Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions we receive. Toggle each question for the appropriate answer.

What is a Conventional Septic System and how does it work?

A conventional Septic System consists of a Septic Tank or more typically standardized Septic Tanks with a drain field. The septic tanks are located in the ground near the house to provide primary treatment of the wastewater. Wastewater flows from the house into the tanks. The solid waste material settles from the water and falls to the bottom forming a layer of sludge. There grease and lighter materials form a scum layer on top of the wastewater. The clarified wastewater in the middle enters the drain field through a watertight pipe. The liquid then passes through a perforated pipe for absorption into the engineered river-rock bed trenching system and thence into the soil, as well evaporated into the atmosphere.

What is an Aerobic System, Aerobic Treatment System, or ATS , and how does it work?

Waste water flows from the edifice structure or house into the pretreatment Rubbish Chambre. The waste is septic at this pointe as the material is anaerobic at this stage of the journey. The wastewater then filtre transfers into the aeration chambre where the liquid is aspirated, thus the sewage is aerated; churning into a frothy mixture. From that stage of transformation it enters the clarifier chambre where the clear odorless effluent rises and passes through the chlorinator chambre for disinfection. The disinfected wastewater remains in the end stage effluent discharge chambre until a predetermined and engineered wastewater level erects a floating device that stimulates an on/off switch for the hydraulic discharge to above ground methodically calculated and hydraulically activated spray heads.

How often should I have the Septic System cleaned?

Every year to two years.

My Conventional Septic System is leaking above ground. What is wrong, and what should I do?

Lateral line/drain field failure no doubt. ring a professional. Ring Harrington Environmental Services, naturally.

How long should an aerator last? How long should a discharge pump last?

With proper maintenance, three to five years.

My alarm is sounding, or "going off" on my Aerobic Syustem, what is wrong? What should I do?

A) The alarm may be the high water alarm sounding, indicating a problem in the final chambre. It may be a problem with the effluent pump, its switching device, wiring, or perhaps the aerator.

B) The alarm may be the aeration chamber alarm sounding. This indicates a problem with the aerator. It may be the effluent pump discharge chambre. It may be a wiring issue or malfunction.

There are a treacherous minefield of possible maladies that may be the culprit, some ridiculously simple to the painstaking troubleshooting nightmare.

C) Keep in mind you are dealing with liquid and electricity, two potentially fatal ingredients in a decidedly deadly cocktail. For God’s sake use caution if you are attempting any kind of home repair yourself. Turn off any electricity to the System is you simply must fiddle with it yourself.

Having a licensed, certified professional looking at the problem is the most prudent thing to do here. *Best bet is ring Harrington Environmental Services, naturally.

My wife is having an affair with the milsche-man. What is wrong; and what should I do?

Loaded Handgun by a licensed professional, of course.

I have been told one never needs clean a septic system at all. Is this true?

That’s like being told one never need change the oil in the motorcars, never change the aér filtre in the house or office aér conditioning or heating unit, or Heaven forbid never change the filtre in the coffee pot. It is critical clean the tanks every year to two years so as assure the greatest longevity of the septic system and septic tank drain fields. As an aside, one of the most salient reasons Governments are fomenting the march toward Aerobic Treatment Systems is the ignorance of the masses in allowing septic tanks, they function as a grease trap as well, go without servicing and with negative demographic population growth create an environment that contaminates the drinking-well for everyone.

* Remember: Service companies make far more money replacing an entire system than they do simply cleaning or servicing them. 

Choose Wisely. Choose Routine Preventative Maintenance. Choose Harrington Environmental Services.

If my system is leaking yet my inside facilities are working, should I worry about it?

A drain field that is leaking naturally poses a potentially serious health issue. One does not want the possibility of stagnant septic waste pooling on one’s property.  Animals and vectors shall walk through it, children may play in it, you may fall in it, mosquito’s shall harvest in it: bad deal!

My neighbour is complaining about odour from my system. What is wrong?

If it is a Conventional Septic System you probably have a leaking lateral line or drain field, possibly a broken outlet line or inlet line and waste surfacing there. If it an Aerobic Treatment System you have many possibilities of failure. The system has probably gone septic due to an aerator failure or is not functioning up to standard for one reason or the other and is spraying contaminated waste above ground; In either case, you must call a licensed professional to inspect the Septic Tank or Aerobic Treatment System and devise a strategy for rectification.

My neighbour's system has a rather hideous odour. What should I do?

It depends upon the relationship you have with your neighbour. First, consult with your neighbour about the problem in a friendly courteous way. Inform him there is something wrong. 

Sort of a, “By the way, your horse is loose and out in the road,“ kind of way.

Supposing you fear some confrontation or animosity, an anonymous call to your Local Health Department or your State or County’s Environmental Quality Control Board would be in order.   They shall address the problem. Calls are anonymous. A manly word is always the preferred method as opposed to cowardly behind the back chicanerie. However, if full body contact a likely result, or you do not know the neighbour, no need in wasting your tyme, there are uniformed men that carry the weight of the State that enjoy enforcement there to help.

I have been told throwing a dead cat in a septic tank, or using Fleishmann's yeast prevents a septic system from ever needing to be cleaned. Is this true, or and Olde Wives' Tale?

This has to be the most ridiculous olde wives’ tale heard in the industry. Akin the local villagers trying fish the moon’s reflection out of the pond one night with garden rakes. The destruction and reckless murder of small farm animals, sacrificed to superstitions, never advisable. Cadavours should never be thrown in a septic tank.  The idea apparently were that it would help the bacterial growth. This occurs naturally. There are products that enhance the natural occurrence, though never taking the place of a stern tank cleaning. The chance of the cadavour stopping up something is far greater than any real or perceived benefit.  Flushing cooking yeast down the lavatory or toilette a waste of good yeast. It far better use the yeast in a cake or pie, eat the bakery product, and allow nature get it to the tank in a far more enjoyable, rich and rewarding way. 

Harrington Environmental Services offers a modern one year supply of a secret formulae of essential herbs and spices and space age biological stimulants for a ridiculously low price. 

Place an ordre for a year supply now.

My Aerobic System is working just fine. Do I really need to pay to have a contract with a Service provider?

Of course you do. This provides a maintenance program and trained technician able asses problems early on and prevent more costly repairs. In most cases it a requirement by your State, County, Parish, or Principality to have a contract with a certified maintenance provider.

My effluent pump is spraying water out the spray-heads and every thing is working well inside, however I no longer hear the aerator working as it seems to have stopped. What happens now?

Crisis and chaos shall soon ensue.  You shall start smelling a slight odour that shall turn to a hideous odour as your system becomes dangerously septic. The system shall no longer be functioning aerobically.  

It shall become untreated anaerobic raw wastewater sprayed above ground. Now it shall definitely need to be pumped and a new aerator installed by a highly skilled and trained professional. Contact a professional firm to remedy this embarrassing situation.

What if I do not clean my system as required and let it go. My neighbour say, “ Just let it go until it stops, then get it cleaned. Do not waste your Money.” Could this be true?

Funny thing about neighbours always giving lousy advice about what you should or should not do on your side the fence is when things “yo-yo” they always claim you must have misunderstood them.   The reality is this, when you allow a Conventional Septic System to become congested to the pointe it begins allowing sludge and crust flow out into the drain-field or lateral-lines you are doing irreparable irrevocable damage. Once the drain field has been destroyed, a simple tank cleaning is beyond help.  With an Aerobic Treatment System you are drastically shortening the life of expensive mechanical components at best or worse spraying untreated waste above ground. It like never changing the oil in your motorcar and waiting until it smoking and knocking and then thinking perhaps you should change the oil now! Too late.  Clean the system every year to two. The exception is a single person living alone, a travelling sales clerk, or a wandering menestral or troubadour. In this case, you may double that figure. Ignorance of these facts and the inability legislate intelligence quotients out of the stone age one of the prime motivators behind the Government’s encouragement abandon Conventional Septic Systems. 

Are the new Aerobic Treatment Systems better than the old Conventional Septic Systems?

Dependant upon the application and context. Where soil conditions and property space allow, a conventional system the superiour choice. No moving mechanical parts and the only maintenance is a cleaning every one to two years. However, where poor soil is the standard, limited space and under the parametres where Conventional Septic System are most difficult to make-work consistently and reliably: the Aerobic System an uncontested choice. 

What are the Pros and Cons of both?

A Conventional System naturally requires the least amount of service, that is, if they thoroughly cleaned every year and initially installed by a highly competent technician in good soil. However, they do not work in all conditions, and thus the need for an Aerobic System.  Another concern amongst environmental engineers, world governments, and particularly the State is the real concern with contamination of drinking water supplies. 

What products should and should not be flushed into a system?

Only bodily excretions and lavatory or toilette paper should be flushed.  Anything other; such as feminine products, condoms, plastics, paper towels, pharmaceutical products, etc., must never be flushed.

Are there any differences in lavatory or toilette papiér in regard to one being better for a Conventional Septic System or an Aerobic Treatment System?

Yes, use one that easily falls apart when placed in water. Most toilette or lavatory paper states on the label if it Septic System, Grease Trap or Aerobic Treatment System safe. This misleading at best, and typical propaganda for the consumer.  The best bet is find one that creates a thick fluffy robust wad, similar as some fine Southern high cotton from a bunker yield. The cheap low-grade papiér that is common in men’s prisons and construction out houses, both see-through thin and rough as desert sand, is both a health issue as it often leads to rectal bleeding and secondly a danger to the environment because one must use more to do the job, costing the consumer hardship and wracking the infrastructure of the world economy.

What Emergency Services are Available?

Emergency Service is available for Commercial Applications and select customers. Additional Emergency Service charges apply, of course.

How Fast do you Arrive?

If contacted bright and early, typically the same day. If not by the following business day.  

What is your pricing?

Each job is quoted over telephone during business hours.  

What areas do you serve?

We service the entire Fort Worth Metroplex and surrounding areas.

What Discounts are available?

Senior Citizens.

Diagnosis Help?

Read the FAQ section.

Your Environmental Liquid Waste Solutions Specialist

Serving Dallas & Fort Worth, Aledo, Arlington, Burleson, Cleburne, Weatherford & Surrounding Counties