Category Archives: Residential

When the general public talks about septic issues, they are usually thinking of the septic tank. Most people don’t realize the tank is just one part of the entire septic system. Once wastewater leaves the tank, it goes to the distribution box which sends it out to the drain field or leach field. The leach field is wastewater’s final stop in the purification process before nature takes over. From here, the wastewater percolates into the soil where gravity will pull it down to meet groundwater. Several things can go wrong on this path from your toilet to the leach field, so here are 3 things you should do to preserve your leach field.

Do Not Use a Garbage Disposal
This one applies to both the tank and leach field. While the garbage disposal may seem like a convenient means of getting rid of food scraps, it can damage your septic system. A garbage disposal merely chops food into smaller pieces. Unfortunately, these food particles do not break down adequately enough and initiate clogs. Our advice is to feed food scraps to a pet or just toss in the trash.

Install a Septic Filter
A septic filter attaches to your tank’s outlet and will catch particles that the tank was unable to separate from the effluent. It is very important that solid elements do not enter the leach field because clogs in this part of your septic system are difficult and costly to repair. Avoid all that with this easy solution. Kaiser-Battistone carries a variety of filters, and our technicians would be happy to fit one to your septic system.

Don’t Plant Anything Over the Leach Field
A common problem we see with sewage piping is that it attracts plant roots. Your wastewater is rich in nutrients that trees and bushes seek, so they naturally break through pipes to reach it. For this reason, we advise you not to plant anything over your leach field except grass. Even some types of weeds have strong roots, so weeding and mowing over the drain field must be maintained as well.

Damage to your leach field is difficult to repair and can be very costly, so make every effort to keep it in great working condition. For more tips on caring for your leach field, Contact Kaiser-Battistone or Request Service now.

You just started shampooing your hair, and the water is already getting cold! No one else has showered before you, the dishwasher isn’t running, and you haven’t done laundry today, so why is there no hot water? If no other appliances have been running and no one else has used up all the hot water, the problem is likely the water heater.

Water Heater Woes

Before we look at malfunctions, let’s consider the size or quality of your water heater. Your family may have grown or you may have purchased a home from a smaller family, and the heater can no longer accommodate the hot water needs of the household. Also, a lower quality water heater with a low FHR (first hour rating) cannot supply a lot of hot water within a short time. However, if neither of these is the problem, it may be time to call a professional.

He may find build up in the tank. If you have hard water, there are minerals in it that collect in the tank and take up a lot of space over time. This sediment can also damage the tank, so it needs to be flushed out. Another problem could be a broken dip tube. This long component goes to the bottom of the water heater and releases the cold water to be heated by the heating element at the bottom. If it’s broken, the cold water doesn’t always reach the heating element before mixing in with the hot water.

Leave it to the Experts

Making repairs on a water heater is a dangerous job, so please leave it to the technicians at Kaiser-Battistone. Our certified professionals have been specially trained to handle all types of water heaters and know what to do when trouble strikes. We also recommend having your water heater inspected on an annual basis to ensure uninterrupted hot water production for your business. Take advantage of our expertise, and Contact Us to inspect or service your water heater.

Wouldn’t it be nice if your septic tank had gadgets on it like your car that warned you of upcoming maintenance issues? Cars are equipped so they can tell you it’s time to change your oil, buy more fuel, put air in your tires, and some can even tell you you’re about to hit something. Unfortunately, it’s not so easy to know when your septic tank is full of sludge or if a pipe in the leach field is about to bust. There are no lights or sounds to alert you, but we have invented a little something that will be valuable in warning you of the need for an upcoming pumping service.

Septic Service Frequency Calculator
This handy little tool is simple to use and only takes a minute! Visit our Septic Service Frequency Calculator page and answer a few quick questions using easy drop-down menus. When you’re done, click “Calculate,” and you’ll see when your next recommended service should be. There is even a button for you to schedule your next service so you don’t need to remember to check back. We’ll do that for you going forward, so you’ll have one less thing to worry about.

Put Your Septic Maintenance On Cruise Control
Unfortunately, most people don’t know or don’t see the signs of a problem until it’s too late. That is why we recommend a scheduled maintenance routine based on your system and water consumption. Wind River can act as your check engine light by contacting you when it’s time for your septic pumping. With our professionals checking on things regularly, you’re also less likely to encounter any wastewater problems in between pumpings. Let us keep your septic facilities working properly and help you avoid wastewater emergencies. Contact Us and check out our calculator to find out when we can plan to see you next.

The most important advice we can give our customers is to invest in preventative maintenance. I know I know…your budget is stretched thin and you think you can’t afford it. Well, consider this. Emergency situations are messy, expensive and stressful, while preventative maintenance is budgeted, predictable and averts costly mishaps. Wouldn’t you rather pay for health club fees and annual physicals to keep your body healthy knowing they will prevent a high-cost trip to the emergency room? Your body may look and feel fine, but it needs to be maintained on a regular basis to stay that way.

Eat Your Greens
Just as your body needs an annual physical, your septic system needs its annual inspection. This preventative measure is invaluable for detecting unforeseen problems and stopping early formations of clogs. Regular exercise and healthy eating habits are preventative measures for your body, just as bacterial additives and routine cleanings are preventative measures for your septic and plumbing. Be sure to include these in your preventative routine, and you’ll prolong the life of your septic system.

We’re Your Good Luck Charm
You’ll need more than the luck of the Irish if you trust just anyone to handle your septic needs. Your wastewater facilities need the care of a trained professional just as your body should have the care of a trained physician. On this St. Patrick’s Day week, make your system feel lucky by signing it up for a maintenance plan. Our technicians will treat it with goodies like bacterial additives, a septic filter, and a customized pumping routine. Spring is just around the corner, so get your system ready for the seasonal transition with care from the best in the business. To learn more about our 3-step maintenance plan or our other preventative maintenance services, Contact Us.

Since our livelihood depends on the potability our water, it’s important we have ways to test its purity. You know the importance of staying hydrated, but you don’t want your family drinking harmful contaminants when trying to take in those 8 glasses a day. At Kaiser-Battistone, we care about our customers and offer free testing to determine whether your home could use some improvements when it comes to your water.

What Do We Test?

• Hardness – Hard water doesn’t react well with soaps and causes hard water scale in your pipes.
• Iron – This may leave brown stains on your sink and clothes.
• Manganese – This creates black stains similar to iron.
• PH – The acidity can cause corrosion.
• Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) – Minerals like sodium, potassium, and sulfate can deposit in your plumbing.
• Color – Color is affected by materials that have dissolved in the water.
• Nitrates – A presence of nitrates could indicate water contamination.

Is Water Wet?
That’s how we answer the question, “Should I have my water tested?” You really can’t be sure what you’re drinking otherwise. Contact Us to schedule your complimentary water quality test, and we’ll advise you on the proper filtering and softening options available.

Completely replacing a septic tank costs tens of thousands of dollars, and the time and effort it takes for the labor is quite inconvenient. Plus, if you’re running a business, it’s pretty tacky to have bathroom facilities with an out-of-order sign on the door. Customers like clean and operable facilities while shopping, and so do the employees working there. The best way to ensure fully-functioning toilets is by employing a healthy maintenance regimen. Part of this includes proper toilet habits and knowing what you can flush.

The Bad List
Here is a list of common items we find in septic tanks and wastewater that you should not be flushing down the commode.

1. Chemicals – Products like disinfectants, photographic chemicals, gasoline, thinners, paints, pesticides, and varnishes will counteract the septic process and poison ground water.
   2. Cigarettes – These contain toxins that can contaminate ground water.
   3. Cleaning products (bleach, disinfectants) – When choosing cleaning products, you want to use environmentally-friendly brands that won’t kill the good bacteria in your septic tank. They should be liquid, biodegradable detergents with no phosphates.
   4. Coffee grounds – These are not biodegradable.
   5. Cotton swabs/balls – The fibers bunch together and cause clogs.
   6. Feminine hygiene products – Packaging for some of these products often says they’re safe for flushing, but we have found otherwise when it comes to septic.
   7. FOG – Fats, oils, and grease will harden and stick to your pipes causing clogs.
   8. Food – It’s better to feed your scraps to an animal or throw in the trash. Garbage disposals are also discouraged when you have a septic tank.
   9. Garbage – Garbage is for the garbage, not your wastewater system.
   10. Kitty Litter – Even though it may claim to be flushable, it will not break down.Not only is the septic system unable to break down these products but the chemical make-up of certain soaps, pills, and pesticides will actually kill the bacteria found in the septic tank. Without the bacteria to break down organic waste, the septic tank is useless.

An easy rule to remember is that human waste and 1-ply toilet paper are really the only flushable items.

Don’t Get Flush-terated
If you own a business, it’s a bit harder to monitor and control what gets flushed, so you might consider posting signs in the bathrooms. You’ll also want to engage in regular preventative maintenance that involves pump service and inspections. Since you can’t oversee all the activity that happens in the bathroom stalls, at least do what you can to prevent clogs and backups. We’re here to help, so Contact Us!

Sump pumps are responsible for moving water from lower elevations to higher elevations. They are instrumental for septic systems that rely on gravity or can be used to prevent flooding in basements. A faulty sump pump can cause big problems when it is unable to move water fast enough to avoid damaging a home or wastewater system.

What Goes Wrong?
Several things can be attributed to the malfunction of a sump pump such as power failure, defective products, frozen lines, or mechanical problems. However, many problems come from simple lack of maintenance and even incorrect installation. If installed incorrectly, sump pumps can become clogged. The debris can interfere with the action of the pump switch or affect the float, both of which affects the effectiveness of the sump pump.

Don’t Leave Your Sump in a Slump

With so many moving parts and electrical components, the sump pump is a complicated machine, and its problems are often hard to diagnose. Rely on the experts at Kaiser-Battistone to install, repair, and maintain your sump pumps. Remember the cost and convenience of routine maintenance far outweigh the cost and inconvenience of a flooded basement and damaged property. To learn more about this topic, Contact Us or Request Service Today.

I don’t have any romantic advice for you on this holiday of love, but I do have some advice on how to show some love to your septic system. One of the most important lessons we can teach at Kaiser-Battistone is that treating your septic system with routine preventative maintenance will result in a long and happy life when it comes to your wastewater.

3 Ways to Woo Your System
Instead of roses and chocolates, invest in our 3-step maintenance plan. Incorporating these items will keep your septic tank and lines clean so you can avoid clogs and backups.

1. Regular Septic Pumping – We’ll completely remove the sludge and wastewater from your septic tank or cesspool.
2. Bacterial Additives – Adding an additive like CCLS helps the good bacteria in your system to thrive and break down
3. Septic Filters – Install a filter to the outlet of your septic tank to stop large particles and other potentially damaging materials from entering your leach field.

Don’t Kill the Mood
Nothing will kill a romantic evening like sewage backing up into your bedroom or the stench of methane gas over a candlelight dinner. Just as your relationship needs attention and care to thrive, so does your septic system. It works day and night processing the very thing you need to survive—water. It’s easy to neglect something that is out of sight and out of mind, so take the time on this Valentine’s Day to do something special for your hardworking septic system. Spoil it with a preventative maintenance schedule, and it will return the favor with a lifetime of trouble-free plumbing. To learn more about our 3-step maintenance plan or our other preventative maintenance services, Contact Us.