Septic Tank Maintenance in Bessemer & McCalla

Alabama Septic Tank Services performs regular septic service for homes and businesses in Bessemer, McCalla, Hueytown, Hoover, Brookwood and Tuscaloosa. We find problems early, before they turn into backups and digging, and we never push services you do not need.

A septic system can last anywhere from 15 to 40 years. The biggest difference between the two numbers is maintenance. A tank that is pumped on schedule and a household that is careful with what goes down the drain keep the field lines healthy – and the field lines are the part that costs the most to replace.

• Pump the tank every 3 to 5 years – sooner with a garbage disposal or a full house. See septic tank pumping.
• Have the tank checked when it is pumped – baffles, inlet and outlet, effluent filter, cracks and roots.
• Clean the effluent filter, if your tank has one, at every pumping or when drains slow down.
• Install a riser so the tank can be opened without digging – risers and lids.
• Keep a record of pumpings and repairs. Buyers ask for it when you sell.

Do

• Spread out laundry over the week instead of doing every load on Saturday.
• Fix running toilets and dripping faucets – they can add hundreds of gallons a day.
• Keep cars, trucks and heavy equipment off the tank and the field lines.
• Plant only grass over the drain field; keep trees and large shrubs well away.
• Send rain water from gutters and downspouts away from the field lines.

Don’t

• Flush wipes (even “flushable” ones), paper towels, feminine products, diapers or cat litter.
• Pour grease, cooking oil, paint, solvents or chemicals down the drain.
• Wash construction debris, plaster, grout or drywall mud down the tub – we have pumped a tank whose whole drain system backed up from popcorn-ceiling debris.
• Rely on septic additives instead of pumping. Health agencies agree they are not needed and do not replace pumping.

We locate the tank, uncover the hatch – sometimes as simple as lifting a lid, sometimes a little digging – and inspect it while it is open: cracks, baffles, filters and roots. Then we pump out the sludge with our truck, reseal the tank and leave the yard clean. It helps if you are home, so we can show you what we see.

If something needs attention, you get an honest explanation and an upfront price before any repair. Signs of trouble are listed on our septic repair page.