218-739-4320 
naturescallseptic@gmail.com
Frequently Asked Questions
We recommend septic tanks be pumped every two to three years. This interval is designed to maximize the life of your drainage system. Keep in mind, it is much cheaper to pay for routine maintenance than for a new drainage system, not to mention the damage that will be done to your yard if you must have it replaced.
Go down to your basement and find where the main drain exits through the foundation (it will generally be a four-inch cast-iron or PVC pipe). Go outside and measure 11’ out from the foundation of your home in the spot the pipe goes through the wall. Generally, your inlet cover will be located here about 6″ to 2′ underground.
If you cannot find your tank using the technique mentioned above, our technicians can try to locate it for you with probes & shovels they carry on the trucks, for a nominal fee.
The crusting is organic material that has congealed into a solid mass. This condition may indicate a bacterial deficiency. Your tank needs pumping.
When they are functioning normally septic systems have no smell. If you have any bathrooms, sinks, or drains that you do not generally use, try running water through all of them to fill up empty P-traps. If that does not solve the problem, check your vent stack (the little pipe going through your roof) to see if there is a clog.
It should be close to the top, but not coming out the lid. You should be able to see the complete inlet or outlet pipe at, or above the liquid level, but it should be near the top. If the level is over the inlet or outlet pipes, then you have a drainage problem and you should call us.
Probably the most important part of the whole septic system. If it is missing or damaged, you must have it replaced. The outlet baffle protects the drain field from getting clogged up with the solids in the septic tank. Without it your drain field will fail, leading to an expensive repair.
All filters require regular cleaning to work effectively. Homeowners can clean the effluent filter screen themselves or hire a licensed Maintainer (pumper) to do the job, for a nominal fee. Keep in mind that effluent screens may need to be maintained more often than the septic tank. Cleaning the screen only when you have your tank pumped may result in a plugged screen.
Typical signs of system failure are sluggish drains, plumbing backups, gurgling sounds in your pipes, outdoor odor, and mushy ground around the septic system.
Before assuming your tank is full, first check to make sure your lift pump is working – if your system has one. Locate the breaker, if it is off, reset. Next check your ground fault electrical outlet at the power post, if it is off, reset. Lastly try the pump with an alternate electrical outlet (may require an extension cord). If these fail to turn the pump on, your pump could be burnt out and need replacing. We have lift station pumps on hand should you want us to replace it. Please call the office to discuss your options.
YES! Do not put items down drains that may clog septic tanks such as fats, grease, coffee grounds, disposable wipes, paper towels, sanitary napkins, condoms, tampons, or diapers. Do not put toxic substances such as solvents, degreasers, acids, oils, paints, disinfectants, and pesticides in drains. Normal household cleaning chemicals, when used in moderation, should not affect the system.
Absolutely NOT! On an almost weekly basis we are called to pump out septic tanks that are clogged and overflowing into the customer's home. Many times the issue is because baby wipes or "flushable wipes" have been flushed down the toilet. One or two wipes will not cause a major problem but when it's dozens, or hundreds of them over months or years, it will clog your system up and cause backups and potential damage to the system. When we encounter this type of mes,s we usually have to charge extra because it takes extra time to clean them up and can damage the pumps on our trucks. If you're going to use "flushable wipes" please throw them in the garbage, not your septic system.
Tank covers deteriorate over time and eventually break. They can be replaced with new concrete covers or a plastic riser cover. Please call the office to discuss your options.
Unfortunately, your septic system was not designed to handle large quantities of water from a hot tub. Emptying hot tub water into your septic system can overload the system causing agitation of the solids in the tank and add excess flow out to the drain field, causing it to clog and possibly fail.
We offer both. Depending on your circumstances we can set your account up to receive service on a regular schedule with no further action required on your part, or we will call and remind you when service is due on your system and you can decide when you would like it performed. We also send our residential customers reminder postcards to let you know when service is due.
According to many onsite professionals, a winter of cold temperatures and little snow cover can cause freezing of onsite systems. Even in a normal Minnesota winter, freezing can occasionally be a problem. Identifying and correcting a potential freezing problem is far easier than dealing with a frozen system. There are four common locations where systems can freeze: Pipe from house to tank; Septic tank and/or pump tank; Pipe to soil treatment area; Soil treatment area. It is important to determine where and why the system froze so corrective actions can be taken to avoid freezing in the future. A licensed onsite professional should be able to determine where the system froze if it is not obvious. Homeowners should also know where each component of the system is located to aid in problem solving and proper maintenance.
Consider pumping the tank if closing the cabin for the winter, or if it will only be used a few times during the winter. If you live in an area with a high water table, you should only pump out the tank if the tank was designed for high water table conditions. If a tank is left full but the system is not used for the winter months, the sewage will get very cold, and can even freeze. If the cabin is opened before temperatures in the soil start to rise, the effluent leaving the tank will be cold. By starting with an empty tank, you can then start fresh with warm effluent, which is desirable in the soil treatment area.
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