Septic Jackson Michigan is a site that offers Septic Tank Pumping at affordable prices

How often should I pump my tank?
We recommend that you pump your tank every two or three years if you have 2 or 3 people in your household. If you have more than you may need to pump your tank more frequently.

Do I have to be home when your truck arrives?
Our preference is to have someone from the household present to verify the gallons pumped and the details of your service. Payment for the pumping must be made when the pumping occurs. Often an extended family member is the one who is present if all household members are working.

How long does a typical Drain field last?
There really is no such thing as a typical drain field. Construction methods and materials used to build drain fields vary. The draining characteristics of soil from one property to the next can show significant differences. However, with today's modern systems have a predicted life of roughly 20 years. The actual life will depend on how well the system is maintained and whether or not the user took any steps to slow down the density of the biomat at the point where your system drains.

My toilets flush just fine, so why should I pump my septic tank?
Just because your system is flushing fine after several years of use does not mean that your septic tank does not need to be pumped. If you neglect pumping your tank, you run the risk of solids backup up into the your pipes that lead out from the home and also out into your drain field. When that occurs, you will often end up paying both the cost of pumping your tank and the cost of cleaning out your pipes. Cleaning out your lines can run several hundred dollars, so it is actually more affordable to simply pump your tank before it gets too full.

How does my septic system work?
While septic systems designs vary, the basic operation remains the same. Household output enters your septic tank. Your tank may be a single tank or have a partition and be what is called a dual tank. Regardless, the solids settle to the bottom of the tank and the gray water is pushed out into the drain field. The Out should have what is called a baffle (an L shaped down spout) attached to the actual out line to your drain field. This baffle is submerged below the top of the tank water line to prevent grease and scum which sits on the top from getting out into your drain field. As water is pushed into your septic tank it creates enough flow pressure to push out an equal amount of gray water into your drain field. So, if you open the lid of your septic tank and see that the grey water is high, that is considered normal. What is not normal is to have the solids getting up near the bottom of the baffle T-joint which is the exit point for your gray water. If that gets clogged, then your whole system will back up and fail to operate. We suggest adding a filter in your outlet baffle to further protect your drain field. Call us and ask about installing a Zabel Filter.

I am getting septic odors, does that mean my drain field is bad?
Septic odors can come from a variety of sources. Typically, if you are outside and smell septic odors it is an indication that you need to at check your system. If you have standing seepage along with odor, then it definitely time to replace your drain field.

Why does my tank have a wall inside it?
Some tanks have two separate compartments. Your outbound line feeds into the first main tank. Gray Water flows into the second partition side of the tank. If the solids fill up the first tank then they enter the 2nd overflow tank. So, if you have a dual tank it is adviseable to pump both sides to ensure they are both empty.

What is an Outlet baffle?
It is a pipe that is submerged below the surface scum layer. As a gallon of gray water enters your tank a gallon is forced up into this submerged exit pipe. If your baffle pipe is damaged or falls off then scum and grease which is on the surface can get out into the drain field. We inspect your exit lines to ensure your baffle pipe is in place when we service your septic system. If your septic lid is easy for you to uncover, you should check to see that your baffle exit pipe is in place. If you have installed a filter on the baffle exit pipe, it should be checked and cleaned periodically. A filter is an excellent way to keep solids and biodegradable material from entering your drain field.

What laws apply to Septic Systems in Michigan?
Check the website of your local health department, the MDEQ for specific laws.

What are the signs that my drain field is failing?
Typically when a drain field fails your gray waste water will come to the surface and produce a noticeable odor. If you have periods of heavy use such as a day when you do a lot of laundry, it is a good time to inspect your drain field. If a heavy use day produces no surface seepage and no backups, then your system is most likely fine.

What do I need to do in order to get Whole New Septic System Installed?
The process begins with getting someone from the health department out to your property to do a soil perk test. The purpose of the perk test is to see if you have enough dry soil to filter out contaminants with a below ground system. If your water table is too high on your property, you may not be able to install a below ground system. In such a case, you would have to build up an above ground mound system. The inspector evaluates your property and its soil conditions along with the number of bedrooms and occupants unique to your situation and then issues his findings to you. If your local town has installed a sewer system and you apply for a permit for a new drain field, you will most likely be denied. Most townships require that you hook up to their systems if they are available. Older properties are usually allowed to continue using their septic systems, but cannot replace them once they fail. This gives the property owner the opportunity to save up money to pay for the cost of hooking up their sewage lines to their local municipal system.