don’t know where your tank is, then whoever you call to pump it will have to spend more time finding it and digging it up leaving all that ick in your house that much longer.  Not only that, but many companies charge more to locate and dig a tank up especially if they are excessively deep.  Finally, let’s say this back up takes place in the dead of winter, with a layer of snow on the yard and the ground is frozen.  Here again there are more hurdles and higher bills you now have to pay because there isn’t a simple access point to your tank.

Unfortunately, we’ve seen this happen way too often, so if you don’t have a riser to the surface, get one.  Yes, it might cost a couple hundred bucks but that will bill will seem like peanuts compared to your emergency bill if you don’t.

3.       HAVE YOUR TANK PUMPED REGULARLY

A well-maintained septic system can last up to 30 years.  The only thing that is really required to make it a well-maintained system is regular pumping of the septic tank.  It is recommended that homeowners have their tank pumped every three to five years depending on the activity level of the household.  There are some folks who claim this is a myth and just a way to get your money, but these same people don’t typically have a system that lasts very long.  Think about your car and having its oil changed.  You can go over the recommended miles and the car will still function, but the longer you wait the harder it is on the car.  It’s really no different with your septic system.

So that’s our “to do” list!  It’s really quite simple.  Living on septic isn’t rocket science, but it is a bit different.  Most of the time, people just need to be aware of the differences.  But just like in any profession, there are things you become aware of as being pretty important if you spend much time working in that environment!