**Allowed:**
– Only flush toilet paper.

**Not Allowed:**
1. **Baby Wipes**: Do not flush any baby wipes or wipes that come in sealable packages.
2. **Cooking Grease and Oils**: Pour cooking grease and oils into a container, then wipe the pan with a paper towel before washing it in the sink.
3. **Garbage Disposal Use**: Minimize the use of a garbage disposal. Avoid using it daily or to dispose of large amounts of food waste, as food waste does not dissolve in the tank and can clog the filter, pipes, and potentially the drainfield.

1. Parking or driving over the septic system.
2. Planting trees, shrubs, or plants on top of the septic system.
3. Pouring grease and oil down the drain.
4. Flushing baby wipes.
5. Neglecting to repair leaking toilets or faucets.
6. Failing to follow a regular septic tank pumping schedule (every 3 years).

You can find out if your property has a septic system by checking if you receive a sewer bill. If you pay a sewer bill, your wastewater is handled by the municipal sewer system, indicating you do not have a septic system. If you do not receive a sewer bill, it is likely that your property uses a septic system to dispose of wastewater.

To maintain a healthy septic system, it’s important to avoid pouring grease down the drain. Additionally, regularly change toilet flappers every few years, introduce a few packs of bread yeast down the drain monthly, schedule septic tank pumping every 3 years, and refrain from driving or parking on the septic system.

A septic inspection is important to assess the current condition of the septic system. It helps identify any signs of failure and is highly recommended during real estate transactions.

Using a garbage disposal occasionally, such as once a week or periodically, is generally acceptable. However, using it daily or excessively can lead to issues with the functionality of your septic system due to excessive food waste accumulation.

Yes, if you experience any septic issues, it’s advisable to have the tank pumped. During the pumping, you can learn about the causes of the issues and receive recommendations on how to address them.

– Manage water usage effectively by fixing leaks promptly, installing low-flow fixtures, and spacing out water-intensive activities like laundry over the week. Avoid overwhelming the system with excessive water flow at once.

– Avoid allowing non-septic-friendly items down drains, such as non-biodegradable wipes, hygiene products, cigarette butts, and medications. Also, refrain from pouring cooking oils, grease, or coffee grounds down the drain.

– Maintain your septic system regularly, akin to changing oil in a car engine; ensure you pump the septic tank every 3 years.

– Refrain from parking or driving over the septic tank or drainfield unless it’s designed for such traffic.

– Manage water drainage effectively to prevent excessive water from flowing onto the septic system during rain events. Redirect water from downspouts away from the septic system.

– Avoid planting trees, shrubs, or large plants near the septic system to prevent root intrusion.

– Educate everyone in your household about these practices to ensure proper septic system care.

A septic inspection is recommended in several situations:

– During the sale of the property.
– If the septic tank requires more frequent pumping than usual.
– When wastewater is visible in the yard or wet spots are present without recent rain.
– If a foul odor is noticeable near the septic system.
– Whenever a tank pumping reveals water levels above the pipes, indicating poor drainage.

Typically, for most businesses, a grease trap should be pumped every 90 days. Some may need more frequent pumping depending on their usage. It’s also advisable to use a DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) approved grease solvent to manage grease buildup effectively. Not all grease enzymes or degreasers are DEP approved, and using non-approved products can be harmful to treatment plants where the grease is processed. It’s important to note that using non-approved products may result in fines.

Always pour greases and oils into a container first, then wipe the dish with a paper towel before washing it.

If a grease trap is not pumped and cleaned regularly, grease can accumulate and potentially corrode through the concrete, leading to tank collapse. Accumulated grease can adhere to the walls of the trap, requiring expensive cleaning with pressurized water at 4,200 PSI and 250 degrees Fahrenheit to remove.

For most residential homes, a sewage pump with a horsepower ranging from 1/3 to 1/2 is typically used. For businesses, a sewage pump of 1/2 horsepower or larger is recommended. While property owners may consider replacing the pump themselves to save costs, it’s advisable to hire a professional for pump replacement. Often, if property owners attempt to replace the pump themselves, they may not correctly set the floats, secure the wires, use the appropriate valves, or purchase the correct type of pump. This can result in a waste of money. At SkyWalker Septic LLC, we only use high-quality pumps that come with manufacturer and workmanship warranties.

A septic system offers advantages such as independence, longer lifespan, and versatility. However, it carries risks of failure and has limited capacity.

Being connected to a sewer tends to cost more over time, offers greater reliability, but involves expensive connection costs.

Regular septic tank pumping every 3 years is crucial to remove accumulated solid waste. Failure to remove this waste can lead to clogging of pipes from the structure, blockages in pipes to the drainfield, or solids entering the drainfield, resulting in potentially costly repairs.

Using small amounts of bleach, such as less than 6 ounces per day, is generally safe for septic systems. However, using more than 6 ounces at any given time can potentially harm the healthy bacteria in the tank.

If your septic system has sufficient capacity to handle the additional flow from the RV along with the existing structure, then yes, you can connect your RV to the septic system. However, if the septic system is only designed to support the structure and you add the additional flow from an RV, it could overwhelm the drainfield and lead to drainfield failure.

If you live in a flood-prone or wet area, it’s wise to have your septic tank pumped before a large storm, such as a hurricane. Pumping the tank beforehand will help prevent the drainfield from becoming overwhelmed by the additional groundwater during heavy rain.

First, call SkyWalker Septic LLC at 813-802-1118 for service. If the alarm goes off at an inconvenient time, such as the weekend or late in the day, you can try the following temporary fix:

1. Locate two black wires plugged into a single receptacle (not two wires plugged into separate outlets).
2. Separate the two wires and plug the one from the pump directly into the electrical receptacle.

This will give the pump direct power and, if it works, should drain the lift station and turn off the alarm. Only run the pump for 5 minutes to avoid running it dry and damaging it. This is a temporary solution, and it’s crucial to contact a septic professional for a proper inspection and advice.

Unfortunately, once tree roots have infiltrated and damaged a septic system, there’s no way to remove them. The typical solution is to replace the affected drainfield. When installing a new drainfield, consider adding a port on the line between the tank and the drainfield to apply root preventative treatments directly to the drainfield.

If your home has trees near the septic system, it is recommended to remove or relocate them away from the septic system. If removing the trees is not an option, consider installing a port to apply root preventative treatments directly to the drainfield.

When properly installed and maintained, a septic system can be a more eco-friendly alternative to sewage treatment plants, which often use chemicals to treat wastewater. However, a failing septic system can negatively impact both your health and the environment. It can pollute water sources with pathogens and nitrates, posing a risk to water quality. If wastewater is bubbling out of the ground, it can eventually contaminate nearby water bodies, leading to serious health and environmental issues.