FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The staff of Burns Septic, TLC prides itself on informing our customers as well as servicing their equipment. Browse through our menu of frequently asked questions to become better informed about our services and what you can do to minimize repairs and emergencies!
Residential FAQ
Questions about our Septic Maintenance and Repair Services.
It is recommended that someone be home during your pumpout in case any questions may arise, but it’s not necessary.
No, they aren’t necessary. Hazardous chemicals, paint, solvents, solid food from the garbage disposal, cooking oil/grease, wipes and other trash are the biggest septic problems. Chemicals and lenzymes can help, but if you are careful with what goes down the drain and maintain the proper septic cleaning frequency, you are meeting the basic elements needed for prolonging septic system life and helping the environment.
Back flushing involves releasing what we’ve just pumped from your tank back into the tank to mix things up and create a slurry of solids and liquids to help clean the tank. Burns Septic offers backflushing as a part of our regular service call if needed; there is no additional charge provided that the location of the septic and our truck is mostly level so that we are not working against gravity.
In addition to cleaning of grease traps and septic pumpouts, Burns Septic also offers video inspection, line jetting, drain cleaning and repairs.
Yes. we can repair your septic system, as well as clean it out! Please contact us or fill out our request for services form so that we may visit and provide you with a free estimate.
Request a quote from Burns Septic through our contact page or call us at 1-877-89-BURNS, or 410-848-2455.
The closer the better; over 100 feet could be an additional charge.
Your County Health Department’s Well and Septic Division may know where your septic is located or you could contact your builder. Generally, your septic tank is located on the opposite side of the house from your well. Either a metal or white plastic pipe will be sticking out of ground, and some will have a concrete lid next to it.
Generally, if you find tall green grass with moist or wet earth around your drain field when everything else is dry and/or your septic level is overfull, then your drain field is failing.
Generally, if your drywell is between dry to ½ full you’re okay. If you find your drywell ¾ to full with no back-ups/wet areas, you should be concerned. If your drywell is full and you are experiencing back-ups and/or wet areas, then the drywell is failing.
Contact Burns Septic through our contact form or call our office at 410-848-2455 to setup an appointment for septic service.
An average home with 4 people uses 280 gallons of water in two days; almost 1,000 gallons in one week! This will fill a septic up to normal level quickly, but it will be almost all water.
A septic pump out takes 30 to 60 minutes on average.
Our pricing depends on where you are located, how difficult it is to access, and how many gallons need to be pumped, but the range is from $165 to $205 on average. Contact Burns Septic for a quote or to schedule a cleanout…
You should plan on having your septic pumped every 1-3 years depending on the size and usage:
750-1000 gal (generally pre- to mid-1980’s), 4 people, moderate to heavy usage: Every Year
- 750-1000 gal, 4 people, light to moderate usage: Every 2 Years
- 1250-1500+up (generally mid- to post-1980’s), 4 people, moderate to heavy usage: Every 2 Years
- 1250-1500+up, 4 people, light to moderate usage: Every 3 Years
- 6 or more people: Reduce time between cleanings by half (e.g., instead of 2 years it would be 1 year)
There are many variables to frequencies, such as soil conditions, design, and broken or malfunctioning systems. Use these only as recommendations. Questions? Contact us for answers….
If you can find the clean-out then you should be able to find the lid. Generally, your lid is 3 feet away from the clean-out, going away from the house. The depth of the lid varies.
Yes! Regularly pumping of your septic system is essential to maintaining its health and reducing the possibility of backups.
There is either a clogged line before the septic tank or your septic tank needs to be pumped. Check the level of the septic tank; it will always be full but it is overfull when the liquid level is over the horizontal inlet pipe and you can’t see the pipe.
It’s always better to get your septic cleaned via the lid. The lid allows everything to be visible for a visual cleaning and inspection.
There’s no immediate problem but you should know what you have and it should be found.
From our central location near Sykesville Maryland, we service septic in most counties of central and south-central Maryland: Carroll County, Frederick County, Baltimore County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, and Anne Arundel County.
We service commercial accounts for grease trap and related services in Southern Pennsylvania, most of Maryland, and Northern Virginia.
For more detailed information or to find out if we service your area, please visit Areas Served or contact Burns Septic TLC.
Burns Septic is available to handle your emergency needs. Contact us at 1-877-89-BURNS or 410-848-2455.
A clean-out is a metal or white plastic pipe that sticks out of the ground that allows access either to your septic line or directly to your septic tank.
Backflushing involves releasing what we’ve just pumped from your tank back into the tank to mix things up and create a slurry of solids and liquids to help clean the tank. Burns Septic offers backflushing as a part of our regular service call if needed; there is no additional charge provided that the location of the septic and our truck is mostly level so that we are not working against gravity.
Generally, your septic tank is located on the opposite side of the house from your well. Either a metal or white plastic pipe will be sticking out of ground, and some will have a concrete lid next to it. Your County Health Department’s Well and Septic Division may know where your septic is located or you might contact your builder or the former homeowner.
Your septic system filters out trash, toilet paper, cooking grease/oil, food solids, and sludge. You should get your septic tank pumped because it is the filter, the first line of defense, for your drain fields and/or drywell. This helps prolong the lifespan of your system and minimizes backups or clogs. For more information, read Septic 101…
Commercial FAQ
Questions about our commercial/industrial drain-line jetting and grease-trap services.
The grease trap is a filter for the county sewer system and all the water from the kitchen should go there and be filtered before entering the sewer system. Most restaurants use several 1,000s of gallons of water weekly. Grease traps will be filled up to operating level in a very short time, with water.
Cleaning the grease trap is not the same as cleaning the lines; both are of equal importance and should be performed on a regular basis! The grease trap filters and collects grease so that it does not get into the county sewer system. The grease trap should be serviced more frequently, perhaps quareterly or monthly depending on restaurant volume. The outgoing line occurs after the trap and should be jetted out at least once a year.
We will collect fryer (recyclable) grease if specifically asked but we specialize in removing trap grease.
In addition to cleaning of grease traps and septic pumpouts, Burns Septic also offers video inspection, line jetting, drain cleaning and repairs.
Request a quote from Burns Septic through our contact page or call us at 1-877-89-BURNS, 410-848-2455 or 410-833-5857.
Make sure the plumbing is properly vented and be sure all lids are on correctly. If the grease trap is inside a room, make sure the room is ventilated. You can also increase the frequency of your grease trap cleanings. If possible, monitor what goes down the drain. You can try to chemically neutralize or mask the odors with bleach or other cleaner for a short time. Odor origins are very hard to pinpoint.
All drainage from the kitchens are regulated by grease traps or interceptors, which capture the excess grease and oils from cooking and cleaning so that they do not enter the municipal wastewater supply. Explore Grease Trap 101 to find out more…
Pricing will depend on the size of your grease trap, the frequency, the accessibility, and any restrictions to the time of service. The best thing to do is call our office or contact us thru our website so that we can talk with you. Please get in touch for a quote or more information…
Cleaning out of the grease trap varies depending on restaurant practices and volume; monthly to quarterly cleanings are most common.
If your grease trap is overflowing, there is most likely a clog in the outgoing line from the grease trap to the county sewer. The grease trap should be serviced more frequently. The outgoing line should be jetted out at least once a year.
NOTE: Cleaning the grease trap is not the same as cleaning the lines; both are of equal importance and should be performed on a regular basis!
If your kitchen drains are backing up and overflowing, then there is most likely a clogged line before your grease trap (possibly after). The screens should be on every drain and they should be cleaned regularly. Drain lines should be jetted at least once per year.
From our central location near Sykesville Maryland, we service septic in most counties of central and south-central Maryland: Carroll County, Frederick County, Baltimore County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, and Anne Arundel County.
We service commercial accounts for grease trap and related services in Southern Pennsylvania, most of Maryland, and Northern Virginia.
For more detailed information or to find out if we service your area, please visit Areas Served or contact Burns Septic TLC.
Burns Septic is available to handle your emergency needs. Contact us at 1-877-89-BURNS or 410-848-2455.
Burns Septic offloads grease at a registered disposal facility; almost always this is county operated.
To stay in compliance and avoid emergencies (which could shut down your business), you should
- watch what goes down the drains
- have your grease trap cleaned on a regular schedule, and
- schedule jetting services to your drain lines at least once a year.
Contact Burns Septic today to arrange for scheduled services and inspections!
Cleaning the grease trap involves removing the lid, pumping the grease/oil, water, and solids; scraping down the walls and checking for defects or build- up in the lines.
Fryer grease (yellow) is recyclable and kept in containers. Trap grease is not recyclable and is removed from the sewer system involving your drain system.
We Offer Free Estimates
Thinking of using us for your residential or commercial needs? Contact us today for a free, no obligation estimate.