All Clear Pumping & Sewer

How to Start Preparing Your Septic System for Spring

Tue, 11 Feb 2020 22:16:00 GMT

You can dodge costly and bothersome repairs in the coming months by ensuring that your septic system is ready for the warmer weather. Spring brings in a lot of rain, and the surge of water and melting snow can spell trouble for septic systems. Here’s what you can do to help your system handle the coming season.

How Do You Get Your Septic Systems Ready for Spring?

Redirect the Gutters

Pooling in the yard can eventually lead to sewer backups or cause your septic systems to fail. To prevent flooding on your property during heavy downpours, ensure that your gutter downspouts are facing away from leach fields and wastewater treatment systems. Also, examine your downspouts and gutters for damages, as cracked drains can make it challenging to redirect rainwater away from your septic components.

Schedule a General Inspection

Don’t wait for signs of a septic tank problem to show up on your lawn. As soon as winter ends, ask a professional to assess your wastewater treatment’s overall condition. Also, set a drain cleaning appointment so your pipes can be cleared, reducing the burden on your septic system during spring.

Check Your Leach Field & Tank Filter

Standing water in your leach field may indicate critical problems like a full septic tank, flooded drain field, or inadequate drainage. When this happens, call a septic company immediately, so you won’t have to put up with unpleasant smells and an unattractive lawn. Check your septic tank filter as well, and make sure it is not clogged with debris.

Why Is It Important to Get Your Septic Tank Pumped?

If your tank is full, sewer water may overflow as your seepage pit absorbs the melting snow and springtime rain. An overflow creates an unsanitary environment on your property, posing a health risk. To prevent this, have your tank emptied each year, especially after winter.

Leave septic systems maintenance and repair in the hands of qualified professionals. All Clear Pumping & Sewer in Jefferson City, MO, is the name you can trust when it comes to quality services involving septic pumping, sewer camera line locating, hydro-excavating, and water line repairing. Call them today at 573-634-0165 to ask for an estimate, or visit their website to view their services.

4 Items to Never Put Down Your Garbage Disposal

Wed, 29 Jan 2020 22:42:00 GMT

It takes a lot of moving parts for your garbage disposal to do its job. When you force the wrong items down, any one of these can be damaged, and a broken appliance is just the first issue you’ll face. Some substances can create worse problems further down your septic system . Be mindful of everything that goes down the drain so you can avoid significant plumbing issues.

What to Keep out of Your Garbage Disposal

1. Rice & Pasta

Don’t let their size fool you—rice and pasta can create serious septic system problems. Starchy foods will absorb water once inside your garbage disposal and piping. They’ll then expand and clog the pipes. Further water exposure will turn them into a sticky paste that will be difficult to remove from crevices and bends in the pipes.

2. Grease, Fats & Oils

Cooking grease, fats, and oils are a few of the most stubborn substances to clean up. Flushing them down the garbage disposal may seem fine. However, once there, they’ll coat parts and pipe linings, which can create clogs. They’ll then snag other passing debris, adding more strain to your device’s motor. Further down your septic system, they’ll create severe blockages. Eventually, pressure can build up and burst the pipe. Always pour these into a metal container and toss them in the trash.

3. Bones

Garbage disposals aren’t designed to break up bones or most solid substances. They’ll dull their blades trying to do so, and the motor may burn out if these bones become stuck. If the protective flap on your drain is broken, bone chips can fire back into your kitchen and cause severe injuries to anyone using the sink. You can add them to a compost bin to convert into fertilizer instead.

4. Coffee Grounds

Coffee grounds won’t flush as easily as you think. Alternatively, they’ll collect inside the garbage disposal, cause blockages, and create a foul odor. Those that are flushed into piping will contribute to backups in the plumbing that can cause unsanitary conditions inside your home.

If you’re already dealing with septic system issues, turn to All Clear Pumping & Sewer . As Jefferson City, MO’s, most trusted septic service, these professionals take every step to keep customers’ systems running efficiently. They offer 24/7 emergency assistance with septic system repairs , pumping, commercial sewer cleaning, and more. Call 573-634-0165 to schedule an inspection and visit their website to learn more about their services.

How to Winterize Your Septic System

Tue, 17 Dec 2019 22:49:00 GMT

Winter has arrived, with shorter nights and the holidays approaching. You want to make sure that your septic system is fully winterized and protected against freezing throughout the season. Here are some tips to prep your system for winter.

5 Ways to Prepare Your Septic System for Winter

1. Mulch Over the Drain Field

If you don’t already have significant snow accumulation covering the drain field, spread an 8-12 inch layer of thick mulch over the tank area, drain field, and pipes. Use hay, straw, or other organic matter. Mulch keeps the system components from freezing, but do not add mulch over a frozen system. Also, don’t clear any fallen snow away. Snow will also insulate the system, as long as it does not become compacted by vehicles, foot, or animal traffic.

2. Spread Out Hot Water Use

When the temperatures threaten to drop, spread out hot water use over the week. Using warm or hot water every day will help keep the system from freezing. Rather than dripping taps, which can overload the septic system, do laundry, run the dishwasher, and take hot showers or baths daily.

3. Insulate Pipes

To protect your system from extreme weather, insulate the pipes leading to and from the tank, as well as the plumbing inside the house. You may want to add foam panels over the tank area as well. Pipes can be insulated with foam sleeves available at hardware stores, heat tape, or even electric warmers.

4. Fix Leaks

Fix leaking taps and pipes immediately, as these are vulnerable areas that can easily freeze, crack, or burst. Fixing leaks also lowers water bills and prevents the waste of tens of gallons of water a week going into the septic tank.

5. Pump the Tank

If you have slow drains or slow-flushing toilets, this may be a signal that the tank is getting full. Smelly pipes and drains may also indicate a tank that’s near capacity. Have the tank pumped before holiday guests put increased stress on the system. If you leave home for more than a few weeks during winter, it’s a good idea to have the tank pumped before you go to avoid the sewage freezing in the tank. A frozen tank can lead to problems in the spring, such as a disruption in the proper balance of bacteria.

Do you need help winterizing a septic system? All Clear Pumping & Sewer , in Jefferson City, MO, can inspect, repair, and pump out your system, making sure it’s ready to withstand winter temperatures. They can deal with clogged drains and plumbing repairs as well. Call 573-634-0165 for an estimate or visit their website to see a full list of residential services.

3 Holiday Septic System Tips

Fri, 08 Nov 2019 22:55:00 GMT

Winter signals the arrival of celebrations with family and friends, as well as increasing snowfalls and plummeting temperatures. More frequent usage and weather changes can both have an impact on your home’s septic system , so it’s essential to take steps to prevent septic backups and potentially costly issues. Below are three tips to keep your septic system healthy and functional this holiday season.

A Guide to Holiday Septic System Maintenance

1. Aerate Snow Over the Tank & Drainfield

Don’t plow the snow over your septic tank as snow cover can provide an added layer of insulation that prevents the system from freezing. You should aerate the snow over the tank and the drainfield. This lets in oxygen and encourages healthy airflow, and it breaks up any layers of ice that have accumulated under the snow and might be hindering heat absorption. Take a standard garden hoe and chop up the snow, flipping, and rotating small scoopfuls in various spots to make air pockets.

2. Educate Your Holiday Guests

If you’re welcoming guests for the holidays, educate them on proper septic system usage. Only toilet paper should be flushed down the toilet, and keep a wastebasket in easy reach of the bathroom, so guests don’t have to go far to dispose of other items. Stagger shower usage, so guests don’t exhaust the septic tank. Load up the dishwasher and run it only once a day, preferably in the afternoon when showers and other water usage are less frequent.

3. Go Easy on the Kitchen Sink

When preparing a big holiday meal, be mindful of the kitchen sink. Never pour grease or other oils down the drain, and use a mesh catcher in the drain to prevent food from going in and clogging up the septic lines. Even if your sink drain is a garbage disposal, use it as sparingly as possible, and throw coffee grounds, eggshells, fruit and vegetable peels, and other potentially clogging items in the trash or compost pile instead.

If you encounter septic system issues this holiday season, contact All Clear Pumping & Sewer . Serving the Jefferson City, Columbia, and Lake Ozarks areas of Missouri, they offer comprehensive septic and sewer services. From tank pumping and water line repair to hydro-excavating and grease trap cleaning, they are your full-service pumping and sewer company. Call 573-634-0165 or visit them online to schedule an appointment today.

Garbage Disposal Do’s and Don’ts if You Have a Septic System

Sat, 26 Oct 2019 23:02:00 GMT

It may be tempting to think of your septic tank as a far-away hold-all for whatever goes down the drain. However, septic systems need a specific balance of bacteria to process and dispose of waste properly. If they malfunction, they can create unsanitary conditions on your property. Certain items should not end up in the septic tank. Be aware of these do’s and don’ts if you have a garbage disposal that drains to a septic system.

Do:

Take Care With Cleaning Products

Harsh cleaners with ammonia, bleach, or industrial disinfectants are not made to be put into the septic system. This includes drain cleaners that a homeowner might typically use if the garbage disposal gets clogged. Opt for biodegradable, natural, and organic cleaning products to use on the kitchen sink.

Limit the Solids Put Into the Garbage Disposal

Garbage disposals are not trash cans, and they do not chop up food waste. Instead, they combine food particles with water to form a slurry. Food can remain in large pieces and accumulate in the septic tank, which may upset the bacterial balance and cause the tank to have to be pumped more frequently. When putting food into the disposal, use cold water so that cooking oils solidify and can be macerated, and run water with dish soap through after, making sure to keep the grinder going. You can grind small chicken or fish bones occasionally to have a scouring effect on the disposal.

Don’t:

Put Fibrous Foods Into the Disposal

Avoid putting large chunks of food, quantities of expandable starches like pasta or rice, or fibrous foods like celery, artichokes, corn husks, or coffee grounds into the disposal. These items will either clog the disposal or end up as a buildup of material in the septic tank.

Put Oil or Chemicals of Any Kind Down the Drain

Large amounts of grease or cooking oil can build up in the disposal and drains, causing clogs. Don’t wash paint brushes or tools that have industrial oils, paint, or turpentine in the sink, as these then travel to the septic system and potentially disrupt the bacteria.

If you need help with clogged drains or garbage disposals, or assistance with pumping a septic system, call All Clear Pumping & Sewer in Jefferson City, MO, at 573-634-0165 . They offer complete residential and commercial septic services and 24/7 emergency assistance. The team at All Clear are experts with conventional and engineered septic systems. Visit the website to see a full range of services or call 573-634-0165 today for a quote.

What Items Cause Kitchen Drain Clogs?

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 23:15:00 GMT

Taking care of your plumbing will ensure that your home remains functional and sanitary. Clogged drains may cause water to drain slowly, block your pipes, and potentially flood your home. One of the most effective ways to prevent clogs is by watching what you put down your kitchen sink. Below, you’ll learn more about some of the most unusual items that tend to create kitchen drain blockages.

4 Items That Cause Clogged Drains In Kitchens

1. Cooking Oils

These materials and other grease coat the interior of your pipes, which causes sludge to form. This narrows the pipe opening and prevents water from draining effectively. Get into the habit of pouring hot oils into a glass or ceramic container, allow them to solidify, and either use them while cooking or throw them in the garbage.

2. Fibrous Vegetables

High-fiber and starchy foods, such as potatoes, celery, corn, asparagus, and onions, tend to create serious issues for garbage disposals, as their stringy fibers get caught in the blades. Compost vegetable peelings and residues or dispose of them in the proper bins to keep your drains clear of blockages.

3. Coffee Grounds

These materials don’t disintegrate when exposed to hot or cold water. Over time, coffee grounds pack together in your pipes, causing clogged drains and making water back up into your sink. Use old coffee grounds as fertilizer for your plants, or throw them away.

4. Cat Litter

Though many of these products claim to be safe for your plumbing, err on the side of caution by keeping them out of your drains. Cat litter granules absorb moisture and may form clumps in your pipes, which results in clogged drains. Throw cat litter into your outdoor waste receptacles to prevent odors or unsanitary conditions inside your living space.

Keep your plumbing clean and serviceable with help from the team at All Clear Pumping & Sewer . Their licensed and insured professionals can provide advice and support if you encounter any issues with your home. They offer 24-hour emergency septic repairs , sewer cleaning, pumping, and hydro-excavating to clients throughout Jefferson City, MO. Call 573-634-0165 anytime you need to clear clogged drains and visit them online to learn more about how to keep your plumbing system in excellent shape.

Why Choose Trenchless Technology for Your Home?

Fri, 06 Sep 2019 23:24:00 GMT

Trenchless technology is quickly gaining popularity within the water supply industry. It eliminates having to disturb large portions of the landscape and increases the efficiency of water line repair and replacement. Consider the following reasons to have trenchless technology in your home.

4 Benefits of Trenchless Water Line Repair & Replacement

1. Saves Money

With trenchless water line repair and replacement, you won’t have to hire a team of landscapers to restore the curb appeal of the property. They’ll remove only a small piece of your yard to reach the affected area and perform the necessary services without disturbing the surrounding environment.

2. Boosts Safety

Homeowners won’t have to worry about the safety of their property with trenchless water line replacement. The smaller portions of lawn that these machines dig up aren’t large enough to endanger passersby, reducing the chances for injury.

3. Offers Convenience

Waiting for a new water line installation might cause inconveniences for the family. This isn’t the case with trenchless technology. The minimal digging cuts down on the amount of time it takes to complete a service, so you’ll have your home up and running in no time.

4. Increases Durability

Trenchless technology uses a combination of liner and resin, which is much more durable than the average pipe. During replacement, the technician can slide the new material through the damaged area and fit it into place so that it creates a perfect seal. This stabilizes the waterline and provides a lifespan that will last for decades.

For timely water line repairs and replacements, reach out to All Clear Pumping & Sewer in Jefferson City, MO. This full-service septic pumping and sewer company is committed to ensuring total customer satisfaction. Their contractors utilize the latest technology for sewer line repairs, clogged drains, and water line replacement that their clients need to prevent further issues. Learn more about their services by visiting their website or call 573-634-0165 to request an estimate from one of their technicians.

What Causes a Clogged Drain?

Mon, 29 Jul 2019 23:29:00 GMT

At some point, most people have dealt with a clogged drain . If not addressed, this small concern can lead to significant problems. These problems could include flooding, slow water drainage, and in the worst-case scenario, a sewage backup . By preventing the concern or immediately addressing the issue, you can avoid expensive plumbing costs. Keep reading for some causes of blockages and how a professional plumber can clear them.

Causes of Clogged Drains

Excess Food

It can be all too easy to throw food waste down the drains of kitchen sinks believing that running the garbage disposal will eliminate that waste. Certain waste, like coffee grounds, does not break down even after being run through a garbage disposal. Food waste that does not break down can solidify and block pipes.

Soap Residue

While soap products are necessary for bathing and cleaning, certain types with grease or fat included can damage pipes. When those ingredients and minerals in water combine to create soap scum, your pipes can get blocked.

Hair

Bathroom sinks often clog when hair and shampoo or soap scum bind together. When this happens, water is no longer able to flow through pipes.

Oil & Grease

Cooking oil and grease can obstruct kitchen sinks. When they stick to the pipe walls of the drain and mix with soap scum and food particles, blockages form.

Dislodge a Clog

A professional is your best resource to dislodge clogs properly and for providing advice for preventing future ones. A plumber will use several techniques to clear your sewer line. This line transports water, substances, and objects from your drains to the sewer line that is treated by the city.

Snaking/Rodding

This process uses a cable with a pointed end to remove clogs. Based on the blockage type and location, your plumber will use a snake that is hand — or engine — powered. This technique works best for cleaning sewer lines with one obstruction.

Hydrojetting

This technique dislodges blockages by using high-pressure water and a flexible hose fitted with a special nozzle. When turned on, the hose sprays water that breaks down any substances or objects, including tree roots that are blocking your pipes.

Power Rodding

This process uses a bendable metal cable that can navigate through sewer lines. A cleaning attachment is connected to the end of the cable and powered by an electric motor. When the motor is turned on, the cleaning head destroys any objects blocking pipes into small bits that can be flushed away.

The professionals at All Clear Pumping & Sewer in Jefferson City, MO, are experts at resolving issues with residential and commercial plumbing. They are equipped to address clogged drains, septic replacement, and excavating, and provide home septic inspections. Their emergency services are available at any time to provide immediate assistance. Visit their website for a detailed list of their services or call 573-634-0165 to schedule an appointment.

4 Tips for Helping a Septic System Operate Better

Fri, 14 Jun 2019 23:33:00 GMT

An important part of being a homeowner is making sure the septic system is properly maintained. When a septic tank becomes full or is used the wrong way, it can saturate the drain field or even work its way back into the home’s plumbing. By following these everyday recommended habits, you can avoid costly septic repairs and ensure the system is operating efficiently.

4 Easy Ways to Maintain Septic Systems

1. Don’t Use Chemical Drain Cleaners

If a drain is clogged, don’t use a chemical cleaner to clear it. The septic tank relies on bacteria to break down waste matter, and the chemicals found in these cleaners disrupt the balance. Instead, break up any obstructions using a drain snake or plunger.

2. Avoid Putting Food into the System

Similarly, disposing of food in the garbage disposal also affects the bacteria levels in the septic tank. Throw all food products into the garbage can, or create a compost pile to use the waste as fertilizer in the garden.

3. Conserve Water

Draining too much water into the septic tank overloads the septic system and creates major problems for your home. An easy way to avoid this is by installing efficient appliances, such as low-flow toilets and aerated faucets. Additionally, a few simple changes, like turning off the water while brushing your teeth or washing your face, helps protect the system.

4. Mind Your Landscaping

Never plant any new trees near the septic tank or any sewage lines connecting it to your home. Over time, the tree’s root system expands as it searches for water, and it can puncture the tank or lines. If this happens, the leak will require repairs.

Following these guidelines helps keep your septic system healthy, but sometimes you’ll still need professional maintenance to protect it from failure. That’s why it’s a good idea to schedule regular upkeep services from the experts at All Clear Pumping & Sewer in Jefferson City, MO. Their specialists provide inspections to ensure there are no potential problems with your tank, and they can handle any septic pumping services you need when it inevitably becomes full. Request an estimate by calling 573-634-0165 , and learn more about their services online .