Aerobic Septic System Installation, Maintenance, and Repairs

Residential Septic Services

The technicians at Environmental Construction Services are experts in extending the life of your aerobic septic system with proper septic maintenance and superior septic products.

Our philosophy is: superior parts and maintanence prevent high cost emergencies and replacements.

We go the extra mile to make you and your family feel confident that your aerobic septic system has been properly installed by our T.C.E.Q. licensed expert technicians and will function properly for a long time so you don't have to worry about any septic tank problems and emergencies.

That is why we take pride in our work, and it definitely shows. Just ask any of our customers in our large service area.

• We do our best to avoid any high cost replacement for you and your family. That is why we focus on proper septic maintanence and avoid using cheap septic parts that wear down and break easily like the ones some of our competitors install.

• We service and repair your current system to make sure it will run properly for a long time. Or if you are at a new residence, we will design and install a new septic system for your residence.

Commercial Septic Services

Keeping your business fully functioning is our number one priority.

We are committed to ensuring your system is healthy so that your business can continue to grow and run smoothly.

We have serviced:

• Elementary Schools
• Parks
• Construction Sites
• Local Businesses

From septic systems installation to septic tank maintenance, whether you own a grocery store, office building or restaurant, Environmental Construction Services can handle all of your business' septic needs.

"Nothing is worst than the smell of sewage coming out of the sprinklers every morning because of a problem with our septic tank. We kept putting it off, but enough was enough. Couldn't take that smell anymore. So Environmental Construction Services sent out a tech, Daniel, within the hour that I called and he took a look at it. Wham, bam, fixed, just like that, and no more terrible smell coming out of our sprinklers."

-Michael Bowen, Brazoria County, TX

Aerobic Septic System Tips We Give Our Customers

Septic System, Do These!

• Remove or prevent trees with large root systems growing near the drip field, unless you use a drip field.
• Run water regularly in drains that aren't used that often such as sinks, bath tubs, showers, etc. to avoid poisonous gases from collecting inside.
• Use water-conserving devices when ever possible. For example, low flush toilets and showerheads are commonly available at Home Depot or many other hardware stores.
• Make sure to spread your laundry work over the course of the week instead of doing many loads on a single day.
• Check your interceptor drain often to ensure that it is free flowing.
• Record the location of the main septic parts of your system for reference for future septic maintenance (i.e. septic pumping service or septic field repairs).
• Maintain a record of septic pumping service and septic maintenance.
• Check any septic pumps, septic siphons, or other parts that move in your system often.
• Schedule septic pumping service regularly.
• Keep any and all surface water from an upslope or from roof drains far away from the drip field or drip field, depending on which one you have installed.
• Have a manually cleaned lint trap on your washing machine.

Acceptable Products For Septic Systems Safety

Environmental Construction Services suggests the following detergents, cleaners and toilet paper for use in your Septic Systems:

Septic System Safe Dish Detergents

We recommend using dish detergents that are concentrated, low-sudsing, have low-phosphate, and are bio-degradable. Also make sure they are LIQUID detergents:

• Oxydol
• Cheer
• Seventh Generation

• Boraxo
• Equator
• Arm & Hammer

• Amway S-A-8
• Dash
• Fresh Start

Septic Tank Safe Laundry Detergents:

• Planet Delicate Laundry Wash
• Mountain Green Ultra Laundry Liquid
• Oxy Prime Laundry Detergent
• Healthy Living Fresh Laundry Concentrate
• Country Save Laundry Products
• Ecover Ultra Washing Powder
• Restore Laundry Detergent

• Cal Ben Seafoam Laundry Soap
• Earth Friendly Laundry Products
• Seventh Generation Laundry Powder
• Planet Ultra Liquid or Powdered Laundry Detergent
• Bi-O-Kleen Laundry Powder
• Ecover Wool Wash Laundry Liquid
• Naturally Yours Laundry Detergent

• Sodasan Soap Washing Powder
• Charlie's Soap Laundry Detergent
• All Free and Clear Liquid Laundry Detergent
• Mrs. Meyers Laundry Detergent
• Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds
• Ecover Liquid Laundry Wash
• Seventh Generation Laundry Liquid

Toilet Paper

Environmental Construction Services suggests that you use single ply toilet paper for your bathroom use. It breaks down in your septic tank quicker and easier compared to a high ply count toilet paper.

• Northern
• White Cloud
• Cottenelle

Cleaning products We Recommend:

Environmental Construction Services recommends using non-ammonia, non-chlorine, non-toxic, non-antibacterial and bio-degradable cleaning products. Most all-natural cleaners are septic safe. Vinegar and lemons in water is a great cleaning agent!

Aerobic Septic System, Don't Do These!

• Don't use a garbage disposal too often. Chopped up food particles does not break down in the septic tank and can make its way out into your drip field lines which can cause clogs. Instead, use drain catchers and throw the food away in the garbage can.
• Check the system regularly. Don't wait until something breaks!
• Don't connect basement sump pumps to the on-site septic tank.(if you have a basement)
• Don't let vast quanities of chemicals, fats, or solvents to enter septic systems. If you cook with butter or oils, wipe the dish or skillet with a paper towel before you clean it in the sink to remove the bulk of the fat and oils.
• Don't allow cars,trucks or heavy equipment to drive over or remain on the drip field or drip field, depending on which one you have. This can demolish your septic pipes and cause severe problems!
• Don't overload septic systems with high volumes of water or any other liquid.
• Don't allow any plastics to enter.
• Don't allow vegetation, other than grass, to grow over the drip field. And don't lay asphalt, concerete or stone over the septic tank or drip field. Doing so makes it impossible to get to the septic tank for proper septic maintenance.
• Don't put in a separate pipe to carry wash waters to a side ditch or woods. These greywaters also contain disease carrying microbes.
• Don't connect backwash from water treatment devices directly to the on-site septic line without professional advice.

Do Not Flush These!

To best maintain septic systems, make sure that you do not flush anything other than human waste and toilet paper. See the above section for what toilet papers are acceptable for septic systems.

Some items, like baby wipes or cat litter, may be marked as septic safe...do not flush them!

The reason it is not good to flush anything other than human waste and toilet paper is because it does not break down in the septic tank correctly. So then the waste just sits, clogs and eventually breaks the septic pipe.

The Do Not EVER Flush List

• Waste Oils
• Thinners
• Disposable Diapers
• Kitty Litter
• Sanitary Napkins
• Other Chemical Wastes
• Coffee Grounds
• Paints
• Plastic Materials

• Tissues
• Pesticides
• Fats, Grease & Oils
• Backwash Water from Water Softeners
• Photographs
• Ink
• Cigarettes
• Pills & Unused Medication
• Poisons

• Varnishes
• Condoms
• Cloth
• Sump Pump Discharge
• Disinfectants
• Tampons
• Paper Towels
• Dental Floss

Nasty Odors

Sewage or other nasty odors that appear from outside your house is an indication that your septic tank may be overfull and will need to make an appointment for a septic pumping service.

A vent pipe may also be installed to help release smelly odors from your septic tank or sprinlers, but this is usually not a proper fix compared to a septic pumping.

Sometimes unused drains can have a build up of noxious gases and cause odors.

If you have a shower in a bathroom that doesn't get used often then you may notice that sometimes there is an odor that comes from that area. Running the water regularly in those drains will help keep those odors from occuring.

Toilets and Slow Drains

As stated previously, garbage disposals are only okay to use in moderation. Otherwise they are not very compatible with septic systems because chopped up food bits from the garbage disposal go into the septic tank and do not completely decompose before they reach the drip lines. Thus, heavy usage can cause sludge build up.

The result is that the drip field can become clogged with food and cause a back-up and fail all together.

However, installing a filter is a good way to aid in the prevention from this becoming an issue.

Filters are placed on the outlet line of your septic tank and prevent hair, food, grime, etc, from entering into your drip field lines and causing failures in your system.