The Scoop on Poop - #9
By Susan Bashor
Does Santa come to your house and make a big fat mess? This year I could hardly wait to return every ribbon, garland, bulb and ornament to the box from whence it came. If only I could do so with the toys, the ones that work and the ones that don’t. “Mom, what type of battery does this need”? “Mom, can you play this with me”? “Mom, this doesn’t work”. Hold the fort, I need more coffee!
Speaking of not working, how many times have you thanked yourself for purchasing that Sears warranty? And although we all dread those monthly “insurance” payments, the time grandma almost burned the kitchen down it really did come in handy didn’t it? Did your homes’ sewer or septic system come with “options” or a “warranty”, or even a “maintenance plan”? (You knew I was gonna get around to talking about poop again didn’t you?) Your refrigerator did. (Smooth transition don’t you think?) Are you prepared for a breakdown? Now what? Ignore the beast below and wait for signs of an eruption? As meticulously as you planned the color of your carpet, the bathroom tile, and the home water softening system, so can you take extra care to ensure life long productivity from your individual home treatment plant.
Can you believe all of the options available to today’s homeowners?
‒ In floor heat
‒ Air filtration systems
‒ Lift stations with alarms (so that you can build that home in the flood plane after all)
‒ Self cleaning this and that’s
‒ Computerized security systems including interior and exterior illumination
‒ Stereo systems to beat the band and speakers that hide behind walls and in ceilings
When installing sewer or septic pipe have you included the optional cleanout pipe? What a God send when Sweet Pea needs to stop over and unplug that gob of Tide that entrenched itself in your line and causes your drain to back up every time you run a load of wash.
In planning for unforeseeable future plugs which will occur in cases of soap and grease build up, high water run off, hair balls (no, not the cat) and just years and years of gunk sticking to the pipes, have you installed inlet and outlet risers so that the septic tank and lines are easily accessible? As we learn more and more about keeping your system working well and living long, we’ve seen that the outlet effluent filter can be a key player. What a nifty (Nifty? Where did that come from?) little device this is. This filter catches almost everything, lint, hair, toothbrushes, plastic devices, (which shouldn’t be in the tank in the first place) dead mice, floating carrots - whatever the enemy of the drain field is that’s made its way to the surface of your tank. Anyway, the effluent filter protects the soil in your drain field from debris that plugs the soil. Once installed, be sure to have Sweet Pea come out at least annually to clean that sucker if you’re giddy about handling the matter yourself.
Another way to help your drainage area continue to absorb water over the years is to periodically give it a boost. If salt (sodium) build up, lint from fabrics, etc., are allowed to creep in and slowly but surely corrupt your soil, one day you’ll find the largest invoice you’ve ever seen sittin on your kitchen counter and a round happy excavator just a tappin his fingers as you write out one big fat check. Why didn’t I protect the soils ability to absorb grey water? As a homeowner, a primary goal should be to make sure you have a happy, well draining absorption area.
What measures do you have in place to ensure your sewer & drain pipes live long and that roots do not prosper? Got lint? Ask us about a device you can install on your washing machine that catches lint, you wouldn’t believe how well it works. Finally, when installing risers over your inlet and outlet openings ask your Sweet Pea Serviceperson about our slick, durable, light weight riser and lid system that’s much easier on your (and our drivers) back. It looks good and is an affordable system.
In short, for as many options as there are for your comfort, so there are an array of options for the long term operation of your sewer and septic systems. Install as many odor disseminates, maintenance portholes and healthy products as you can and your system will reward you with years of service. Ask a Sweet Pea serviceperson or stop by our Sweet Pea Shit Supply Store behind the Pharoahplex to find out more information regarding these products and systems. For a fun gift idea check out our “Somebody’s Got To Do It” T-Shirts. They’re the genuine article.
Happy New Year and Happy Flushing.
Sweet Pea Sewer & Septic