Beginners Guide

Your aerobic septic system was installed according to drawings that were configured by a Professional Engineer or Registered Sanitarian due to the type of soil you have. North Texas has a lot of rock and Type IV soil which is mostly clay. Texas changed the laws on conventional septic systems with lateral lines in Type IV soil back in the 1990’s.

Certain districts require homeowners to maintain an inspection or maintenance policy on their aerobic septic system. See city overview for more information

We come out 3 times a year, or about once every 4 months roughly. We check the aerator, filters, pumps, chlorine, electricity, sprinklers, and the vegetation around the sprinklers. We leave you a note explaining what we found and let you know if you need to have any part of the system repaired. We don’t actually make any repairs during the inspection (except if you have the PLATINUM service plan) unless you request service at that time. We report all results to your local regulation agency (City, County, DOD, etc.). We are fully licensed ellis county septic maintenance provider

You can reach our Service Department at 214-325-8028, until 5pm Monday through Friday. We are closed weekends and holidays. In most cases, we can quickly give you a quote over the phone as to how much it will cost to fix or replace any part of your system. We have researched many parts suppliers for the best deals and because of our company’s size we can buy in bulk in most cases in order to give you a low quote on any replacement part. Service calls are $95 per hour (minimum 1 hour) plus parts and payment is due upon service. We take cash, checks, Zelle, PayPal, and credit/debit cards.

You can reach our Service Department at 214-325-8028, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. In most cases, we can quickly give you a quote over the phone as to how much it will cost to fix or replace any part of your system. We have researched many parts suppliers for the best deals and because of our company’s size we can buy in bulk in most cases in order to give you a low quote on any replacement part. For most service calls, a minimum fee is charged plus parts and other labor charges per hour.

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NOTE:  Payment is due upon completion of services. We take cash, checks and credit/debit cards.

If your alarm goes off, flip the mute switch. If it’s the aerator, there is no immediate emergency, but it will need to be repaired soon. If it is the high water alarm (HWA) your water pump is configured so that when the alarm goes off, there is a 200+ gallon reserve left in the tank. Call or text to let us know and we can call you back the next business day. If the worst case scenario happens – your plumbing backs up – you have a few options. If you look in the clean outs in between the tanks and the house and there is no water in them, you have a plumbing problem, not a septic problem, and you will need to call a plumber. If the clean outs are full of water, you have a septic problem and you will need to call us and possibly also have your tanks pumped out. If any other problems happen such as the aerator stops working, your sprinkler head breaks off, or you notice a smell, these things can be repaired within the week without causing permanent damage to the system.

Your aerobic septic system is a wastewater treatment plant with three sections/tanks. The first two tanks need bacteria to function, while the water in the last tank needs chlorination to kill the bacteria before it is pumped to the sprinklers. The first is the anaerobic section for breakdown of solids. Next is the chamber that air is pumped into. Here is the aerobic bacteria where the breakdown of solids is much faster than the first tank. Before the water gets to the last tank, it goes through the chlorinator, which kills waterborne diseases. Chlorine doesn’t stop bad odors, although some incorrectly claim that it does. From there the water is pumped to the sprinklers or in some cases, the drip lines. All 3 tanks need to be pumped every 2 or 3 years depending on usage. Pumping every 2 years will extend the life of your water pump. The total capacity of the average system is around 1,500+ gallons. After the tanks are pumped, due to the large capacity, you will not see your sprinklers go off for 4 to 7 days. If the tanks are not pumped regularly, solids will eventually flow into the last tank and clog the water pump, voiding any warranty or Platinum coverage and causing a costly repair.

Bleach, anti-bacterial soap, certain medications taken internally (antibiotics, anti-fungal, etc.), ivermectin, horse dewormer, hydroxychloroquine, flea dip, and chlorine are things that can kill bacteria. Moderate/minimal usage, when possible, is advised. If you notice a constant bad smell, check your usage of the above products and make sure you always have the proper chlorine in the correct tube. This is often the problem.

Do not flush or put THESE into the system:

• feminine napkins

• tampons

• “flushable” wipes

• paper towels

• diapers

• condoms

• cigarettes

• coffee grinds

• nut shells

• (anything nonbiodegradable)

• grease

• oil

• old medications

• harsh chemicals

• paint

• cleaners

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Your system processes 150 to 500 gallons per day. If the bacteria in your first two tanks have been killed, if you use less than 150 gallons or more than 500 gallons daily, you may have issues.

Your system has either a tube for tablets or a liquid chlorinator for liquid bleach. We can add tablets or liquid bleach for customers at the Gold or Platinum levels. It is up to you to check and make sure that you have chlorine in between our tri-yearly inspections. We also sell chlorine tablets in 10 pound buckets for $65.00 delivered if you prefer to buy your own.

If you choose to buy tablets, you must always have approved septic chlorine tablets in the correct feeder tube. Pool chlorine tablets are not designed to dissolve fast enough to kill septic bacteria (the amount of bacteria found in sewage is obviously much higher than bacteria in a swimming pool). The state and Federal EPA regulations do not allow pool chlorine to be used due to the fact that it does not properly disinfect, is harmful to the environment, and can cause a dangerous explosion when combined with certain organic material that is often found in residential sewage. The warranty on the water pump does not provide coverage if pool tablets are being used. If you would like to sign up for our chlorine service, circle the Gold or Platinum level of service on your policy.

This is called an “aerobic” septic because air is constantly being pumped into the system by an aerator (depending on your system, it is under a green, gray, or concrete lid usually by the house). The air pump, under the square box usually near the house, should never stop running. If there is no motor running, call us. When there is no air going into the system, aerobic bacteria dies. This leads to a definite odor and a sludge build up in the tanks. This can cause air and water lines to clog and an overflow of solids to the pump tank, which can damage the water pump. No part of the system should ever be turned off. Turning off the system for more than 24 hours will void any warranties and any Platinum service coverage. If the red light or alarm goes off, find the mute switch, then call us. The warranty on the aerator does not provide coverage for water, chemical, ant, or rodent damage. We recommend putting out dry detergent around the air pump to deter the ants. It is also good to protect your system from rabbits, mice and rats. Rodents can eat through wires.

First, make sure the aerator and system are turned on and always running. Most importantly, make sure you have the proper chlorine in your feeder tube at all times. Also, you must always have an inspection policy on your system. If you do not the county/city/TCEQ may fine you. Our basic inspection policy, including 3 inspections, is $175 for 1 year and $300 for 2 years. Mowing around the sprinklers helps for better surface distribution.

Be careful not to run over and break the sprinklers or the lids that cover the tanks. Do not cover up the access lid or plant anything on top of your tanks. Do not allow grass or mud or any foreign objects to flow into the last tank. Never drive anything heavier than your lawn mower over the tanks, they can cave in. Try to keep an eye on your sprinklers when they go off. If they ever look like that aren’t spraying as much as they normally do, the filter could be clogged or the water pump could be going out. Depending on how you use and maintain your system, the filter on your water pump can clog. The average cleaning interval is 6 months, however it can be as little as 1 month or as long as 1-3 years. We can come out and clean all the filters during the inspections if you sign up for the GOLD or PLATINUM level of service.

When averaging what you will pay to maintain your septic after your warranty has expired, the average is $900 per year or $75 per month, which is less than what many pay for city sewer services. The difference is that it can come in larger amounts at one time due to mechanical failures. This includes averaging the cost of pumping at 2-3 year intervals, cost of the yearly policy, chlorine, and water and air pumps needing replacement every 2 to 4 years. We recommend putting back $80 per month for future septic costs.

Customers that choose our PLATINUM level of service do not need to worry about expensive pump replacement costs because we cover all repairs when the customer is maintaining proper usage, regular pumping and not damaging their system.

Call me, Lori, at 214.325.8028.

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All you have to do is read the contract Inspection Policy, You then have the option to call in, or pay one time online with PayPal to acestexas@gmail.com.

We will sign and fill out the rest of the contract and file it with the county and mail you back a signed copy for your records. You don't need to sign! 
That's all!

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Question?  Call me, Lori, at 214.325.8028.

We can offer discounts for extended contracts as well!