Septic Safe Resolutions

septic safe solutions

Every new year, millions of people around the world set their sights towards the future with the intention to spark positive change. Though these resolutions are generally personal and pertain to a person’s well being or professional development, there are actually new year’s resolutions that are good for you and your septic system!

And boy, we’ve got a little something for everyone:

For The Conservationist

How much water your home uses varies depending on any number of things, including how many people live in your household, your daily water usage, and appliance efficiency, but, essentially, the typical single-family home averages nearly 8,000 gallons of water usage each month.

If you’re looking to be more mindful of your water usage in the new year we recommend starting small.

● Use the proper load size settings on your washing machine to avoid wasting water and energy.

● Avoid doing all household laundry in one day. Though it seems like a time saver, it doesn’t allow your septic system to enough time to treat waste.

● Only run your dishwasher when it’s full.

● Collect rain water to use for watering your plants.

For The Eco Friendly

Over 60 million people across the country rely on septic tanks to treat wastewater, and as one of those homeowners, we know you’ve wondered about septic tank additives.

As your resident septic safe experts, we highly recommend Just Flush. It’s an easy-to-use, super concentrated, all natural and non-toxic septic sludge and odor eliminator. This chemical free product works best when used monthly as a sort of booster shot for your system, and is available for purchase on our website or as part of our Septic Maintenance Program.

Another eco + septic system friendly practice? Composting. While your garbage disposal can handle a lot, there are various foods and food waste that require a different method of discard, lest you invite clogging, drainage issues, and unpleasant sink odor. Avoid the mess and stress by feeding your garden instead of your garbage disposal!

For The Prepared

Regular upkeep and maintenance not only protects your property, but your health and your wallet as well! By scheduling regular maintenance for your home or business septic system, you don’t have to worry about your septic system turning into a big, messy – and likely costly – mess.

Regular pumping, cleaning lateral lines when needed, adjusting flow equalization and removing debris are all part of keeping your septic system functioning at top efficiency, and with our Septic Maintenance Program, you get all of this and more!

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BBB Solutions: Halloween Edition

Halloween can be a scary time of year for maintaining septic systems, what with all the candy wrappers,
pumpkin guts, and seasonal decor winding its way through pipes, causing clogs and creating
backups. Save the scares for the trick-or-treaters and check out our list of top three things to not
flush this Halloween season.

Candy Wrappers

As you ready your household for trick or treating, make sure you talk to your kiddos about
proper candy wrapper disposal. Since candy wrappers don’t dissolve or break down easily, they
are better off in the trash than they would be clogging up your drain or polluting your water
treatment center.


Pumpkin Pulp

Garbage disposal making scary sounds? Pumpkin pulp may be your culprit. Slimy, stringy, and
sticky, this gunk might as well be made to clog up pipes and wreak havoc on garbage disposals.
Instead of sending your pumpkin carving leftovers down the drain, try adding it to your compost
or just dispose of it with the rest of your trash.

Costume Pieces / Decorations

That mummy costume is pretty spooky, but don’t go trying to flush all of that TP or you’ll be in for
a worse fright – the dreaded backed up toilet. This goes for abandoned costume pieces and
leftover Halloween decor, too, ghouls and gals.

For septic solutions or to join our maintenance program, contact us here.

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How To Properly Dispose Of Kitchen Grease

We know, we know. It’s so easy to just toss that hot, oily grease down the drain without a second thought, but oh man can it can really cost you in the long run. While the grease is likely still hot when you pour it down the drain, and therefore still in its liquid state, it won’t be once it’s nice and cooled down in your pipes. And this gunky, sticky solidified grease acts as a trap for other debris that goes down your drain, eventually creating a pretty nasty blockage that can wreak havoc on your entire septic system. In fact, and we kid you not, it once took a team of sewage workers not one, but THREE weeks to clear a 15 ton ball of grease that nearly led to a street filled sewage-fest. Yikes! Avoid the mess (and the giant ball of grease) with these tips:

First… Have You Considered Reusing Or Repurposing It?

For instance, instead of tossing that bacon fat leftover from cooking up breakfast, consider storing it and using it as a tasty flavor booster for other foods. You can add it into roasted vegetables, use it to fry up burgers, make it your new favorite base for homemade gravy, or keep it on hand to season your cast iron. The possibilities are endless… and endlessly tasty! And this doesn’t just apply to bacon. Be sure to look up other recipes that may be better suited for the grease you now have on hand.

If You Simply Must Be Rid Of It

  1. Let the grease cool. This will allow it to solidify, which brings us the next step…
  2. Transfer the solid grease into a vessel, such as a used bottle, plastic tub, or container. We recommend avoiding glass due it’s tendency to, ya know, shatter.
  3. Once your vessel is full, dispose of it with the rest of your trash.

Having septic issues or need guidance? We can help! Contact us here

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BBB Solutions: Septic Care Tips To Remember This Summer

Summer is a busy time of year between the grilling parties, get-togethers, and seasonal home projects – and not just for you, but your septic system too. Whether your septic system is for your residence or your business, you know it requires proper care and maintenance to keep it running smoothly, and with summer being such a lively season this is doubly true. In addition to
its regular care, here are three things to keep in mind to ensure optimal septic performance:

As Always, Be Wary What You’re Putting Down Your Pipes

While you might already know what your septic system can and can’t handle, your house guests might be a little less in the know. Before your guests start flushing harsh chemicals or other materials, make sure you give them a rundown of what can and can’t go into the septic tank.

Consider A Pre-Party Septic Pump

Planning a summer get-together? That’s great! Just be wary: more guests = more flushing. To get ahead of any issues, go ahead and plan out a pre-party pump out of your septic system.

Be Mindful When Landscaping

It’s the perfect time of year for landscaping, but make sure you’re being mindful of your septic tank’s location and proximity to what’s being planted as well as to any heavy equipment. After all, you don’t want roots getting into your system or for that heavy equipment to end up parked on your tank!

Ready to start your septic system design and installation process? Have questions? Give us a call at 479-225-9800 or contact us here.

BBB Solutions: Septic System Design and Installation

Designing and Installing Your Septic System: An Introduction 

When we start to plan a septic design, our team begins the process by meeting with you to develop a full understanding of your septic system design needs. This includes asking questions like: “What do you intend to build on the property?” and “How many bedrooms will there be in the home?”. 

From there, our team will conduct a soil test, commonly referred to as a “perc test”. The soil test will determine if the area is able to support a septic system absorption field (otherwise known as a lateral field or as leach lines). 

With these results, the BBB Septic team can design a proper system built to suit your property’s unique needs. This design is then submitted to the health department, which then issues a permit that allows us to move forward with the installation and maintenance of your system.

Onsite Wastewater FAQ

For your convenience, we also gathered a couple of commonly asked questions regarding onsite wastewater. To read the full FAQ, check out this post from the Arkansas Department of Health!

Q: What is the minimum lot size for a septic system? 

A: There is no minimum lot size. The space required for a sewage system is determined by the suitability of the soils at the site, the number of bedrooms in the home, and the 100 foot set back from the water wells.

Q: Why soil pit tests? 

A: The soil pits determine the depths to any rock, any impervious soil layers, and the anticipated level of ground water in the wet periods of the year. This information results in sewage system design that overcomes the soil’s limitations.

Ready to start your septic system design and installation process? Have questions? Give us a call at 479-225-9800 or contact us here.

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Extending The Life Of Your Septic System

Replacing a septic system can be quite costly, but with proper care and maintenance your system can last anywhere from fifteen to forty years. Here are a few tips to extend the life of your septic system and save you money in the long run:

1. Regular Maintenance

Once a septic system is installed, it requires regular care and maintenance to keep it working to its best potential. Regular pumping, cleaning lateral lines, and removing debris are all part of keeping your septic system functioning at top efficiency. A poorly maintained septic system will quickly turn into a big, messy, and costly problem.

Learn about our septic maintenance program here. 

2. Conserve Water 

Overuse of water in your home can lead to an overloaded drain field or septic tank. This overuse can occur when running too many appliances at the same time or when you have a lot of visitors and your septic system doesn’t get any rest. For tips on how to better conserve water, check out our blog post on water efficiency. 

3. Know What Not To Flush 

Harsh chemicals, like bleach, can kill the healthy bacteria hard at work in your septic tank, so be sure to use septic-safe cleaners on your toilets and drains. When in doubt – don’t flush it – throw it in the trash or read the label to follow proper disposal procedures. 

Experiencing septic issues or have questions? Give us a call at 479-225-9800 or email us at info@bbbseptic.com

Signs Your Septic Tank Is Damaged Or Failing

A failing septic system is many a homeowners worst nightmare. In addition to costly repairs and replacements, septic system failures can cause serious and unpleasant damages. 

To avoid having to install a brand new septic system, we advise regular maintenance, as well as a general understanding of both the signs and causes of damage. 

Common Signs of Septic Damages or Failure 

Water Or Sewage Backing Up Into Your Home 

Water or sewage backing up from kitchen or bathroom drains are a sure indicator that there is a problem with your septic system, and can negatively impact both your home and health. 

Slow Bathroom Or Kitchen Drains 

When dealing with slow drains it may be tempting to turn to drain cleaners, but these harsh chemicals can further damage your septic system, particularly if there is an underlying issue. 

Bad Odors Inside Your Home Or Near Your Septic System

Smelling rotten eggs? It’s likely that you’re smelling septic gasses, and while this is not always a sign of failure it is certainly a sign that something is amiss with your system. 

Pooling Or Standing Water In Your Yard

Where there’s a smell there’s a source, and if you’re smelling septic odors a pool of water in your yard may be the culprit. Be sure to check near your septic drainfield for standing water and call a professional to find the source of the damage. 

BBB Septic Maintenance Program 

As with most systems, maintenance is key in avoiding future problems and damages. These preventative measures prolong the life of your system, protect your home, guard your health, and help to prevent septic failure. 

With the BBB Septic Maintenance Program, your septic care is automated and your system protected. As a preferred service member, you also receive a variety of perks that include regular maintenance checks and services, priority service, a 10% discount on repairs, regular septic pumping, and more. 

Learn more about our program here and please feel free to contact us at info@bbbseptic.com to request membership or additional details. 

BBB Septic It’s Cold Outside! Protecting Your Outdoor Fixtures & More

Whether you’re traveling for the holidays or staying close to home, you’ll want to make sure your outdoor fixtures are prepared for cold weather and freezing temps to avoid costly repairs. 

In fact, statistics show that cold weather related damage claims are actually pretty common. One in fifteen homes make a winter weather damage claim each year, and one in fifty five report plumbing related water damage from the same cause. 

Water damage from freezing or leaky pipes is not only rather common, it can get quite expensive! Why? Well, these sorts of issues can cause a lot of damage. When cold weather hits, broken pipes can break and freeze, and while you may not notice the damage right away you certainly will when warmer weather hits and your home starts spouting water in unwanted areas. 
As always, the prevention is better than the cure. Here are a few easy steps you can take as a home or business owner to ensure your outdoor fixtures and septic system are well taken care of during the colder months.

Outdoor Spigots 

  1. Close the shut off valve for your faucet. 
  2. Disconnect any attached hoses. 
  3. Open your faucet and let any remaining water drain. 

Hoses 

  1. Disconnect all outdoor hoses from outdoor faucets. 
  2. Disconnect hoses from each other (as applicable). 
  3. Drain all hoses. 
  4. Coil and store in a dry area. Ensure there are no pinches or kinks. 

Pro tip: If you accidentally left your hose outside in freezing temps, bring it to an indoor area such as a garage or shed, and let it thaw a bit before coiling and storing. This will help prevent any breaks or damages to your water hose. 

Septic System 

  1. Add a layer of insulation, such as mulch, over septic pipes, tank, and soil treatment area.
  2. Don’t leave water running to prevent freezing. 
  3. Fix any leaky plumbing to avoid freezing in pipes.

Septic Tank Additives: Yes or No?

You asked, we answered.

Over 60 million people across the country rely on septic tanks to treat wastewater. After all, they’re a great solution for property owners in suburban and rural areas that lack access to conventional sewer systems. 

If you’re one of those homeowners, we know you’ve wondered about septic tank additives – it’s one of our most frequently asked questions! 

The short answer is this: Yes, our team recommends responsible use of approved additives, but let’s break that down a bit more.

Why use additives?

While septic tanks were designed to work without additives, the items we use every day often harm its natural processes.

Septic tanks use good, living bacteria to break down solids that have gone down your drains, but products like hand soap, laundry detergent, fabric softener, bleach, and other household cleaners with antibacterial properties kill off that bacteria, making them good for your household but bad for your septic tank. 

The BBB Solution: Just Flush. 

There are many choices when it comes to additives, but don’t feel overwhelmed. Our team has conducted extensive testing over the years and we highly recommend Just Flush, an easy-to-use, super concentrated, all natural septic sludge and odor eliminator. This no chemical, non-toxic product works best when used monthly as a sort of booster shot for your system, and is available for purchase on our website or at no cost as part of our Septic Maintenance Program. 

Remember, nothing beats a regular maintenance schedule.

Additives are a great way to support your tank, but the best way to ensure your septic system runs smoothly is proper, regularly scheduled maintenance. 

Questions? Give us a call at (479) 225-9800 or fill out our contact form. 

BBB Solutions: How To Avoid Costly Damages From Cleaning Wipes

Are your COVID-19 cleaning habits damaging your household?

Whether it’s in an effort to decrease possible COVID-19 exposure or a result of more Arkansans staying home, everyone has certainly been cleaning quite a bit more than usual. Disinfectants are flying off the shelves, going into homes, and then… into your septic system??

That’s right! Anything you flush or wash down the drain goes into your septic system, making proper usage and disposal of cleaning products a vital part of caring for your household. 

Consequences of improper disposal. 

According to one recent study, while 44% of Americans are using disinfectants more frequently at home due to COVID-19, only 58% are following the usage instructions on the label. 

via GIPHY

It’s important to read the labels on your cleaning products, because while some products are safe to go down the drain, disinfectant wipes (and even baby wipes!) are among the few that are not safe to flush – even if the label claims that they are flushable! After all, flushable doesn’t mean they are pumpable. 

Our team has seen quite an increase in septic issues as of late, with wipes being the main culprits. Check out this story from just the other day: 

“We went to pump out the septic tank at a farmhouse and couldn’t even complete the job because of all the wipes in the tank. What should have been a routine service has turned into quite an ordeal. Now we have to bring in an excavator, dig up the tank, pull off the concrete, attempt to dig out the wipes with equipment, and survey for permanent damages. I think most people don’t know wipes aren’t intended for flushing, and that fixes like this can get pretty pricey… upwards of $1,200 to start!” – Jon, BBB Septic Owner 

Here’s what to remember when it comes to cleaning wipes. 

Unfortunately for us all, “flushable” or “biodegradable” doesn’t mean cleaning wipes are septic safe, as these terms are generally not strictly regulated. Wipes are too thick to move through your septic system, and if your cleaning habits have increased they can clump together, causing clogging and other costly damages that will require a septic repair service. 

All that said, the safest method of disposal? A good old reliable trash can. 

Experiencing septic issues? Give us a call at 479-225-9800 or email us at info@bbbseptic.com.

For CDC COVID-19 cleaning guidance, click here.