Home Improvements

Septic System

Post author:Diana Little
Post published:April 7, 2019
Post category:Septic Services

Septic tanks are a great way to manage your wastewater economically, Eco-friendly, and be completely independent of your sewage system. Septic tanks filter several hundred gallons of wastewater any given day per household. It’s important that there is a place for this water to go. It’s also important to have a system that removes, cleans, and filters it. From time to time, you will need to do septic maintenance on your septic tank. Septic maintenance will keep your system running efficiently and without problems. When a homeowner is unfamiliar with a septic system like I was, they may not know they need a septic professional to pump the tank or even that you need to clean the system. My neighbor informed me of the maintenance and glad he did. Otherwise, I may have waited too long and had a septic problem occur or incurred additional fees due to it being too full.

Septic Care

A septic tank needs to be tended too when septic scum reaches three inches from the outlet device. You will know this when you have your septic tank inspected. Septic professionals can let you know the depth measurements when they check the levels. They also look for any odors or groundwater sewage contamination. This may be more of concern for tanks that have been neglected as well as older tanks. Cracks can occur in older tanks causing this kind of problem. It is rather rare but something to be aware of. Another thing your septic professional can measure is the sludge layer. This is the top layer in the tank. When it reaches about one foot from the outlet, your Septic System will require a pumping service.

Septic Inspections

Having a septic come out to inspect your septic tank is important. It should be done annually to catch any problems before it’s a big problem. Septic inspections will catch full tanks, maintenance needs, and system failures. If they find your septic tank is full or has a septic tank failure, your septic professional will recommend septic tank pumping. Your septic tank technician will know your septic tank is failing if he sees any warning signs from a septic tank backup, slow draining fixtures, or gurgling sounds from your system. Even lingering odors, surfacing sewage, and wet spots in the drain field area are signs of a septic system failure. It’s important to catch these signs before it can cause significant damage. Irrefutable damage is when solids reach the drain field. That drain field is toast at that point. No amount of septic pumping will fix that. Don’t neglect your septic system. It’s important part of your home, so don’t wait till it’s too late to fix it.

Fence Repair

Post author:Diana Little
Post published:March 27, 2019
Post category:Fences

Fence Repair

Nothing lasts forever in life. When you buy a brand new fence, one day the cost to repair won’t make sense, and you will need to replace it with a new fence. Generally, you can get a minimum of ten to fifteen years out of a fence depending on the material your fence is made out of. There are many types of fencing materials.

So, when do you decide that you need a new fence versus a repair? If you are repairing your fence every other week, then it is definitely time. Taking a look at what you have spend over the year can give you an idea if you need too. Just inspecting your fence can give you a more realistic idea though if you know what your looking at. As a fence ages, it will start to wear. Boards will come loose over time along with it’s connections. You may observe your privacy fence to start to rot. Our Texas heat seems to be the perfect climate to set wood rot into action with the humid and hot temperatures. Cracking or broken fence boards are another thing that occurs with age.

Signs you may need a Fence Repair or Replacement

Missing Parts

As time goes on, you may notice nails, screws, and metal fasteners are missing. The fence panels are meant to remain connected and stay together to create one solid fence. When you start to have wood panels with holes, that means you will need a fence repair to prevent your fence panel from blowing with the wind or allowing your dog to sneak into the next yard.

Loose Connections

Loose connections occur most commonly with the changes of weather from cold to hot and hot to cold. What is actually occurring is the perfect storm for loose connections. The wood panel swells and contracts with hot weather. Combine this with our humidity, the moisture allows the fasteners like screws to lose their grip. There are other things that occur like rot and decay splits wood around the connections. Lastly, rust is of concern and another way to create a loose connections over the years of owning a fence. This is another sign you need a fence repair or replacement if concerning much of your fence.

Rotting Wood Panels

As discussed, our climate in Texas is known to enhance the wood rotting process with our summer heat, sunny days, and humidity. Add that with all the rain we get to allow plenty of opportunity for your fence to fail you and require a fence guy. Even the winter weather allows your fence a chance to start to rot. Once this process begins, there is no stopping it. You can slow the process with a sealant, but it is going to happen.

Broken Boards

Once your fence is ten to fifteen years old you will see damaged wood panels caused by heat, rain, and moisture. You may have tried to protect it with moisture repellents. Once moisture seeps into the pores of your wood fence, it will cause the wood to change. The wood will bend and bow and deforming from its original shape causing the fence to eventually crack, break and warp.

Is it time to replace or repair?

The integrity of your fence is so important for a healthy fence. There is no way to stop the age of a fence despite all attempts to increase the life of the fence. The important thing a home owner must decide is it time to replace or repair. The simple answer is this- is the repair too expensive that it makes more sense to replace? If your answer is yes, you need a new fence.