When Sweet Pea cleans your septic system we make it a point to stick our heads down farther than most people would and look for a tee on the side of the tank where the waste comes into the tank from your house - the inlet tee and to see if there is an even more important tee on the side of the tank where the greywater leaves your septic (and eventually ends up in your glass) - the outlet tee. Although both are important, the outlet tee stands as a guard between the waste in your tank and the sanctity of your drainfield. If this tee is not in place, waste will (often unbeknownst to you for many years) float on down the outlet pipe, through the perferated pipes and begin to slowly but inevitably plug your drainfield. Drainfield treatments and replacements are much more expensive then simple, regular septic maintenance.
In Ravalli County, the sanitarian’s office is requiring the installation of an effluent filter now with risers to grade. The effluent filter will act as a more modern keeper of the outlet gate but will catch undigested foods from garbage disposals for example and anything else that that floats and should not be in the septic in the first place plus grease, hair etc. The key to an efficient effluent filter is a regular cleaning. A simple call to Sweet Pea and we pull the lid on the outlet riser and clean these filters for a nominal charge. Maintenance, maintenance, maintenance!
Risers have traditionally been installed on the inlet side of the tank (the side where all the good stuff is and we septic pumpers prefer to pump from). Risers are usually round concrete or plastic rings that are set on top of the opening of a deeper septic tank in order to bring the access up to either grade or within a couple inches depending on homeowner preference. The point is to make access for the septic pumper (when he comes out on a regular basis) easier.
Outdoor odors while entertaining can be embarrassing but are certainly possible when the wind swoops bathroom odors emitting from the vent stack filters on the roof down towards your picnic table. Uck! Help can be found via the installation of a simple plastic aparatus called a vent stack filter. These come in various sizes depending on the size of your vent stack and are pretty cheap compared to the cost of losing friends and, they work!
In closing and a little off the subject of septic issues, have you ever wondered why some real estate agents use pictures on their business cards that are obviously 20 years old (or maybe 24 years old..)? I always found it amusing, just as I hope you find some of my old photos amusing. Apparently I’m not ready to come out of the closet and be recognized in Rosauer’s as the Editor of The Scoop on Poop. After all, as much as I love to sell our services, I’m still wondering how it is that I grew up to become the Queen of Poop.
Don’t forget to ask about all of our special Sweet Pea portable toilet features for your next summer event and if you really want to dazzle your group, rent our indoor toilet trailer complete with heat and a/c. Happy flushing and don’t forget to e-mail us with any questions or comments.