Grenco Septic Systems and Excavation Services

Hopefully, everyone with a septic system knows and understands that they need to take special care of their systems. But what about during hurricane season? Thankfully, our region here in New England has not had a bad storm in quite a while (certainly not like the recent floods in North Carolina!) If we were to get a storm, though, it is helpful to know that the Environmental Protection Agency has created a list of steps to take to make sure everything is safe and usable after waters recede.

1. Do not pump the tank if the area around the septic system is saturated. This may cause the tank to ‘float’ out of the ground and severely damage pipes. Until the ground dries out, it is best to ration water usage in the house or building.
2. Do not use the system soon after the flood. Until the waters have gone down, the drain fields will not work properly. Also, shifting of the ground during a flood could have caused pipes to break. Get your septic system inspected after a flood. The good news is that most tanks are not damaged, but they can fill will debris and should be pumped and cleaned as soon as possible after flooding (again, once waters have receded and ground is no longer saturated)
3. If you do have a mishap and sewage has come into the basement, be sure to disinfect the area using a bleach solution.
4. Any electrical connections should be inspected before turning electricity back on.
5. Be sure that the cover of the septic tank is in the correct position.
6. If the grass cover over the system has eroded due to the flooding, it may be necessary to resod the area to restore grass cover.
7. Avoid driving on the area of soil over the soil absorption field as this can cause compaction of the soil. This is can reduce the ability of the soil to treat the wastewater.
8. And lastly, until the water table returns to normal, be gentle on the system and use it less. This will reduce the risk of backups into the home.

Have questions? Grenco will be happy to help! Call us at 401-295-9119 or visit our website for more information.

As we are sure you may already know, anytime a home is sold, there needs to be a thorough inspection of the building, electrical systems, and of the septic system. This is an important inspection for a property to pass. In general, lenders will not approve a mortgage on a property that has a failed system unless there are provisions to fix it. Here at Grenco, we get so many calls from Realtors and homeowners who have just had their septic system failed by an inspector. These failures are usually either  hydrological, or a cesspool exists on the property.

Finding out about a system failure a week before the closing is very stressful for seller and buyer alike. In addition to the disappointment felt by a buyer who may have their heart set on a certain home, the concern that seller’s have that they may never be able to sell the house is a very real one.

Most homeowners will say they have never had an issue with their system, but when that inspection report comes back and issues are noted, we have some advice:

If you had a new system installed 25-30 years ago when cesspools were allowed to stay in place, we think the best thing to do is to have the inspection done prior to putting the home on the market. This was you avoid any surprises.

If a new septic is needed and you can afford to install one, that’s a good selling point, as a new septic system can make a house more attractive to a buyer. If a new septic is needed but you don’t have the money than sell the property with a septic credit.

The most important thing that we can advise:

DON’T try to hide the problem or pass it on to the buyer. Most inspectors can tell.

Grenco is available to guide you if your septic system fails inspection and if a new one is called for, we can install it. Call us (401)295-9119 or email [email protected]

Water issues always seem to creep up in the spring. Literally. Without the warm rays of the sun and water uptake from vegetation a much higher percentage of precipitation makes it to the ground water. The water can only move so fast through the restrictive soil so it continues to build up. Higher groundwater means the soil above has less capacity to soak up any rain water or snow melt (like a half wet sponge). Now the conditions are right for water intrusion into your basement, or septic system. It only takes a couple of rain events to completely saturate the soil.

Once the soil is saturated the rain water has nowhere to go so we get higher sheet flow across the landscaping. This is why it is so important to have proper grading and drainage. We get swamped (pun intended) with calls in the spring regarding wet basements, backed up leach fields, water in basement, etc. The solutions to most of the issues are as simple as installing gutter leaders away from the foundation. Maybe do some grading work to move sheet flow around foundations. Some fixes require more complex solutions. Such as routing the water into a pump basin and pumping it up into a retention pond or rain garden. There is always a solution.

We’ve been hearing about climate change and sea level rise for a while now. As sea levels rise so do the water tables on coastal properties, that’s common sense. How about those of us who live inland, are our water tables rising?  You would think so if the past few years are any indication. Colder wetter springs, heavier rain storms, permanent or temporary, is anyone’s guess. Bottom line is as long as Evapotranspiration isn’t happening the water is in the ground and looking for the path of least resistance.

Grenco can advise you if have any of the above issues. Call us 401-295-9119 or email [email protected] for more information.

It seems pretty simple, go to the store, grab a pack of that super-duper double ply toilet tissue that you’ve been using forever, and put it in the bathroom. But wait…is there a toilet paper that works best in a septic system? Are there ‘best practices’ to flushing your toilet paper away?  Let’s take a look!

So the first question is: Should you be concerned about putting toilet paper into your septic system? In a nutshell: NO. Toilet paper is made to be flushed and there is not evidence that septic systems have a hard time filtering out regular toilet paper. Flush your favorite toilet paper without a care as long as you don’t try to flush too much all at once. If you are still worried about harm to the system, there are a few things to consider.

• While some people think that recycled toilet paper might be a good option and be better for the tank and system, there is a scant evidence to support this thought. The greatest benefit from using recycled toilet paper is that it is better for the environment.
• Disintegrating toilet paper might be a great option if you are overly worried about damage. This type of paper disintegrates when it touches water and will be gone in a few seconds.
• Stop wasting paper by using big wads and only use a minimal amount folded in half. This will help to make sure that a large amount is not being flushed all at once.  

We know we say it a lot…but it is the truth. Pumping and regular maintenance of your septic system i s the best way to keep it functioning for years to come. Grenco wants all of the systems we install to last for years and be a worry-free part of your home.

We’ve all seen the ads on TV or read them in magazines: Use Rid-X (or other brand of additive) to add bacteria and enzymes to your septic system. You might be tempted to try it.

Maybe you already have. The evidence that these types of products deliver what they promise is not very conclusive and we can hear you asking: Do these additives really work?

In a nutshell….NO. In our opinion, we think it might be better to save your money for other septic maintenance and quite (literally) you’d be flushing money down the toilet anyway!

These companies can use words and claims that make people think that by using these products they can avoid the trouble and expense of pumping or other basic septic maintenance. This assumption is wrong! There is no product that will help get rid of sludge, only removal by a vacuum truck!

The waste that is flushed into a septic systems contains millions and millions of bacteria that thrive in the environment that is a properly working system. While the packaging may promise to add bacteria for a ‘good balance’, the truth is, there is new bacteria added each time you flush.

The best way to keep your system in good working order is to not avoid maintenance and to be vigilant in making sure that nothing goes into the system that shouldn’t (feminine hygiene products, oils and grease, paper towels, food scraps, etc..).  Also, be mindful that you are not using excessive amounts of bleach or other cleaning products that kill the bacteria in the system.

The good news is that if you have used additives, you probably didn’t do any harm to your system, but we cannot reiterate enough that you don’t need these types of products to have your septic system in good working order. Save your money and know that each time you and your family go, you are adding some ‘free’ bacteria to your system.

Grenco is here to help with septic system installations in Rhode Island. Call now for information on starting your project in the Spring.