FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

Visit the link below to locate a licensed inspector in your county.

State of Missouri Inspectors

A. The septic system is basically an on-site sewage treatment and disposal system.

Image: http://winnipeg.ca/waterandwaste/sewage/septicSystems.stm

Also see how a Jet system works (http://jetincorp.com):

Jet Septic

Google, BBB, or another reliable search site can be a good start. Depending upon the type of system you have (you can find the name on the panel for the system) you may want to search the manufacturers website to find a certified contractor to maintenance or repair the system.

St. Louis County Drainlayers

Follow this link to find a contractor in St. Louis County if this is your county of residence.

The sludge (inorganic matter) that accumulates in the bottom of the tank must be pumped out periodically. There is no additive that can be introduced into the septic tank to rid the tank of inorganic sludge that settles to the bottom of the tank. It must be pumped out! If not pumped out, it will eventually overflow into the absorption area, causing it to fail. 

Since solids will continue to build up at the bottom of the tank, it is imperative that the septic tank be pumped out periodically. Remember, sludge is not biodegradable and if it is not pumped out, it will accumulate until it overflows.​

​The recommended maintance time for an average septic system is 3-4 years. (This frequency may alter based on number of people in the household as well as how closely the below suggestions are followed.)

-"The Voice" 1995

Additional Info

A. Any type of bacteria added to your septic tank can help with the break down of the solids and crust in your system. The difference in using or not using live bacteria can be 1-5 years between cleanings.

The price of Rid-X vs. Pro-Pump is also a factor in determining which is going to give you more bang for your buck. Rid-X will cost you around $10.00 a month, where as Pro-Pump costs as little as $35.00 a year (+tax) or a little less than $3.00 a month. You could literally be flushing money down the toilet.

The amount of bacteria in the product is the most important piece of information, as well as it it live bacteria or is it food for bacteria. Pro-Pump contains 12 select different types of bacteria, while the others may not contain that, or may just be food to try and keep the bacteria already in the system alive. If you are unsure how much bacteria those competitors products contain call the 1-800 number on the back of the bottle and they will let you know...if they even know.

Pro-Pump is the only product that increases its bacteria over both the 7 day and 14 day periods thereby giving Pro-Pump a much more active and extended life. Solids break up faster and continue to do so over a longer period of time than the other brands.

Here is a helpful document from the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services that can assist in the proper operation and maintenenace of your Onsite-Wastewater Treatment System.

A: ​First and most important thing is to get on the maintenance schedule of a local licensed hauler. Getting your tank pumped on a regular basis is the single most important way to keep your system in good condition. Here at All Weather Sewer Service, Inc. we put our customers on a follow up schedule, specific to their system, and give them a reminder call when their date comes up. We do the remembering so you do not have to.

Frequency of pumpings are based on the full time residents in your household, the size of your tank, the condition of your tank based on frequency of pumpings, etc.

The following habits can help improve the condition of your tank which we observe during our pumpings.

• Using less bleach and more natural cleaners can improve the bacteria in your tank. The more bacteria in your tank the less crust and organic material that builds up. There are a list of natural cleaners you can make at home on our website. (coming soon) You can also visit our pintrest page were there are many other fun ideas related to septics.
• Making your own soaps is a new trend that can save lots of money. Make sure you choose recipes that create a liquid soap or detergent versus the powdered type. The powdered type of soaps can build up in your lines or tank and cause backups.
• Reducing the use of your garbage disposal to only what may accidentally accumulate in the bottom of your sink can decrease the amount of food particles and debris which can add to the amount of material the bacteria has to break down. This can result in a heavy scum/crust layer.
• Refraining from putting any grease down drains can not only reduce the scum/crust build up in tank it can reduce the potential for clogged lines which lead to nasty backups.
• Placing the "flushable" wipes in the garbage instead of the toilet can keep scum/crust layers to a minimum and can prevent motors and pumps from failing due to clogged parts.
• Do Not flush feminine napkins or tampons down toilet. 

Below Is Some Information from one of our vendors that we found very helpful when determining which things should not be put into your onsite treatment system.

Items to avoid in Onsite Treatment Systems

Your onsite treatment system relies on microbial action to treat your wastewater. Some household products and practices may disrupt the microbial action and cause onsite systems to function poorly. If you have any concerns about your system’s performance contact a service provider in your area.

Inert Materials

Plastic, rubber, scouring pads, dental floss, condoms, kitty litter, cigarette filters, bandages, hair, mop strings, lint, rags, cloths and towels do not decompose in an onsite treatment system. Inert materials build up solids and lead to system malfunction, clogging, or increased pump-out frequency.

Paper Products

Disposable diapers, tampons, sanitary napkins, cotton swabs, paper towels, facial tissues, baby wipes, lotions, scented or quilted toilet tissue, and moist toilet paper do not dissolve readily in an onsite treatment system. Also, excessive amounts of toilet tissue at one time can lead to system malfunction, clogs, or increased pump-out frequency.

Food Waste

Do not put animal fats and bones, grease, coffee grounds, citrus and melon rinds, corn cobs, or eggshells down the sink. Garbage disposal use should be limited to waste that cannot be scooped out and thrown in the trash. Spoiled dairy products and yeasts from home brewing or baking may interfere with microbial process in your system.

Cleaning Products

Antimicrobial soaps and automatic toilet disinfection tablets may kill the organisms needed to consume waste. Do not empty mop buckets containing bleach down the sink.

Medications/Ailments

Do not flush expired medicines, as some will disrupt your treatment system and many can eventually find their way into the groundwater. If household members undergo oral or intravenous chemotherapy, the treatment system may require more frequent pump- out intervals or the use of biological additives. Contact an onsite treatment system service provider to find out if such service is needed.

Commercial Additives

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other authorities report that there is no evidence to support the use of additives with normally functioning onsite treatment systems. Some septic tank additives can harm the system. A normally functioning system does not require additives.

Chemicals and Toxins

The following materials will kill the microbes necessary for the biological treatment to occur: paint, paint thinner, solvents, volatile substances, drain cleaners, automotive fluids, fuels, pesticides, herbicides fertilizers, metals, disinfectants, sanitizers, bleach, floor stripping wastes, excessive use of household chemicals, and backwash from water softener regeneration.

Laundry Practices

To avoid overloading some systems, spread out laundry over the week instead of doing it all in one day. Excessive use of detergents, especially those containing bleach, can affect system performance. Liquid detergents are recommended over powders. Fabric softener sheets are recommended over liquid softeners. Use bleach, sparingly and at half the rate indicated on the container.

https://aaazoellner.com/products-services/precast-septic-tank/

You can located a licensed  drainlayer within your county by following the link below.

Missouri Installers

Depending upon the saturation of the ground, you may just need to give the drainfield a break, frequent pump of the septic tank can help relieve the drainfield until the field has time to "relax". (All Weather offers frequent pumpings at a discounted rate after the first pumping.)

Proper maintenance on your system, which would include; routine pumpings of the tank, cleaning of filters (if applicable) and a proper operating aerator (if applicable) can help to reduce the amount of potential biomat that may get out in to your drainfield that can cause immediate problems or future issues. 

If the bacteria in the system is not at the level it should be (indicated by the amount of crust and solids that may build up over a short period of time) additive of a LIVE bacteria can also help in the break down of the biomat in the tank and out in the field. Store bought septic tank additives will work as long as the indicate they are a LIVE bacteria. Others may just be a food for the existing bacteria. You have to have the bacteria to feed otherwise the LIVE bacteria product is your best solution for adding additional bacteria to your tank.

You can located a licensed installler within your county by following the link below.

Missouri Installers

Below is a link to the specifics for an onsite waste water treatment system in Jefferson County, Missouri.

Jefferson County, MO Code

Our preference is Angel Soft, however, below is a link showing the top brands that are healthy for your system. But, please determine which would be your preference based on what is the most cooshie for your tooshie & cost effective.

Also Visit:

https://theconsumerreports.guide/best-toilet-paper-consumer-reports/

Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS), which is a typical residental septic system, have a normal operating level. (see image below) The average american household uses 300 gallons of water a day, 210 gallons of which is used indoors. A leaking toilet can waste an average of 200 gallons a day (www.codb.us). Taking all of this into account a 1000 gallon tank could be back to operating level in a 5 day period, assuming the average gallons used applies and there are no leaking appliances (toilets, etc.). 

Rainfall & low lying systems can play a roll in the tank level as well. If a system is not water tight, the water table can rise during a large rainfall and infiltrate the tank from the bottom. Low lying systems near a creek that tends to overflow can result in water infiltrating the tank from the top.

Capped off tanks are a common solution for failing drainfields or straight pipe systems. These tanks do not have an operating level. Some homes reroute some water, however, most waste goes into a holding tank and when the high water alarm sounds it is time to schedule a pumping. These pumpings can be as often as once a week. All Weather offers discounted prices for these types of tanks after the first pumping.

Yes you read the above questions correctly, tanks can float.

There are factors that occured during install that can cause the floatiing of a tank or there could be seasonal soil saturation or additional added water infiltration over time that could cause the same instance.

To prevent this, after your system has been pumped, we recommend that you run a couple loads of wash or the dishwasher (if you have one), you fill the bath tub up with water then let it drain, or you refill the tank with a garden hose. If you have an unhealthy drainfield, where the water is not effectively getting out of the system becuase of over saturation, the first two options would be highly recommended. The tank does not have to be completely refilled to operating level (unless it is a poly/fiberglass tank) just enought to add weight into the system.

Related Article

Keep Tanks Under Ground Where They Belong -Onsite Installer Magazine

https://www.jetincorp.com/locator.php?type=Residential