In the video above, Joe from Bay State Septic Pumping and Waste Disposal in Lakeville, MA gives 6 money and time saving tips to prepare your septic system for the spring season. As Southeastern Massachusetts residents, from Taunton, Bridgewater, West Bridgewater, Dighton, Carver and Easton to Acushnet, Carver, Easton, Berkley, and Rochester, we all know how unpredictable spring weather can be. To prepare for this rainy and muddy season, there are several steps you can take to ensure your septic system is working properly.

1. Redirect any gutters from the home away from your septic covers, D box and leach field.  Pointing your gutters away from your septic system components will help avoid any ponding or pooling in your yard and will help prevent septic backups or long-term failure.
2. If you do notice ponding or pooling near your septic covers, D box or leach field, you may already have a septic system backup.  To prevent additional issues, it’s very important that you do not try to fix this problem on your own. We recommend that you contact an Accredited Better Business Bureau professional. 
3. If you smell foul odors similar to rotten eggs or sulfur, inside or outside your home, this is an indication that your septic system is backed up and needs a septic pumping, or there is another problem that is causing the odors. Like tip number 2, this is when you want to call a professional to diagnose the problem. The longer you wait, the worse the problem may get.
4. Locating and maintaining your septic system filter. Most filters are located on the outlet side of your septic system and there are several reasons why you want to make sure to maintain your septic filters properly.  Regular maintenance will eliminate scum, solid debris or carryover into your leach field, thus eliminating any backups or failure.  At Bay State Septic, we clean your filter for free when we pump your septic tank. We recommend that you clean or replace your septic filters every three to four months.  It’s free with a septic pumping and it is a small investment that can extend the life of your septic system.
5. Make sure that your septic covers are to grade (even with or slightly above the ground).  You want to make sure that your covers are also easily accessible, so remove any mud or obstructions from them.  The reason you want to make sure your septic covers are to grade and your system is accessible is to save time and money when your septic technician needs to access your system.  If a septic technician has to dig to locate and clear the area around your covers, there is typically a charge for the additional work.
6. If you suspect that any of your system components have been damaged, you definitely want to schedule an inspection. Not every septic company uses the newest technologies and best practices for inspecting a system. Bay State Septic Services and other industry professionals use state-of-the-art fiber optic cameras with video capabilities. This is the best way to make sure that the issue is properly diagnosed the first time and it’s also more cost-efficient.

If you spend a little extra time checking on and maintaining your septic system this spring, you may save yourself a lot of money, time and aggravation in the seasons to follow. Everybody wants to extend the life of their septic system because a new installation can cost upwards of $13,000.  If you are serious about saving money and extending the life of your system, definitely find a trusted and accredited BBB professional in your area and set up a maintenance plan with them.

A clogged drain can be a real nuisance. A clogged shower drain, for example, can slow down your morning routine and make you late for work. What’s even more frustrating is that it can be difficult to get to the root of the problem.

Bay State Sewage Technician Inspecting Drains with Fiber Optic Video Camera 

But when you have a clogged drain or pipe, not only is it important to unclog the problem, but also it’s equally as important to make sure the problem doesn’t continuously persist.

That’s why Massachusetts-based Bay State Sewage is offering our clients throughout Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts these helpful tips for identifying and solving their clogged drain issues.

What should I look for to know I have a clogged drain – Tips for MA and RI Homeowners

Throughout our experience serving our neighbors in Berkley, Middleboro, Taunton, Freetown, Bridgewater, West Bridgewater, Easton, Rochester, Carver, Acushnet, Myricks, Dighton, Plympton, Ranyham, Oakland, Halifax, Wareham, Marion, Mattapoisett, Ellisville, Bourne, and Sandwich, these are the typical signs we’ve noticed of a clogged drain:

• Water pools around the shower drain, then drains out slowly
• Water backs out of a sink drain
• Bubbles appear in the toilet when you run your sink
• Your sinks or bathtubs drain slowly
• Your drains gurgle, especially after running a washing machine or dishwasher
• You notice puddles of water near your sink or tub

What can home owners do if they have a clogged drain?

Before you settle on calling a plumbing expert like Bay State Sewage, there are some DIY tactics you can try. In the end, you might just have a hair or soap scum clog, which can easily be removed. Some tips to try on your own include:

1. Use a plunger on your affected drain(s). For your toilet, use a flange plunger, rather than a cup plunger
2. Try a bent wire to grab the object in the drain
3. Clean your drain’s stopper

While restaurants throughout MA and RI are unique in what they offer their customers, one commonality among these establishments is that they all rely on grease traps to keep their businesses running smoothly.

Grease traps – also known as grease interceptors – are located between restaurant drain lines and sanitary sewer lines and help to separate and collect fats, oils, and greases from used water. These traps help to prevent unwanted materials from entering the municipal sewer system.

As such, proper maintenance of your grease trap is critical. Often, you’ll experience problems with your grease trap if the levels of collected FOG (fats, oils, and greases) and solids are not monitored. Typical problems include drain line blockages and backups, foul odors or, if you’re extremely unlucky, too much FOG deposited into the city lines, which results in pretty hefty costs throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

How to maintain and clean out your grease trap – tips for MA restaurants

Local governments have ordinances requiring that your grease trap be pumped periodically, so be sure that you check with your town or city first. Aside from these mandatory pump-outs, however, you have other options when trying to clean your grease trap.

Bacteria additives to clean out your MA/RI grease trap

This approach may help you to reduce the necessity of pump-outs (which typically requires you to hire a professional). Grease trap bacteria reduce FOG by biologically breaking down and digesting all this waste. Not only does this potentially reduce your need for frequent pump-outs, but it also will likely help you control odors emitted by the grease trap.

Bacteria blocks

Another popular solution is the use of bacteria blocks. These blocks are suspended from a rope and submerged into the grease trap. Depending on the size of the block and trap, these blocks may last up to a month at a time.

Automatic injection pumps

Yet another solution we see used in our clients throughout Southeastern Massachusetts is the use of automatic injection pumps that automatically pump bacteria into the grease trap at predetermined intervals. This results in a virtually maintenance-free treatment.

What to remember about grease trap maintenance in MA

As we mentioned earlier, it’s important to know the rules and regulations of your local municipality, in terms of the frequency of required pump-outs. Here at Bay State Sewage, we can help you determine what rules you must follow as a local restaurant owner.

You should also keep records of when maintenance procedures are performed (including pump-outs, clean outs, when bacteria is added, etc.) to protect your business.

We also encourage you to tell your staff to not just rinse everything down the drain. Solids and other waste should be thrown into the trash whenever possible. We also suggest you never hot-rinse the drains and trap, because this can prevent grease from cooling in the trap.

Do you need support in maintaining or cleaning your grease trap? Bay State Sewage can help!

Bay State Sewage is the leading provider of maintenance and support for restaurants located in Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, Dighton, Mattapoisett, Taunton, Berkley, Freetown, Easton, Middleboro, Acushnet and all of Southeastern MA. Our team of grease trap experts can help ensure you abide by all local laws and will help you prolong the effectiveness and lifespan of your grease trap.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your restaurant remain optimally operational all year long.