Residential Septic Tank Services

May Special

During the month of May, mention this special and receive a 1 year supply of BioForce with a septic pump out.

(BioForce is a septic system additive. When applied once a month, the additive counteracts the damage to the biological system in your septic tank that is caused by using bleach and antibacterial soaps.)

 

We provide these well and septic tank services for homeowners:

• Septic Tank Cleaning
• Septic Tank Pumping
• Septic System Maintenance and Repairs
• Septic Inspection and Certification
• Installation of effluent forced maintenance filters
• Sewage pump and control system repairs
• Water tank, pump, and control system repairs
• Well water testing

We offer the following products for your septic needs:

• RID-X
• Root-X
• BIOFORCE

We now offer portable toilet rentals by the weekend, week and month. Call today for our competitive pricing.

 

Click here to Download our FREE Homeowner's Guide to Septic Systems

 

“Thank you for your service so promptly. I really appreciate it. I will be calling you this spring for more service.”  - Rebecca P.

 

“Thank you so much for helping my mom out, answering all my questions, and for keeping me informed. Very much appreciative.”  - Sue

 

"Thank you A.B.A. for such superb service!!!! " -Rebecca C."

 

"Thanks for the quick response Emily, Robert and Rob!" -James and Carolyn S.

 

 

 

 

“Today I had my septic system cleaned and I just had to send a note of thanks for the wonderful experience I have encountered with your company. Everyone with your company was a pleasure to work with and I highly recommend you to my neighbors and friends.”  - Brenda A.

 

“Thanks for the great service.”  - Jeff K.

 

#1 Cause of Septic System Failure

 

Leaking toilets are the #1 cause of septic system failure. Constant flow of water from a leaky toilet will flood your septic tank and eventually saturate your drainfield with water as well as solids. The water level rises above the baffle tees allowing the solids that are normally trapped by the baffles to migrate to the drainfield making problems worse. Even if the toilet is fixed, you still have solids in the drainfield which will cause the drainfield to eventually fail. We recommend that you conduct a leak test on each toilet in your home at least once a year. If no problems are discovered during the first test, we recommend re-testing the toilets because sometimes the leaks are intermittent.

 

Steps to Conducting a Leak Test on Toilets

1. Turn off the water supply valve to the toilet. This valve is usually located on the lower side of the tank.
2. Lift the lid to the water tank and observe the water level. Make a mark or take a measurement of how far down the water is from the top of the tank. Then return the lid.
3. After approximately 1 hour, look at the water level in the tank to see if the level has dropped since the water supply was turned off. If the water level has dropped, then the flapper in the tank needs to replaced immediately and the toilet is leaking. We recommend that you contact our office and schedule an appointment for us to come out and inspect the drainfield for damage. If this type of problem is discovered soon enough, the drainfield, in most cases, can be cleaned out and restored to normal functionality.
4. If the water level has not dropped, continue this test for at least 3 more hours or overnight. Do not forget to return the water valve to the on position once the test is completed.

Performing this simple test and regularly scheduled maintenance are vitally important to the operation and life expectancy of your septic system.

 

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions for Homeowners

Q: How often should I pump my septic tank?

A: Virginia Department of Health recommends that the septic tank be pumped    every three to five years. A septic tank frequency chart provided by Oregon State University Extension Service provides information on how often you should have your septic tank pumped by comparing the number of occupants in the house and the size of the septic tank. For example, a family of four with a 1,000 gallon septic tank should have the tank pumped every 2.6 years. A family of two with a 1,000 gallons septic tank should have the tank pumped every 5.9 years. If you have any questions, please contact us.

 

Q: Should I use a septic tank treatment?

A: Septic tank additives are not necessary for everyone but are needed for larger families and when a lot of antibacterial products (cleaning products, antibacterial soaps, and laundry products containing bleach) are used in the home. If a family member is on antibiotics, the antibiotics will kill the bacteria in the septic tank. Therefore, an additive is needed.

 

Q: Where do we dispose of wastes after we pump out a septic tank?

A: We take the waste to a state permitted wastewater treatment plant where it is processed and disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner. We never dump in lagoons or land apply septic tank waste.

 

Q: How long will my septic system last?

A: The average lifespan of a septic system is 30-40 years if it is properly maintained.

 

Q: What do I need to do to maintain my conventional septic system?

A: For conventional septic systems, have your service provider establish a pumping schedule based on your household. Follow the rules of the Do’s and Don’ts provided on this site in the Homeowner’s Guide to Septic Systems.

 

Q: What do I need to do to maintain my alternative septic system?

A: For an alternative septic system, have your service provider do an annual inspection that will be custom designed for your specific treatment system.

 

Q: Can I build a driveway or a room addition over my septic tank or drainfield?

A: NO! No structures can be built over any component of the septic system. The drainfield area must be kept free of trees and scrubs. Roots are a major cause of clogged drainfield lines. Nothing heavier than a riding lawn mower should be driven over the drainfield area in order to avoid soil compaction.

 

Q: Should I worry about my well water being contaminated by the septic system?

A: If your drainfield is operating properly, it does a good job of killing pathogens in the wastewater. This is one of the things that your service provider will check for when servicing your system.

 

Q: Can my neighbor’s septic system contaminate my well water?

A: Any septic system that is not maintained and operating properly will contaminate ground water in the surrounding area.

 

Q: Why does my drainfield get soggy and wet after I do several loads of laundry in one day?

A: The drainfield may already be wet or saturated due to rainy weather or plumbing leaks (example: leaky toilets) and a high use activity like laundry may cause an already overloaded drainfield to back up or even erupt.

 

We do not land apply waste. Never have, never will. All of our septage is taken to a state certified wastewater treatment plant for environmentally ethical and safe disposal.

 

 

Photos/images from "A Homeowner's Guide to Septic Systems" courtesy of: Septic Drainer, Environmental Protection Agency, National Emergency Services Center, Sim/Tech Filter.