Southern Water and Soil - Septic Experts

SWS Three-Step Maintenance

By Amanda Furmage-Deck

Everyone knows that in order to increase the life of a vehicle, it must undergo routine, preventive maintenance which can include changing the engine oil, replacing the brake pads, and adjusting the alignment. In addition, the exterior of a vehicle should be washed and waxed on a regular basis to ensure the removal of dust, dirt, grime and any other foreign materials that could adhere to and damage the paint.

Caring for a septic system is just like caring for a vehicle in that a decentralized wastewater system’s life can be extended through routine, preventive maintenance. The experts at Southern Water and Soil, Inc. perform a three-step maintenance program in order to increase the longevity of your septic system.

1.      Regular Septic Tank Pumping Service

Many contractors recommend that a septic tank be pumped every three to five years. However, not all septic systems are the same. Southern Water and Soil will examine the size of your tank, the age of the system, the number of occupants in the home, if you use a garbage disposal, the amount of laundry done per week within the home, and the drain field soil before deciding how often your septic tank should be pumped.

Routine, preventive septic system maintenance is extremely important. Just like a vehicle, repairing or replacing a failing wastewater treatment system can be extremely expensive. When compared to replacing an entire septic system for thousands of dollars, routine pumping prices are significantly less, averaging just $100 to $300 per year.

Secondly, clogged or damaged septic systems can result in an expensive and unwanted mess. Not only can toilets back up after flushing and foul odors saturate the air, but toxic sewage can appear on the surface of your lawn which can generate severe threats to public health, pollute nearby bodies of water used for commercial and recreational activities, and decrease property values.

2.      Bacteria and Enzyme Additive

Southern Water and Soil, Inc. will go the extra mile to ensure the safety of your family, your community, and the environment by adding one cup of a bacteria and enzyme additive to your system at the time of service. This additive keeps your waste water pipes clean, destroys plumbing odors, and decomposes organic waste. Rather than pouring a commercial chemical additive down your drain that can potentially destroy the beneficial drain field bacteria, put your trust in SWS’s proven bacteria and enzyme septic tank shock treatment.

3.      Effluent Filter

A septic tank effluent filter is an important aspect of a wastewater treatment system as it acts as a strainer, preventing hair, grime, and other solid particles from entering and clogging the drain field pipes. Therefore, solids are retained in the tank, enhancing their decomposition. Southern Water and Soil recommends this filtration unit be cleaned during each septic tank pumping.

If it’s time for your septic system to undergo routine, preventive maintenance, and you live in Hillsborough, Pasco, or Pinellas Counties, contact Southern Water and Soil today. You can trust them for their experience, quality products, and quality customer service. Don’t wait until it’s too late!

Question and Answer with Greg Mayfield, Tampa’s Septic Solutions Expert

What makes Southern Water and Soil, Inc. Tampa’s Septic Experts?

We can handle everything from repair to engineering to design to installation of septic systems. We can also make it easy for a homeowner or business because we will handle permitting as well. Plus, we offer maintenance support for septic systems to ensure you always have the support you need.

You really do handle all parts of the septic repair or installation projects?

Yes, our team of professionals will handle all parts of a septic project. We can also work with other architects, general contractors or other engineers to help find septic solutions for our customers.

Is every septic system installation the same?

No, not at all. Each septic problem we encounter in the greater Tampa Bay area is a little bit different. Fortunately, we are experienced septic engineers and have worked on so many projects that we’ve seen just about everything. With each residential or commercial project, we will customize our proposals and our action plan so they solve the customer’s specific septic issues.

Do you work with residential and commercial customers?

Yes, our engineering background allows us to work on both residential and commercial septic projects. We’ve installed complete septic systems for mobile home parks, private businesses and shopping centers as well as many other commercial properties. We also work homeowners who face a variety of septic issues.

Do you work all across Florida?

We will work with customers across the entire state, especially for large scale commercial septic installation projects. Most of our residential septic customers are within the greater Tampa Bay area including Tampa, Brandon, Lutz, Plant City, Zephyrhills, Land O’ Lakes, Dade City and Odessa.

If gurgling in the toilet or back up in the bathtub has you asking about septic tank pumping cost then it is time to start doing some research.  SWS will give you the information you need to keep from paying an arm and a leg for your septic system problem. Proper septic tank maintenance means that you will have your septic system serviced every two to three years to keep the system from getting build-up.  The cost of pumping or cleaning the septic tank will depend on the amount of solids build-up and the size of your tank.

Regular septic tank maintenance is necessary to eliminate future septic problems and cost for you.  You can use a bacteria/enzyme product that is approved by the Florida Department of Health to create a healthy environment for you septic system and drainfield. SWS can install a header pipe or distribution box system that allows the introduction of the bacteria and enzymes directly to the root of the problem. You can purchase a maintenance and warranty package from SWS so that costly septic repairs and replacement costs are waylaid. Some products for the septic system should be avoided. Call SWS and we can discuss safe and useful products for your septic system.

There are many options when it comes to septic system repair, drainfield cleaning, or drain cleaning or repairing. Depending on your situation and septic problem you could be looking at a major expense in both the septic tank plumbing cost and the cost of redoing your lawn. SWS offers trenchless repairs such as (line jetting, bacterial bio-reactors, and bacteria and enzymes, root inhibitor, etc.). Due to the age of the system or the condition of the drainfield or the nature of the failure it might be the best alternative to completely replace the drainfield.

SWS offers advice and consultation for homeowners that want to do the work themselves. DIY septic is probably not something you want to tackle yourself. However, if you do want to tackle doing your septic repairs yourself SWS is here to help. This is a job better left in the hands of a professional. SWS offers free quotes for septic system replacements and we can do the job for you.

Try to get several quotes up front rather than relying on the first contractor you speak to. Septic tank cleaning and repair services will vary in price with the amount of work to be done. Check with the Better Business Bureau to find a reputable, dependable service to ensure you get the best work and the best septic tank service.