FAQ

Florida Department of Health recommends every 3 to 4 years for proper maintenance. 

It may be as simple as pumping the tank out. If the tank has become overly full, waster can sit in your plumbing lines and form a clog. This can lead to an overflow into your home or office. You may need a professional plumber to snake out the lines in addition to having the tank pumped out or emptied. 

Having to pump out the tank more often than every couple years indicates the septic system is probably failing either due to old age, tree root intrusion or misuse. Septic tank or drainfield replacement may be necessary. Contact us to diagnose. 

Plumbing lines under your home can be “jetted” because the waste pushed through will travel to the septic tank. This may be an option if you have severe plumbing clogs. Septic tank or drainfield may not be “patched” on legally. A rotting or cracked tank can be dangerous and bad for the environment. Once the structure of the septic tank has been compromised due to cracks or gas decay, we must apply for a repair permit to replace a tank through the county health department. If a drainfield is failing, the same rule applies. Yes, it is called a repair permit by the state of Florida but it is essentially a permit to replace a component of the system. 

This is not an overnight process. Many times people wait until drainage has become so slow in the house they are pumping the tank every week. It is important to get a proper diagnosis and start the permit process as soon as you think there may be an issue. A permit can take as long as 3 weeks to be issued. The installs/repairs generally take 3-4 days, however you will notice results immediately after we arrive on your installation date. 

Not always. A large number of in ground gravity systems are still installed in our area every day. When we apply for a repair permit, the county will visit your property and perform a soil perk test in the desired area for the new drainfield. Depending on the sample and the natural water table underground, the permit will be issued with the specifications listed on it the installer must follow. The soil will determine if the drainfield will be level with the ground or if sand must be brought in to build the mound. If you are required to put a mound in, it is usually because there is a high water table in your yard. The drainfield needs a soil layer underneath it before it reaches the water table to drain properly. You don 't want your drainfield laying in the water table. It will not disperse back i to the ground and you will have a muddy mess. Once the size has been determined by the health department, we will have a better understanding of what we need to do to install a functioning and long lasting system even if it is a mound.