At McRae’s, we provide comprehensive septic services for homeowners throughout the Fraser Valley, including residential maintenance, pre-sale, and post-purchase septic inspections.
Septic Inspections
Our experienced septic inspectors provide a detailed report on the condition of your septic system. This includes whether your system requires repairs or replacement. We recommend keeping this report with your other septic system records for future reference and maintenance planning.
Septic Repair and Maintenance
To keep your septic system operating efficiently:
- Regular Inspections: Have your system inspected at least once every two years.
- Tank Pumping & Cleaning: Pumping your septic tank regularly prevents build-up of scum and sludge. Most households need pumping every three to five years, depending on system use.
- Monitoring Solids: Ask your technician to measure the thickness of scum and sludge layers. This helps determine the optimal pumping schedule for your tank.
Regular maintenance is the most cost-effective way to prevent costly repairs or system failures.
Avoiding Chemical Contamination
Septic systems rely on natural bacterial processes. To protect your system:
- Use household cleaners and solvents moderately. Excessive use can interfere with natural bacteria.
- Do not discharge water softener wastewater into your septic tank unless the system was designed to handle it. Extra water reduces capacity, and added salts can harm the leaching bed. Direct water softener discharge to a leaching pit.
- Avoid garbage grinders – they can increase sludge accumulation by up to 40%, potentially requiring annual pumping.
- Never dispose of fuels, grease, paints, thinners, pesticides, cigarette butts, diapers, sanitary products, or non-biodegradable items into the system. Septic tanks can only process biodegradable materials.
- Commercial “starters” or “bacterial feeds” are unnecessary. Your septic tank naturally develops the bacteria it needs.
Trouble Signs
Be aware of these indicators of potential septic system problems:
- Frequently wet or spongy ground over the leaching bed
- Unusual plant growth above the leaching area
- Odours coming from the leaching bed
- Pooling or bubbling wastewater on the surface
- Well water containing nitrates or fecal coliform bacteria
- Slow drains in your home
If your system shows signs of failure, McRae’s provides preliminary work for new disposal field applications or replacement of failing septic fields. Contact us today!
