Septic Tank FAQ's

Q: How often should I have my tank serviced?

A: This depends on many factors, including how many people live in the house, but as a rule, every two years if less than 4 people reside permanently, or annually if 4 or more people are in the house. Many people make it part of their "spring cleaning" ritual or their winter preparations.

Q: Why do I need to service my tank?

A: Regular servicing helps prevent solids from entering and ultimately building up in your septic field. This build up can lead to septic field failure. Regular servicing of your tank also helps ensure nasty surprises are prevented.

Q: I have a sewer backup in my basement, send out your vacuum truck!

A: Sewer backups are not only caused by a full tank. A blocked or frozen line from your house can also cause a backup. It is best to check that your tank is actually full before calling for service.

Q: How do I know if my tank is full?

A: Most tanks are a simple 2 compartment tank with one lid/access point. Open the lid, and when you look down you should be able to clearly see a dividing/baffle wall separating the 2 compartments. The side closest to your house is your "solid side", and the other is your "liquid side". In normal operations the liquid side will be lower than the solid side, and the solid side will be near the top of the divider (baffle wall). If you cannot see the divider, or both sides are near the top, your tank may be full and/or you may have pump or field issues, contact us for assistance.

Q: It's snowing out, can you still service my tank?

A: We work 12 months of the year. Snow, ice, rain, wind are not problems. What can provide obstacles are temperatures below -20, deep snow on unplowed driveways, or very soft ground as our trucks are large and heavy. Otherwise, we can take care of you in almost any conditions.

Q: How close to my tank does your truck need to be?

A: All of our trucks carry a minimum of 100 feet of hose. If your tank is further than this, please advise us prior to date of service and we can bring extra hose.

Q: I have a bad smell coming from a drain, is there a problem with my septic tank?

A: The most common cause of bad smells coming from drains, is lack of use. Most drains are set up with a "p-trap" which is designed to hold water and thus prevent smells from your sewer pipe coming back into your home. Sometimes in guest bathrooms or areas seldom used, the water in these traps evaporates, and the odours from your sewer pipe are free to come into the room. The simple fix is to run some water down the drain and fill this "p-trap".

 

Serving the Calgary, Okotoks, Airdrie and surrounding Alberta communities.