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Easy Septic Tips: What Not to Flush
A septic system will function without problems as long as you take care of it. To keep yours in worry-free condition, here are a few septic tips about what not to flush.
Chemicals
An important part of a septic system is the bacteria that live in the tank. These hard-working microbes help digest solids and break them down so they don’t fill up the tank and clog the pipes to the leach field. Chemicals such as cleaning products can kill these helpful bugs, though, so it’s important to choose products that are septic tank friendly.
A good way to check if a cleaning product will be safe for your tank is to take a look at the warning label on the bottle.
“Danger” means it will kill microbes. Avoid using these products as much as possible; it’s best not to use them at all.
“Warning” means it should be safe as long as you limit their use.
“Caution” means there should be little effect on your system.
Prescription drugs can be very damaging to septic tank microbes. Never flush prescription medications, especially antibiotics.
Solids
The bacteria in the tank aren’t able to digest all solids. They primarily take care of human waste and toilet paper. Don’t treat your toilet like a trash can. Flushing the wrong things will fill up your tank and can cause blockages in pipes. Keep these things out of your toilet on this list of what not to flush:
- cigarette butts
- oil
- flushable wipes
- coffee grounds
- dental floss
- paper towels
- cat litter
- condoms
- feminine hygiene products
- Too Much Water
- Don’t worry; you’re allowed to flush water. But if you add too much water to your tank, it can overwhelm the bacteria and overfill the tank. This can cause clogged pipes in the leach field, because the solids aren’t able to settle, and can lead to leaks and even sewage backing up into the house. If your toilet is running all the time, be sure to fix it before it causes problems. A low-flow toilet is a good idea.
For more important septic tips, check out https://www.kaiser-battistone.com/residential/services/preventive-septic-care/
At Kaiser-Battistone, our experienced technicians are ready to determine just the right maintenance plan for you. Please contact us.
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Easton, CT: Steeped in History
Easton, Connecticut has bragging rights to a colorful history near the United States’ east coast. Once included in lands held by the Aspetuck Native Americans, it was sold to English settlers in the 1670s. The rough, rocky hills lie along the Aspetuck River and was slowly settled into a farming community. Today, centuries old farms still operate offering everything from fresh produce to organic products such as compost and humus. Part of the historic community has been carefully maintained so that today’s residents and visitors can see firsthand a glimpse of the early settlers’ lifestyle and architecture. Helen Keller, the blind and deaf activist, lived in Easton during her final years.
Kaiser-Battistone claims its own part of the local history. In the rough geography of this area, these plumbing, septic, and water treatment experts have been serving the community for the last 80 years, keeping the historically steeped area from being steeped in stink from malfunctioning septic systems. Though, their roots hail back through eight decades, they use the most modern techniques to help maintain both residential and commercial septic systems in Easton.
The professionals at Kaiser-Battistone plan and develop contemporary septic systems to safely treat wastewater as well as providing maintenance such as septic tank cleaning and repair. For homes with challenges such as smelly odors from the drains, they offer Sweet Air Vent Filters and installation. Got a soggy backyard? Perhaps your drain field isn’t functioning correctly. Try consulting with these experts who can help you assess the situation and determine the best economic and ecological solution so you can enjoy your yard again. The company offers basic services like septic pumping and drain cleaning, as well as more sophisticated techniques like Terralift for damaged drain fields.
When you need a plumber in Easton, whether it’s a clogged drain or grease trap, odors emanating from your drains, or a soggy drain field that doesn’t seem to dry out, check out the plumbing experts at Kaiser-Battistone. Their goal is to serve their customers so well that they will become “raving fans” and “…recommend us to (their) family and friends.” (Taken from their mission statement)
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Use the Strainer: A Simple and Easy Way to Protect Your Grease Trap
Protect Your Grease Trap and Protect Your Septic System
The grease trap is the first line of defense to prevent FOG ( fats, oils, and grease) from clogging drain lines and disrupting the smooth flow of your septic system. A grease trap is designed specifically to capture these three elements before they can cause problems, but the trap itself needs to be protected from other foreign solids.
Use the Strainer
Food scraps, bones, small trash items, bits of plastic wrappings, paper tags, bottle caps and any other small solid which can unintentionally find its way to the kitchen sink can cause clogs and backflow at the grease trap itself. The best way to prevent this is by properly using the strainer. Keep the strainer in place even when the sink is not in use, but especially when washing dishes.
All those small objects you see captured by the strainer are future problems you have just avoided. Had they gone on to lodge in the grease trap they would become the core material for tough clogs.
Even with the strainer in place, it’s always the best practice to refrain from dumping hot cooking oil directly down the drain. Let it cool and solidify first and then scrape it to the trash. The grease trap will have all it can handle just from residual FOG from washing dishes and cookware even after they have been scraped free of solids.
Preventive Maintenance Avoids Grease Trap Problems
All grease traps require periodic professional cleaning, even when the strainer is used properly. Some companies may consider a quick skimming of grease off the top of the trap as “professional cleaning” but at Kaiser-Battistone we have a higher standard of professionalism.
Our 14 point inspection process includes complete removal and cleaning of baffles as well as draining the old dirty water. Our expert technicians can advise you on the best frequency for cleaning and preventive grease trap maintenance to avoid problems before they occur. To avoid grease trap problems at your home or business, first put that strainer in, then click this link to schedule your grease trap maintenance.
Kaiser-Battistone has been serving all plumbing and septic needs in Western Connecticut for over 80 years. We provide both commercial and residential services, so don’t hesitate to contact us.
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Septic Pumping Service by Kaiser-Battistone: Town Spotlight: Stamford, CT
Kaiser-Battistone in Stamford, CT
Stamford, CT has grown to be the third largest city in Connecticut, according to the Census Bureau, and we can understand why more folks are gravitating to this vibrant city on Long Island Sound. You can commune with the birds at the beaches and trails at Cove Island Park, or kick up your heels at the Metropolitan Dance Center. Stamford has something for everyone, from the serenity of the natural surroundings or heading downtown to “make the scene” with the arts and entertainment.
Kaiser-Battistone is Connecticut’s leading septic pumping and drain-cleaning company. Our team of septic system and wastewater experts at our Stamford facility has the expertise to offer the full range of commercial and residential services to Stamford residents and businesses as well as the nearby towns in CT and NY including: Norwalk 06850, New Canaan 06840, Greenwich 06807, Darien 06820, Pound Ridge 10576, and North Castle 10504.
Septic Pumping Service
The best way to avoid septic system trouble is frequent and regular pumping of the septic tank. Your septic system is your individual wastewater treatment facility and maintaining it for proper operation protects not only your individual household or business but also your surrounding community.
All septic systems are designed to dispose of the 3 layers of sewage in the safest, non-hazardous way possible. Those layers are:
- Sludge- Solid wastes which are heavier than water
- Effluent- Liquid waste which can be distributed throughout your septic systems leach field
- Scum- The floating layer which is dissolved by natural bacterial action in the septic tank, converting it to effluent or sludge.
The liquid effluent layer is the only one to make it out to the leach field for natural distribution and reabsorption when your septic system is functioning at its best. Problems arise when the sludge layer is allowed to build up in the septic tank, to levels which affect flow to and from the tank.
This solid layer needs to be pumped out and properly disposed of in an environmentally safe manner. Our Stamford team can provide septic pumping service and advise you on the best septic pumping schedule suitable for your household or business.
Full Septic Services Available From Kaiser Battistone in Stamford, CT
We’re not just the leading septic pumping service in Connecticut. Kaiser-Battistone’s Stamford team also offers technical expertise covering all of your septic, grease disposal, and wastewater treatment needs. We offer preventive maintenance programs to avoid problems before they occur, and we’re always standing by to get your systems up and running quickly in an emergency.
We handle pipelining, plumbing, septic inspections, drain cleaning, and grease trap maintenance, so don’t hesitate to get in touch with our Stamford team. For all your septic and wastewater maintenance requirements contact us today.
Commercial
The Importance Preventive Jetting Maintenance for Your Business
The city of London plans to put part of its biggest “fatberg” on display at the Museum of London next year. This mound of waste made of grease, oil, fat, wet wipes and sanitary products was finally removed from the city sewers. The fatberg was described as being a long as the Tower Bridge (800 feet long) and as heavy as eleven double decker buses (approximately 200 tons). These form when too much disgusting material gets dumped down the drain or flushed into the sewers. To read more about this removal, click here. Blockages like this can be detrimental to many because without the proper flow of water through a sewer system, there is a greater chance of experiencing a backup or a flooded sewer system. As this article points out, everyone needs to be responsible and take preventive jetting maintenance seriously.
One of the key culprits identified as creators of this fatberg were restaurants. These commercial facilities release a lot of grease into the drains when they are washing dishes. Grease traps can help to prevent some of this and are an important component of responsible commercial waste management. However, grease traps do not necessarily take care of all of the blockages in a system. Over time grease and fat residue can coat the lines and drains and limit water flow. Although many commercial facilities recognize the need to use preventive jetting maintenance to maintain and clean their grease traps, they may not recognize the equally important need to keep their drains clean.
Kaiser-Battistone are experts in plumbing, septic and water services. They recognize the need to employ preventative maintenance in order to keep your system functioning properly and prevent future trouble. They can help customers schedule routine jetting maintenance for drains in which a high velocity water snake is used to remove grease and debris from drains. For more information, please visit this site: https://www.kaiser-battistone.
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Septic Pump Stations 101: Scheduled Septic Pump Checkups at Kaiser Battistone
Septic Pump Stations 101
Septic pump stations are the solution for moving waste away from the house when gravity alone cannot move the waste through the system. When effluent (liquid sewage) cannot flow by gravity and needs to be lifted to its destination the pump station comes into play. Pumping is required in several situations including:
- Shallow soil absorption unit (Leach fields over rocky ground for example)
- The leach field is at a higher elevation than the septic tank.
- A mound soil absorption system is used
- Deep septic tank installation
- The pumping station consists of a durable watertight tank (usually concrete), the effluent pump, on/off switch and an alarm with associated wiring. This article at North Dakota State University offers some nicely detailed information on pumping stations. Obviously, if any of these pumping components fail the homeowner will experience major backflow problems. At Kaiser-Battistone, we prefer to prevent problems like this from occurring in the first place, and we have a convenient solution.
Regular Septic Tank and Septic Pump Station Maintenance
We recommend regular septic tank pumping to remove accumulated solids from the tank for all of our customers. You can see from the graphic in this article at Farm and Dairy how accumulated sludge (solid waste) in the tank could shut down the entire system, which is why regular septic tank pumping is required.
Homeowners with pumping stations can take advantage of our regular septic tank pumping schedule by including the pumping station in the preventive maintenance routine. Each time the tank is pumped our expert technicians will check pumping station condition and operation to ensure that your septic system remains problem free.
Of course, we are always standing by and ready to provide pump replacement and emergency repairs as needed, but a little bit of extra preventive maintenance at septic pump stations can go a long way toward avoiding those emergencies altogether. Use the form at this link to schedule your preventive pumping station maintenance today and don’t hesitate to contact the experts at Kaiser-Battistone for all your residential and commercial wastewater needs.
Residential
A Solution for Septic Pumping in Fairfield, CT
The small city of Fairfield, CT is located fifty miles away from New York City and spans five miles of the Long Island Sound coast. Fairfield has consistently been ranked as one of the best cities to live in by CNN/Money Magazine and in 2006 it was chosen as the number one city in the Northeast. The city of Fairfield has a rich history. In the 1600s Puritans from the Massachusetts Bay Colony set their sights on spreading out from the colony and developing their own settlements where they could practice their faith in peace. Roger Ludlowe, one of the original planners, purchased an area of land from the Pequonnock Indians, which included the area of Fairfield. Today there are about 60,000 residents and it is known as a high-income, family friendly area with excellent schools. To learn more about the city of Fairfield, click here.
The residents of Fairfield, CT will require septic pumping services from time to time, and have a great option in Kaiser-Battistone. Kaiser-Battistone has been serving the Fairfield, CT area since 1935. They annually provide support for 6,500 septic systems. Kaiser-Battistone are experts at providing customers with drain cleaning, septic, and grease trap services. The plumbing division they added in 2003 provides full service to both residential and commercial properties. Kaiser-Battistone offers a wide range of services to customers and the services they offer can be explored here.
Kaiser-Battistone recognizes that people are busy, and desire to provide the best possible service to their customers. They are available 24/7 and have a large fleet of service providers. Their practices comply with government policies and their technicians are well trained. They continue to look for ways to improve and to gain your trust. Residents of Fairfield, CT, consider Kaiser-Battistone for your septic pumping and plumbing needs and contact us today!
Municipal
Alum, Dry Cake, and Leachate Liquid Sludge: Responsible Waste Treatment Techniques
There are three types of sewage layers in water filtration and waste treatment processes. Scum is the lighter than water material such as oil which floats to the top. Effluent is mostly the water itself. Anything denser than the effluent (water) forms the bottom sludge layer, and different industrial processes, in turn, produce three different types of sludge. At Kaiser-Battistone we have the professional expertise to help your municipality engage in responsible waste treatment techniques and dispose of all three.
Alum Sludge- Aluminum sulfate is the flocculating agent used in water treatment plants and other industrial processes. “Flocculating” is the polite academic term for “clumping”, and just as you’d suspect the clumping reaction which takes place during the filtration process results in large volumes of the by-product known as alum sludge.
The alum sludge is usually stored in large lagoons or in drying beds, and disposal can be a challenging task, due to the eventual high volume buildup. At Kaiser-Battistone we have two high-tech tools to meet the challenge.
- High-tech Lagoon Pumps – We deploy these pumps to handle alum sludge disposal projects up to 500,000 gallons. Our pumping hoses capture the maximum biomass concentrations.
- Cable Dredge- For high volume sludge removal the cable dredge is the most efficient. This technique gives us the capability to handle million-gallon sludge disposal projects.
Dry Cake Sludge- This is the sticky, dry solid material remaining from a water sewage treatment plant after all the water has been removed. Dry cake sludge can be difficult to remove and needs to be disposed of responsibly. We have numerous options for disposal due to our ongoing relationships with landfills, as well as beneficial reuse facilities.
Liquid Sludge ( Leachate)
Also known as leachate, this is the liquid byproduct generated by landfills. Landfills require special methane collection systems and we provide the maintenance to keep the methane lines working correctly. Our state-of-the-art jetting and camera equipment allows us to handle all aspects of leachate removal.
Kaiser-Battistone provides the professional industrial pumping, dredging, hauling and disposal services which meet and exceed all disposal regulatory guidelines for any of your sludge disposal projects so don’t hesitate to contact us.
For more responsible waste treatment techniques information visit our website at https://www.kaiser-
Residential
Protecting Your Grease Trap: The First Line of Defense For Septic Systems
What is a Grease Trap?
Grease is the septic industry’s term for animal fat and vegetable oil which inevitably mixes with kitchen wastewater when dishes are washed and rinsed. Septic and sewage collection systems are designed to efficiently handle the wastewater, but grease floats and once cooled, it coagulates together in large sticky masses, making it the enemy of your septic or sewer system.
The grease trap intercepts this potential mess with a baffle system before it can move on to clog pipes or pumps further down the line, letting the water layer beneath the floating grease layer drain freely through the bottom of the trap. Eventually, the trap fills with grease and has to be cleaned out, but this is preferable to the expense of replacing clogged ejector pumps or jetting out grease-clogged pipes.
The Sink Strainer is Your First Line of Defense
The grease trap protects your septic or sewer lines, but it’s up to you to protect the grease trap itself from damage so it can continue to work effectively. Solid objects allowed to go down the drain can provide the material to totally gum up the works in your grease trap. A little precaution and common sense can protect the grease trap and in turn your entire wastewater system.
- Use the sink strainer, properly seated in the drain, to prevent food particles and solids from reaching the grease trap. Keep the strainer in place at all times. Small pieces of plastic or trash items which make their way to the sink will be caught by the strainer before they can cause problems.
- Scrape dishes thoroughly before placing in the sink. Even soft food items are still heavier than water solids which will only cause trouble. The grease trap intercepts but it does not digest.
- Never dump leftover cooking oil down the sink drain. The grease trap will have to be cleaned more frequently, and it has enough to handle just from the residual animal and vegetable fats washed away from the dishes. Anyone who has allowed a greasy frying pan to cool on the stove has seen an example of the gunky mess which would be deposited in your grease trap by dumping it down the sink drain.
At Kaiser-Battistone we have the expertise to keep your residential septic system operating at peak efficiency, and we also offer a full line of wastewater management services for commercial and municipal operation. Visit our website at the link below for details, and don’t hesitate to contact us for more information.
https://www.kaiser-battistone.
Residential
Septic Systems: To Flush or Not to Flush?
While owning a home with a septic system requires a little extra maintenance than those hooked up to a public sewer, it doesn’t take a lot of time or effort. Simple steps such as regular tank pumping and using bacterial additives keep septic systems running smoothly and leave you free to think about other things.
Another simple step to maintaining proper function of the septic system is to always be conscious of what you flush down the toilet. Many items marked as “septic safe” are not truly safe for flushing, such as “flushable wipes”. They do not degrade in the tank the same as toilet paper and end up clogging the system.
Regular maintenance and a bit of forethought will prevent clogged drains from pushing waste water back through your pipes or into your yard. Repairing the leech field and replacing septic systems costs an average of $26,000. Take the time now to save yourself the headache (and money!) later.
Here are some of the top items you should NEVER flush, even if the packaging says you can:
- Disposable Diapers
- Any type of cooking oil, fats, or grease
- Chemicals – including those in detergents and other cleaning products. They affect the good bacteria inside the tank and can also leech into the surrounding soil to affect wildlife.
- Kitty Litter
- Flushable Wipes
- Unused Medications
- Women’s Sanitary Products
If in doubt, the best rule of thumb to follow is this: If it’s not human waste or toilet paper, don’t flush it!
For a complete list of unsafe items, please visit our website or contact us. We provide information about proper care and maintenance of your septic system and offer recommendations for safe cleaning products. We are eager to help keep septic systems stress free!
