FAQs

Hartland Septic

Have a septic, trucking, or excavation-related question? We have the answer. Check out these FAQs and give us a call today for more information!

  • Do I have a septic tank?

    If you live in a rural area or outside city limits, your property most likely has a septic system. If you do not receive a monthly municipal sewer bill, you rely on a local system that requires routine maintenance from experienced septic cleaners in Fenton, MI to operate safely.

  • How does my septic system work?

    A septic system has four main components: a pipe from your home, a septic tank, a drainfield, and the surrounding soil.

    Wastewater from your toilets, showers, kitchen, and laundry flows through the main pipe into your tank, where heavy solids settle at the bottom. The liquid effluent then passes to the drainfield, where beneficial soil microbes remove contaminants before the water reaches local groundwater.

    Routine septic tank pumping in Fenton, MI keeps this balance stable and prevents solid waste from washing into your drainfield. Call us to schedule pumping!

  • What can I flush down my toilet?

    Despite marketing claims on packaging, non-biodegradable items like baby wipes, feminine hygiene products, dental floss, cotton swabs, cigarette butts, grease, and paper towels should never be flushed down your toilet. These items fail to break down organically and quickly clog your pipes.

    Additionally, harsh household chemicals, oils, paints, and pesticides should never enter your drains. Did you know, according to residential wastewater guidance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), toxic household chemicals can kill the beneficial bacteria inside your tank that digest human waste? This leads to system failure and requires emergency visits from septic cleaners in Fenton, MI.

  • How often should my tank be pumped?

    Depending on how many people live in your home and how large your tank is, our experts recommend scheduling septic tank pumping in Fenton, MI roughly every three years. If you have five people in your house and only have a 1,200-gallon tank, we find you may want to have it pumped more often, roughly every two years. If you live alone, you may be able to go about five years between pumping services.

    An easy way to tell if you need your tank pumped is by having risers installed on the tank for easy inspection access. All you would have to do is pop the top and see if solids and toilet paper have built up inside. If they have, give us a call!

  • Where is my tank located?

    We usually find that you can locate your septic tank access lid by probing the soil with a thin steel rod, starting about 10 feet out from where the main sewer pipe leaves your house, or by watching where snow melts first during light winter snowfalls. If you're having trouble finding it, our experienced team at Hartland Septic can help locate your lids quickly, or your local county health department may have original site maps on file before performing scheduled service with professional septic cleaners in Fenton, MI.

  • What are some warnings of septic system trouble?

    Several clear warning signs indicate your system needs immediate attention:

    - persistent sewage odors
    - standing water or wet spots over your drainfield
    - sluggish drains across multiple fixtures
    - gurgling sounds in your pipes
    - direct plumbing backups

    Contacting certified professionals for prompt septic tank pumping in Fenton, MI at the first sign of trouble helps prevent costly drainfield failure and extensive property damage.