Tag: How to clean a cistern

Common Signs Your Septic Tank Needs Attention

Holding Tank Septic Tank Monitor Alarm
Posted on by parem_admin

Common Signs Your Septic Tank Needs Maintenance

First, what is a Septic Tank, and how do you know when it needs maintenance?

When you’re septic tank needs attention, you need to act fast with maintenance or repair to prevent costly, and stinky, problems. A septic tank is an underground, watertight container designed to treat and manage wastewater from homes or buildings that are not connected to a municipal sewer system. It serves as a critical component of a septic system, which safely processes and disposes of wastewater on-site.

A septic bed, also known as a leach field, drain field, or absorption field, is a critical part of a septic system that works in conjunction with the septic tank. It is an area of soil or gravel where the treated wastewater (effluent) from the septic tank is dispersed and naturally filtered before being absorbed into the ground.

Signs your Septic System Needs Maintenance

Keep reading to the end of the article to find out what to do about each of these problems.

Slow drains in home

Gurgling sounds from pipes

Foul odors around tanks or drains

Holding Tank Septic Tank Monitor Alarm

Standing water or soggy soil

Unusual grass growth

Frequent toilet backups

How does a Septic Tank Work?

Wastewater Flow

Wastewater from toilets, sinks, showers, and appliances flows into the septic tank. This includes both solid and liquid waste.

Separation of Solids and Liquids

Inside the tank, the waste separates into three layers:

Scum: Lighter materials (like oils and grease) float to the top.

Effluent: The liquid middle layer, which contains water and dissolved waste.

Sludge: Heavier solids sink to the bottom.

Natural Bacterial Breakdown

Bacteria in the tank break down organic material, reducing the volume of solids over time.

Effluent Discharge

The liquid effluent flows out of the tank into a drain field (or leach field), where it is naturally filtered and absorbed into the soil.

Solid Waste Accumulation

Over time, sludge and scum build up and must be pumped out regularly to maintain the system’s functionality.

Did you know…

You can monitor your septic tank levels and your holding tank levels, and get alarms to let you know if there’s a problem, before it’s a big problem?

  • low level alerts
  • high level alerts
  • history graphs
  • temperature tracking

How does a Septic Bed work?

Effluent Flow

After the septic tank separates solids from liquids, the liquid effluent flows into the septic bed through a network of perforated pipes.

Distribution of Wastewater

The pipes in the bed evenly distribute the effluent into a gravel-filled trench or a system of chambers.

Natural Filtration

As the effluent seeps into the surrounding soil, it is filtered by natural processes. Microorganisms in the soil break down any remaining organic material, pathogens, and nutrients.

Groundwater Protection

Once filtered, the clean water continues to percolate through the soil layers, eventually recharging the groundwater without harmful contaminants.

So now that you understand how the septic system works, let’s dig into common signs you’ll see when your septic tank needs attention, and how a monitoring system can help!

Lush, patchy, soggy grass around your septic bed is…. bad!

Because there is extra nitrogen and phosphorus that is naturally found in human and animal waste, when you start seeing lush, patchy, or soggy areas around your septic bed it could mean your septic system is failing.

Leach lines are commonly made of PVC pipe, and they’re placed into trenches filled with gravel and sand, which help treat the wastewater. The PVC pipes are drilled with small holes so the wastewater can drain out of the pipes and into the surrounding material.

Lush, patchy, and soggy grass around your septic bed may be signs your septic systems has problems.

Signs Your Septic Tank Needs Maintenance

Slow Drains in Your Home

Description: Water drains sluggishly in sinks, showers, or toilets.

Causes: A full tank or blockages in the system.

Monitoring Solution: A monitoring system can detect high levels before slow drainage becomes noticeable.

Gurgling Sounds from Pipes

Description: Unusual noises when water drains or the toilet flushes.

Causes: Air trapped in pipes due to clogs or rising levels in the tank.

Monitoring Solution: Alert systems can notify you of rising water levels.

Foul Odors Around the Tank or Drains

Description: Persistent sewage smells inside or outside your home.

Causes: Overflowing tank or leaks in the system.

Monitoring Solution: Monitoring can identify issues before odors develop. With a monitoring system like the PTLevel, you can view your levels anytime, view charts of the history of the levels, and even get SMS and email alerts if your level gets too high or too low.

Standing Water or Soggy Soil

Description: Water pooling near the drain field or septic tank.

Causes: Tank overflow or system failure.

Monitoring Solution: Early detection of high water levels helps prevent surface leaks

Lush, Unusual Grass Growth

Description: Areas of grass near the septic tank appear greener and grow faster.

Causes: Leaking tank releasing nutrients into the soil.

Monitoring Solution: Alerts for leaks or unusual water level changes.

Frequent Toilet Backups

Description: Toilets that don’t flush properly or back up regularly.

Causes: A full tank or clogged pipes.

Monitoring Solution: Real-time water level tracking prevents overflow situations.

Key Features of the PTLevel for Septic Tank Monitoring

WiFi Connectivity

Real-time Alerts: Receive instant notifications on your smartphone when the tank’s water levels are too high or too low.

Remote Access: Monitor your septic tank from anywhere, eliminating the need for physical inspections.

Cloud-Based Data Storage: Access historical data to analyze trends and spot patterns in water usage.

Long-Range Capabilities

Ideal for Remote Locations: Works well even when the septic tank is far from the main building, making it perfect for rural properties or farms.

Strong Signal Strength: Ensures reliable communication between the PTLevel device and your network, even in challenging environments.

Low Power Consumption

Long Battery Life: Operates for over two years on a single battery, reducing maintenance costs and hassle.

Sustainable and Cost-Effective: Lower energy usage supports environmentally friendly practices and keeps operating costs minimal.

Prevents Costly Overflows and Repairs

Early detection of rising water levels helps prevent backups and expensive system repairs.

Improves Maintenance Scheduling

Provides accurate data on tank usage, helping you schedule pump-outs at the right time.

User-Friendly Installation

Easy to set up without requiring professional assistance, saving both time and money.

Compatibility with Various Septic Systems

Works with different tank sizes and designs, making it versatile for homeowners, businesses, and farms.

PTLevel Septic Tank Monitor Holding Tank monitor
Holding Tank Septic Tank Monitor Alarm

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How to clean a cistern

Cement Cistern
Posted on by parem_admin

How to clean a cistern

Whether you have a plastic or cement cistern, rain water collection system, or other water tank; consistent and regular maintenance is important to maintain clean and safe water.  We highly recommend you consider hiring a professional to clean your tank. They often have experience and tools that are just unmatched by the DIY’er.  But if you’re up for the challenge, here are some frequently asked questions about how to clean a cistern to help you tackle the job yourself!

How to clean your cistern
Frequently asked questions on how to clean your cistern

Question: How often should a cistern be cleaned?

Answer: The quick answer is, you should be cleaning your cistern yearly. But there are a variety of factors that can affect the cleanliness of a cistern. Cisterns get “dirty” for several reasons such as hauled water vs rain water collection, different climates, and the material the cistern is made out of (cement vs plastic tank). Because of these reasons, cisterns will need to be cleaned more or less often.

Generally, if you only have water hauled to you and you are not collecting any water that isn’t already purified in some way, your cistern will need to be cleaned less often, likely every 2-3 years. This also depends on local contaminants and the material your cistern is made out of.

If you are collecting rain water, your cistern should be cleaned more often. Usually cleaning is recommended yearly but you may want to clean the cistern more frequently.

Different climates can also affect bacteria levels, sediments, and other water contaminants. Since there are too many climates to mention, it is best to do your own research on your climate to determine what contaminants may be affecting your water.

And finally, the material your cistern is made out of may also affect the frequency of a needed cistern cleaning. A cement cistern is porous, and will likely contribute to more sediment and sludge. A plastic tank will still need to be cleaned regularly and may be more prone to algae build up.

Always clean your cistern if the water starts to look, smell, or taste different.

Question: How do you clean a cistern?

Answer: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a written a great article on the subject. Please visit here for their maintenance advice on cisterns and other rain catchment systems.

Step 1. Remove all debris and water from the cistern as well as debris from water collection points (eg if you collect rain water, clean your eaves troughs). This step applies to all cisterns, wells, rain water collection systems, and other liquid tanks.

Step 2. For cement cisterns, scrub the inside of the cistern with a stiff brush and a solution of 1 cup of bleach mixed with 10 gallons of water. Since bleach isn’t recommended for plastic cisterns, contact the manufacturer of your plastic cistern, or read the instruction manual on what your manufacturer recommends. Be mindful of your air quality when you’re in a cistern! Breathing in fumes from chemicals can be dangerous, and sometimes even fatal. Always read and follow all instructions on the materials you are using.

Step 3. Rinse cistern with clean, safe water, and then drain. If you still smell bleach, rinse the tank once or twice more.

Step 4. Refill the cistern with clean, safe water.

When it doubt, reach out to a professional to have your cistern cleaned. Cistern cleaning professionals have the tools, experience, and knowledge to do a great job for you! They can often use a pressure washer, reducing the need for chemicals as well as use a wet vacuum to suck out all debris and sludge. The professionals will inspect your cistern for cracks and other defects. Go to Google Maps, and then type in “cistern cleaners near me” to find some local providers.

Question: Can I use bleach in my cistern?

Answer: If you have a cement cistern, bleach is often the recommended chemical to use for cleaning, and sometimes even maintaining clean water. You can do your own research on whether you feel like bleach is the right solution for you, but here are the recommended solutions:

For cleaning: 1 cup of bleach per 10 gallons of water
For maintenance: 1 tablespoon of 5%-8.25% liquid bleach for every 100 gallons of water

Bleach is not recommended for plastic cisterns or tanks.

Question: Do all cisterns need to be cleaned?

Answer: Yes. Cisterns are designed to hold standing water and whenever there is standing water there is opportunity for bacteria growth and dirt and debris to collect. Also, wildlife will often find a way to get into water systems which can create even more risk for bacteria growth and debris that you don’t want to drink or use.

We hope some of these questions and answers were helpful to you.  If you’re looking for a water level monitoring solution, please check out our products page here.

How often should I test the water in my cistern?

It is recommended that you test  the water in your cistern seasonally for routine monitoring. You should also test the water any time the water quality changes (for example if the water starts to look, smell, or taste different).

What tools do I need to clean my cistern?

You may want the following tools and equipment to make the process of cleaning your cistern easier. Ladder, rubber boots (or hip waders if you have them), pump, soft scrubbing brushes, pressure washer, wet/dry ShopVac, flat shovel, buckets, bleach or chlorine, and rubber gloves.

You may also want to consider having patches on-hand for this process (concrete patch/hydraulic cement for cement cisterns) . If you come across any cracks or leaks in your cistern, this will be a great time to repair those holes!

How do I calculate how much water is in my cistern?

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