Septic System Maintenance Letter for a septic check-up

BACKING UP - First thing to check ... uncover the inlet lid close to the home; if you can see the baffle (it is the pipe coming from house plumbing into your tank, this is one of the most frequent places that cause a back-up in a home). Clear the buildup within the pipe area. You may get flowing again with no money out of your pocket.

Even if it says it dissolves and is safe for septic's, it doesn't say how long it will take to dissolve!

Don't use your toilet as a garbage can! If you put junk down the toilet, you will need to have the tank pumped more often!

Medications - I have had several inquiries concerning medicines and septic systems. Some of us have been through the cancer regimen, or you may be going through it right now and wondering about all the drugs going into the septic system.

After some research, I have found that the unofficial consensus is to wait until you are done with treatments and then have the system pumped.

Some of you may be taking other medications or needing to use a strong disinfectant. Our suggestion would be to have your system checked regularly to ensure it is not killing the natural bacteria, which helps keep your system operating.

Tank is full - Don't panic; a septic tank's average operating level is approx. 10 inches below the ceiling of the tank. The pumping is determined by the amount of sludge and scum levels in the tank.

Having access risers on your septic compartment(s) can be a benefit to you. Backing up ... uncover the lid and check to see if the baffle is plugged many times. We have been called out for emergency pumping, only to find the inlet baffle plugged up.

No baby wipes, pre moist wipes, q-tips, female or male products, coffee grounds, don't rinse paint brushes and rollers, etc. Do not flush!

Excessive use of bleach can kill the good bacteria in your tank. So go easy on bleach in the laundry!

Drain cleaning products - using too often can upset the balance of a septic system.

In 1994, the Washington State legislature amended its 1993 position by adding the statement that "Chemical additives do, and other types may contribute to septic system failure and groundwater contamination."

Letter for a septic check-up

Many of you have received a notice saying you are past due but don't recall ever getting the first notice. Don't worry if your inspector can't get to you quickly and it is past your due date on the letter. The Health dept. has assured us this will be alright, as long as you are on schedule with a septic-certified company!

Are you searching on GIS for property information?

Many customers have gone to the county property site expecting to find information about their septic inspection. Please note the program is behind in the links for current data of septic inspections. To get the most recent data, you need to go to the onlineRME site.

Is your inspection due now?

Make sure to check the date on your notice from the health dept. They send out the postcards early, and you don't want to have the inspection and or pumping until the month it is due. So please save your money until it is the time!

Are you looking for a list of certified inspectors?

To get the details of the Clark County Health Dept list of OM I & OM II inspectors in the local area.