Q. The city is requiring me to locate my septic system before I extend my deck or add on to my house.  How can I find my system and its components?
A. Speedy Septic Service uses an electronic locater and a locater snake to find the tank, distribution boxes and trenches. We mark components with stakes or marking paint and can fax a system sketch directly to the proper city official if needed. Speedy keeps records on file for future use.

Q. My septic tank is too deep to dig by hand.  Do I have to pay for a backhoe to tear up my yard?
A. No. Speedy uses a mini excavator to dig components that are over 2.5 feet deep. Its light weight, rubber tracks and size make it the perfect tool for the job. When the work is completed, our technicians rake and seed the disturbed area.

Q. Do septic tank additives really work?
A. Additives are no substitute for proper maintenance and proper use of your system.  Many additives on the market do little to aid in the breakdown of solids, and some may even hinder the natural bacteria in a septic system. Check out our Additive or Not To Additive Page here for more information.

Q. Why does the water back up in other drains whenever I wash my clothes?
A. Typically if your drains are slow or not draining, you have a blockage in the system somewhere. Speedy will have a qualified technician assess where the clog is and what needs to be done to clear it.

Q. The ground over my drain field is so soggy I’m unable to mow the grass. What would you recommend?
A. This is the sign of a glazed leach field.  Leach fields do not become clogged overnight.  It usually takes a few years of gradual build-up of undigested wastes or tree roots growing into the leach field.  In serious cases of exceeding design capacity of septic tanks/drain fields, as well as not being pumped out on a regular basis, the solids and grease can begin to flow through the leach field lines to clog the soil. We have created a leach field anatomy video here, for a better idea of what to look for.

Q.We never had our septic tank pumped out until last year. About 10 months later it needed pumping again, now it has been 5 or 6 months and I am having problems. The last time it was pumped, it was mostly water. What has happened?
A. Your leach field may be clogged and has stopped accepting water. You should begin conserving water immediately and call Speedy Septic 503.822.6008 to diagnose the problem.

Q. What is considered “Regular Maintenance”?
A. Recommended “Regular Maintenance” is a once every three to four year pump out of the septic tank and an inspection of the inlet and outlet “T” (baffle), to assure that the solids settle in lieu of traveling across the surface and straight out into the drain field. These “T’s” do break down over time and will then allow solids to migrate into the drain field thus clogging it. Clogging of the drain field could go undetected if regular maintenance is not preformed. For more maintenance information go to our proper maintanence page.