Happy Thanksgiving PumP OuT Readers!!

Today we wanted to take a moment to thank our loyal customers and followers for your support and encouragement along the way. We realize that you have a choice when choosing vendors and we hope that our commitment to honest work and excellent customer service is what draws you to our firm. As you celebrate with you families, friends and loved ones, know that we here at Pump Outs Unlimited are thankful for you!

Have a happy, healthy holiday!!

When it comes to lift stations...we're the experts! Look no further!

Lift stations units are commonly built as a factory assembled package system. Key elements of lift stations include a wastewater treatment receiving well, equipped with lift pumps and piping with valves, a junction box, and an equipment control panel with alarm system.

The submersible type lift/pump station can be utilized on low flow, low head type installations. Two types of pumps are available for this application, grinder pumps and solids handling pumps.

The water that goes down your drain to the sewer, water that flows into storm drains is not treated and filtered for pollutants. This contaminated water flows into canals, into streams and lakes, then ends up in the ocean. Everything other than pure rain water is a potential contaminant that degrades water quality. 

That is why here at Pump Outs Unlimited we provide service to grease traps, storm drains and lift stations throughout the South Florida region. Don't get stuck in a frantic and take the preventive measures needed to keep your business running smoothly. 

 Call us now for a FREE proposal!!!

 Pump Outs Unlimited
9405 NW 109th Street Suite 5
Miami, Fl 33178
Phone: (305)620-7005/(800)283-1495
Fax: (305)620-7004
Email: info@pumpoutsunlimited.com
www.pumpoutsunlimited.com

Monday storm drain madness but we wouldn't have it any other way!!!!

Now that the rain has somewhat subsided in our fair city, people become less aware of the need to service their catch basins when in fact, this is the season when they need it most. Water contamination and flooding are only two important reason, but have you ever given thought to how mosquitoes affect our sewer systems?

A recent article in the Journal of Medical Entomology on mosquitoes and sewers caught my eye–yep, I know, most people would skip that one.  But the study does shed light on an important public health topic, namely factors that can influence the spread of West Nile virus (WNV) and other mosquito-borne diseases.

Now sewer catch basins are not generally nice places to be, but mosquitoes seem to like them.  Garner and coworkers sampled mosquito larvae from 19 catch basins over the course of a mosquito season and found a strong correlation between dry, hot weather and Culex mosquito populations. Culex mosquitoes are the most common vectors of WNV in Texas.  They are one of our container breeding mosquitoes, but are most commonly found in dirty, yucky water where fish and other mosquitoes don’t survive well.

Now the interesting thing about the Illinois study is that mosquito numbers were very low after periods of rainfall, but highest during the hottest and driest part of the summer.  This is the opposite of what most people think about mosquitoes, especially since the most obvious mosquito do occur right after a spell of rainy weather.  So which is worse, wet weather or dry weather, for mosquitoes?
It turns out that wet weather mosquitoes, also known as floodwater mosquitoes, are larger and produce a more painful bite than the house mosquito in the genus Culex.  Culex mosquitoes, on the other hand, are the ones that are mainly responsible for disease transmission in Texas. This correlates well with the patterns of WNV occurrence in the Dallas area.

We see WNV occurring mostly in bird and human populations during mid- to late-summer, when storm drains produce the most mosquitoes.

Catch basins typically hold water for days to weeks after a rain. When leaves or grass clippings accumulate in the basins, ideal breeding sites for mosquitoes are created.

So why more mosquitoes during the dry season?  The authors of the Illinois survey conclude that rains tend to scour the storm sewer catch basins and wash away any Culex larvae breeding there.  When the temperatures warm, mosquitoes can breed more quickly.  And when the inevitable dry spell arrives, the mosquitoes still have these stagnant catch basins all to themselves, perfect for breeding.  Of course if the drought lasts too long, even storm sewer catch basins dry up and mosquito breeding slows.

I realize that while parking lots aren't flooding storm drains are probably the last thing that most proprietors are worried about, but hopefully this article will cause some food for thought. Call us today for a prompt, no obligation proposal.

Waste Water Terminolgy 101

Much like one language can have several dialects, in the drain world there can be more than one name for an object. However, to most people outside of our business it can become somewhat confusing...well have no fear, get ready for Waste Water Terminology 101!

Storm Drain aka Catch Basin:  

Designed to drain excess rain and ground water from paved streets, parking lots, sidewalks, and roofs. Storm drains vary in design from small residential dry wells to large municipal systems. They are fed by street gutters on most motorways, freeways and other busy roads, as well as towns in areas which experience heavy rainfall, flooding and coastal towns which experience regular storms.

Drain Fields:  

Are used to remove contaminants and impurities from the liquid that emerges from the septic tank. A septic tank, the septic drain field, and the associated piping compose a complete septic system. The septic drain field is effective for disposal of organic materials readily catabolized by a microbial ecosystem. The drain field typically consists of an arrangement of trenches containing perforated pipes and porous material (often gravel) covered by a layer of soil to prevent animals and surface runoff from reaching the wastewater distributed within those trenches. Primary design considerations are hydraulic for the volume of wastewater requiring disposal and catabolic for the long-term biochemical oxygen demand of that wastewater.

Septic Tank:

 Is a key component of the septic system, a small-scale sewage treatment system common in areas with no connection to main sewage pipes provided by local governments or private corporations. Other components, typically mandated and/or restricted by local governments, optionally include pumps, alarms, sand filters, and clarified liquid effluent disposal means such as a septic drain field, ponds, etc.

Manhole:

Is the top opening to an underground utility vault used to house an access point for making connections or performing maintenance on underground and buried public utility and other services including sewers, telephone, electricity, storm drains and gas. Manholes are usually covered with tops. These are non permeable keeping water from entering the manhole. Very different from storm drains which are meant to allow water to pass through.


We hope this small tutorial has helped you become more familiar with the types of waste water tools you are likely so see on a rather frequent basis. Have one that needs looking at? Call us today!

Call us for a written estimate today!

 

 

Here at Pump Outs Unlimited we pride ourselves in providing our customers with the greatest customer service, the most knowledgeable staff in the business and the most competitive pricing in the market. Do you have another estimate??!! Call us and we'll do our best meet or beat your written quote.

 

 

If your tank hasn't been pumped in the last 5 years, you are seeing wet areas or standing water above your drainfield, your toilets are running slowly or there are odors in your home, you may need to have your septic system cleaned. Below are some things to think about that will influence the cost of your septic system cleaning.

Pumping

Under normal conditions, you should pump your tank every 1-3 years based upon the number of people living in your home. Generally, this pumping will take around 4-5 hours of manual labor and about 2 hours or so with a backhoe. If you know the location of your septic system, this could save you some money on the backend because your professional won't have to charge you the time to locate it.

Size of tank

Obviously, smaller tanks cost less to clean, although you may need to do them more often. Larger tanks require more labor and possible machinery to dig up and pump the tank.

Replacing common parts

You may need parts replaced, such as a filter, which could cost a few hundred dollars. However, this filter is necessary in maintaining the function and longevity of your drainfield.

Soil fracturing

If your professional notices that your tank is failing, they can sometimes resurrected by properly pumping the tank, cleaning the drainfield lines, installing filters and a process known as fracturing the soil, which involves inserting a hollow tube into the ground and injecting a 300-pound blast of air. While this procedure could cost into the thousands dollars, it's much less expensive and much less hassle than installing a new system.

Keeping it clean

You know that your septic tank will work only if the bacteria in it are healthy and hungry. If they get sick or die, your septic tank will start sending un-digested waste out to the drain field which will quickly plug it up. Below are some "weird" things that could kill your septic tank:

Chemotherapy Drugs

Anti-Bacterial Hand Washing Soap

Toilet Bowl Cleaners

Bath and Body Oils

Dishwashers

Water Softeners

Time-Release Pills and Capsules

Tip

Once your septic tank is uncovered - take photos of it and diagram it in relation to your home. This information can save you money and could prove valuable if your tank needs additional service in the future.

Why should drains be pumped out during the dry season??!!!

An article in The Fulton Sun describes better than we ever could why it is important even during this festive season when our minds are full with visions of Thanksgiving feasts and mistletoe that our drains need our attention now more than it did during our rainy season.

Fulton Street and Sewer Departments workmen insert a plastic pipe into a manhole opening in an unsuccessful attempt to power flush a clogged storm drain Monday morning along Erik Place in Fulton. The storm drain pipe was separated underground behind a house, requiring it to be dug up and flushed with powerful Fulton Fire Department hoses before the excess water could be drained that had accumulated in front of several houses along the street.

Call us today! Our friendly and knowledgeable staff will send you a written proposal right away!


Referenced article: http://www.fultonsun.com/photos/2011/jun/28/8597/

TGIF!!! We've made it through another stormy, poopy week...which in our case is great!!!

Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to introduce our company to you. We are a family owned and operated service company that has consistently grown since we opened in 1991. We are Pump Outs Unlimited.


We specialize in all your commercial, residential and industrial plumbing, waste water, storm water, grease recovery, high-velocity water jetting and TV camera inspection needs. We are committed to providing you with fast professional service, while beating our competitor’s price.


Our fleet of service vehicles and friendly professional staff are on call 24 hours/ 7 days a week to meet your grease trap, storm drains or lift station needs.


We have structured our company to handle any size job with the 100% guarantee of providing the best service and price in the industry.

We invite you to browse through our site www.pumpoutsunlimited.com and please contact us if you have any questions pertaining to any of the services we off. Grease trap cleaning & pumping out, storm drain cleaning, lift stations maintenance and repairs and jetting services. We will be more than happy to assist you.
If you have any questions or should need further information, please do not hesitate to contact us at (305) 620-7005.

Services we offer:

• Grease Trap Cleaning / Pumping Out
• Sanitary Sewer Evaluation Survey A & B
• Portable Toilets
• Grease Trap Installation and Repairs
• Lift Station Cleaning / Pumping Out
• Lift Station Maintenance
• Lift Station Repairs and Installation
• Lift Station Pumps & Parts
• Jetting Services
• Camera Inspections
• Parking Lot Drain Cleaning
• Storm Drain Cleaning
• Smoke Test
• Plumbing Services
• Backflow Services and Certifications
• Vac-Con Services
• Pump Out Services

How do I Identify storm drains vs. sewer drains outside?

 If it's a drain (ie it's designed to capture surface water than it is by definition storm. a catch basin is just a basin of any size used to capture sediment and debris and keep it from cloggin up a drainage system - if theres a grate then it's storm. Mahole covers are typically solid or mostly solid as opposed to storm which have a good number of holes or are grate like. Also it's important to point out that a number of cities will not have two separate systems. Difference between a storm drain and a catch basin - well a catch basin is merely part of a storm drain - it's the part that's designed to keep the rest of the system clear of sediment and such by capturing it in an accessible basin which is easy to clean out.

What the heck is a "Lift Station" and why might I have one???!!!

What are Lift Stations??!!

 

 

The plain English version goes like this....Lift Stations are designed to move wastewater from lower to higher elevation, especially where the source is not enough for gravity flow.

Lift stations include a wastewater well often equipped with a screen to sift out large materials; pumps and piping with associated valves; motors; a power supply system; an equipment control and alarm system; and an odor control system and ventilation system.

 Lift station equipment and systems are often installed in an enclosed structure. They can be purchased prefabricated or you can have a system custom made to fit your needs.

Lift stations are meant to lower the sewer system construction cost.  When gravity sewers are installed in trenches deeper than 10 feet, the cost of sewer line installation increases because of the more costly excavation equipment and trench shoring techniques required. 

We offer economic monthly maintenance packages offering the most detailed and efficient services to keep your lift station pumping smoothly. Call us today!

Pump Outs Unlimited is the leader in Lift Station maintenance!

Monday storm Drain Madness

What is a storm drain? Have you ever seen holes or openings at the curb? Or in the street? Sometimes they have grates over them? Those are probably storm drains. There might be one near your house.
Think you have a drain that needs to be serviced??!! Call us, our experienced and knowledgeable staff will take care of it! Pump Outs Unlimited 305.620.7005	What is a storm drain for? When it rains, all that water falls on streets, lawns, and buildings. To prevent flooding, storm drains collect the storm water and the storm drain system carries it to creeks, lakes and rivers.

Here are some of the ways we can help you maintain your Septic Tanks brough to you by the Dept of Health

Maintain Your System

• Regularly pump-out your septic tank when needed.
• Keep a record of pumping, inspections, maintenance and repairs.
• Map out septic tank and other system components. Either have a map or locate components with permanent stakes. This is useful for accessing the system and will prevent damaging system components when doing home maintenance or yard work.
• Don't park or drive heavy vehicles or equipment over the septic system or any of its components.
• Don't build structures , such as decks, patios or swimming pools, that would cover the absorption field or limit access to the septic tank and distribution box.
• Don't flush or use strong chemicals and bacteria-destroying products, such as drain cleaners, solvents, paint, paint thinners, floor cleaners, sink cleaners, motor oil, antifreeze, pesticides, and photo chemicals. These may disrupt septic tank or absorption system operation. Household bleach, disinfectants, cleansers, antibacterial soaps, when used in normal household applications should not affect system operations.
• Don't flush materials that don't easily degrade, such as paper towels, cotton swabs, personal hygiene products, condoms, medications, disposable diapers, coffee grounds, cat litter, cooking fats/oils, facial tissues, dental floss, cigarette butts, plastics, grease or bones.
• Avoid septic tank additives. A septic tank that is properly sized and maintained will adequately manage household wastewater without the use of additives.
• Avoid garbage disposals or grinders because these substantially increase the accumulation of solids in the septic tank and in the absorption field. If they are used, the septic tank size should be increased and pumped-out more often.
• Direct water treatment system discharges to a separate soil absorption system, if possible, to minimize discharges to the septic system. However, as long as the system is well maintained and can accommodate the additional flow, water treatment system discharges can be directed to the septic tank in many cases.
• Direct drainage away from the septic system from roof, cellar/footing (sump pump) and surface water run-off.
• Plant grass and other shallow-rooted plants over the absorption field. Keep trees and long-rooted plants and shrubs away from the immediate area of the absorption area. Roots can grow into the pipes and clog the system.
• Conserve water. Check for defective toilet tank valves, repair leaky fixtures, and install appliances and fixtures that use less water and avoid wasteful practices.
• Regularly inspect and maintain any effluent pumps and alarms that may be part of your septic system.

*Brought to you by the NY Dept of Health website
https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/3208/

Storm Drains

Storm Drain maintenance is not a job for the faint hearted. 
It's smelly, long, complicated tedious work... but we love it!

Pump Outs Unlimited INC takes pride in providing exceptional service at a cost effective price. We focus on making YOU happy. We try our best to establish a special relationship with each and every client.

If you're interested in Storm Drain maintenance, servicing and or cleaning: Feel free to contact our office (305) 620-7005 

Our friendly staff will assist you with any questions or concerns you may have.


Pump Outs Unlimited
9405 NW 109th Street Suite 5
Miami, Fl 33178
Phone: (305)620-7005/(800)283-1495
Fax: (305)620-7004
Email: info@pumpoutsunlimited.com

www.pumpoutsunlimited.com

How often does you Lift Station need to be serviced.



Lift Stations are a requirement in some counties, they must be serviced and maintained on a monthly basis. Pump, control, and structural manufactures also require that these systems are maintained in order to comply with guarantee policies. Waste-water lift stations are facilities designed to move waste-water from lower to higher elevation, particularly where the elevation of the source is not sufficient for gravity flow or when the use of gravity conveyance will result in excessive excavation depths and high sewer construction costs. Looking for a good deal?! Give us a ca call for a proposal. Some of the areas we are located are...
Hialeah, Marathon, Pembroke Pines, Weston, Pinecrest and many more!

Pump Outs Unlimited
9405 NW 109th Street Suite 5
Miami, Fl 33178
Phone: (305)620-7005/(800)283-1495
Fax: (305) 620-7004
Email: info@pumpoutsunlimited.com
www.pumpoutsunlimited.com