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Northern Virginia Septic Systems
Northern Virginia Septic Systems
- High-Efficiency Toilets Can Help Septic Systems Work More Efficiently and Save You Money
- Employing Septic System-Friendly Drainfield Landscaping
- Things You Shouldn't Flush When You Have a Septic System
- What is Hard Water and What Effect Does it Have on Your Well?
- The Effects of Hydrogen Sulfide - or Egg Odor - in Your Well Water
Septic Tank Systems
Introduction
- Considering a House with a Septic System?
- So you're thinking About a Septic System...
- How A Septic System Works
- Exploring Your Home Septic System
- Exploring Your Home Septic System: The Tank
- What Is a Septic Tank?
- Is There An Abandoned Septic Tank in Your Yard?
- What is An Aerobic Treatment Unit?
Maintenance
- Maintaining Your Septic Tank System
- Septic System Ongoing Maintenance
- How to Prevent Sewage Odor
- Five Tips to Keep Your Northern Virginia Septic Tank Working
- Managing Your Septic Tank to Minimize Trouble
- Septic System Tips
- Dangers of a Rusty Septic Tank To Your Northern Virginia Home
- How To Detect and Prevent A Rusty Septic Tank In Your Northern Virginia Home
- Homeowner Septic Tank System Guide (pdf)
- Avoid Septic Tank System Failures
- Spring Tips For Your Northern Virginia Septic System
- What is Septic System Failure - and What Could it Mean for Your Northern Virginia System?
Care for Your Septic Tank System from Inside Your Home
- Never Divert Your Sump Pump Into Your Septic System
- Easy Ways to Reduce Your Home’s Water Consumption and Ease Septic System Strain
- Reduce Garbage Disposal Use to Keep Your Septic System Healthy
- High-Efficiency Showerheads and Faucet Aerators Ease Septic System Strain
- What NOT to Flush If You Have a Septic Tank
- High-Efficiency Toilets Help Your Septic System
- Basic Tips on Disinfecting a Bathroom Without Harming Your Septic System
Landscaping
- Trees to Avoid Planting Near Your Northern Virginia Septic System
- Landscape Your Drainfield Without Harming Your Septic System
- What Is a Septic System Drainfield?
Troubleshooting
- What is Septic System Biomat Clogging?
- Could Coliform Bacteria Be in Your Well Water?
- Hydrogen Sulfide: The Culprit Behind Well Water Odor
- Symptoms of a Septic Issue
- Septic Tank Flooding: How to diagnose and fix the issue
- Why Septic Systems Malfunction
- Troubleshooting Your Northern Virginia Septic Tank Problem
- Reasons Your Septic System May be Failing
- Septic System Failure
Inspections and Regulations
- NSF Certification a Standard for SeptiClean Professionals
- New Loudoun County Ordinance Requires Septic System Inspection Before July 1, 2009
- Why Are Septic System Inspections So Important?
- FAQs - New Loudoun County Regulations
- Septic Tank Services - New Loudoun County Regulations
- Exploring Your Septic System's Required Capacity for Northern Virginia
Wells
Well Water
- Private Drinking Water Well Types: Driven, Dug, and Drilled
- Could Coliform Bacteria Be in Your Well Water?
- Hydrogen Sulfide: The Culprit Behind Well Water Odor
- Common Issues with Well Water
- Does Your Northern Virginia Private Well Have Hard Water?
- Hard Water Solutions For Northern Virginia Well Water
- What Is Well Water Testing?
- The Problem of Arsenic in Well Water
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What NOT to Flush If You Have a Septic Tank
You can extend the life of the septic system in your Northern Virginia home by being ultra-careful about what goes into it. Following is a list of items that should not be flushed down a toilet and thus into your septic tank:
- Cat litter, including "clumping" cat litter, which consists mostly of clay particles. It will add solid waste volume to your septic tank and will not break down.
- Chemicals, including solvents, paints, thinners, oils, varnishes, pesticides, used motor oil, and unwanted cooking oil. These items should never be flushed down a toilet nor put into any other building drains.
- Cigarette butts
- Clothes dryer "fabric softener" sheets -- The synthetic fabric from which dryer sheets are made will not break down in the septic tank. In addition, a dryer sheet could clog the septic tank inlet at the baffle.
- Coffee grounds should not be flushed into the septic system.
- Dental floss
- Diapers of any kind whatsoever, including cloth and disposable diapers as well as swim diapers/pants.
- Dirt
- Latex protects
- Paper towels and facial tissues, however toilet paper breaks down quickly and should not be a problem in an ordinary septic tank system.
- Plastic bags or other plastic trash should never be flushed down a building drain.
- Prescription medicines, should never be flushed down a toilet unless your pharmacist or the drug manufacturer tells you specifically that the particular drug is absolutely harmless to the environment.
- Sanitary napkins and related products
- Swimming pool chemicals and swimming pool back-wash water should never be flushed into a septic tank.
- Toys — You should instruct your children to never flush toys, no matter how small, down the toilet.
If you find your septic system isn't doing its job, call SeptiCare. Based in Warrenton, Virginia, SeptiCare offers 24-hour emergency response for septic system malfunctions. We've been inspecting, servicing, maintaining and repairing septic systems for residential and commercial customers in Northern Virginia since 1987.