Frequently Asked Questions

Viking Environmental and Septic Services offers Septic Tank Pumping, Septic System Inspection, Septic System Repairs, Septic System Installation, Septic System Maintenance and Filter Cleaning, and Septic System Locating.

We serve much of Western North Carolina, including Asheville and Hendersonville. To see if we serve your specific area, please choose your county from the list below:

• Buncombe County 
• Haywood County
• Henderson County 
• Madison County 
• McDowell County 
• Transylvania County 

This preventative maintenance is crucial to keeping your septic system in working order. It increases the effectiveness of the system by removing the sludge from the tank. This lowers the risk of clogs, sewage backup, leaks, and other damage. Perhaps most importantly, regularly pumping tanks protects the health of your family and of the environment. Viking Environmental and Septic Services offers septic tank pumping and other professional maintenance services to keep your tank clean. 

When you are experiencing slow drains, backed-up sinks, and toilets, you know you have a clog. If the issue seems localized, and only affects a drain or two, a plumber is the best person to call. However, if the problem spans several fixtures, if you hear gurgling sounds, or if you notice a sewage odor or a soggy patch in your yard above the septic tank, you'll want to call Viking Environmental and Septic Services for immediate assistance.

Knowing the location of your tank/lids is important for safety, maintenance and repairs. If you are not the original owner of your property or if your property is large, it may be more difficult to find your septic tank than you think! Let the professionals at Viking Environmental and Septic Services locate your system. 

Although NC does not require a septic system inspection as a part of a real estate transaction, it is always a wise choice! If an inspection is requested, the inspection must be performed by a North Carolina On-site Wastewater Contractors and Inspectors Certification Board (NCOWCICB) certified inspector, like Viking Environmental and Septic Services. Learn more about our inspection service here.

Viking Environmental and Septic Services does not just “pump and run.” During a proper septic pumping service your technician will note the overall condition of the system and the levels in tank. Noting the levels will help determine if there is a potential issue with the system. Then, the tank will be completely pumped down, removing all of the liquid and solid waste. Once the tank is completely pumped, the inlet and outlet tees of the will be inspected to ensure they are still intact and working properly. If there is a filter present, it will be cleaned of any build up. If you are home at the time of service (totally not required if that’s not your thing) you may be asked to flush your toilets to ensure everything is flowing properly. Once the service is complete, the septic tank will be covered as it was when we arrived!

Experts recommend having your system pumped every 3 to 5 years but several factors should be considered when deciding how often your septic tank needs to be serviced. You must take into account the age of the system, the number of occupants in your home, the use of a garbage disposal and the amount of laundry being done in the home. Every system is different. What is right for your system may not be right for your neighbor’s. If you have a question about when your septic system should be pumped, give us a call!

There can be odors immediately after the septic pumping service, but they should not last long. The odors are usually outside and will disperse a few hours after the septic pumping service. If you are experiencing odors in your home, give us a call. This could be a sign of an impending septic back up!

Possibly. If your septic has not been serviced in more than 6 months, we would want to service the septic first. If the problem persists, a drain cleaner will then be sent out to clear the line to the septic tank.

A leaching field is a series of pipes that extend out from your distribution box. These pipes have small holes along the sides that leach out grey water from your septic system. The leaching field pipes are laid over dirt and surrounded by gravel or styrofoam fill to help kick start the filtration process which occurs naturally. As the water seeps out of the leach field lines, it will filter through the ground entering into the natural hydrologic cycle of the earth.

A Distribution Box or D-Box is a small cement or plastic box with 2-3 holes where the leach field lines attach to. The distribution box does just that, it helps to distribute the liquid from the tank out evenly along the leach field lines. The distribution box does not need to be pumped at the time of the septic pumping during regular servicing. 

There are a few reasons you could have standing water in your yard. Your septic tank could be overflowing due to too much rain or there could be a break in your main line. If the ponding is concentrated over the leach field that could mean a leach line is blocked with Bio-Mat and needs to be repaired or replaced.

Most septic tanks have two to three covers; one over the inlet side of the septic tank (where the water from your home enters the tank), one in the center of the tank, and one on the outlet side of the tank (where the liquid from the tank exits to your leach field). The inlet and the outlet covers will be exposed at the time of septic service to best inspect the inlet and outlet lines!

No. Chopped up food particles do not break down in the septic tank and can make their way out into your leach field lines causing clogs. Garbage disposals, even those marked septic safe, are not considered beneficial for your septic system.

Proper working level is where the water level in your tank meets the outlet tee of the tank. As water enters your tank it should push water out of your tank through the outlet pipe. Even after one week of septic pumping service, your septic tank should return to a “proper working level” about 1 foot from the top of the tank. Your septic tank will hold liquid in order for the separation of solids and liquid to happen. Only the liquid (or grey water) should flow out to the leach field pipes.

Filters keep the hair, grit and grime from getting out into your leach field lines. A filter goes on the outlet tee of your septic tank and would act as a strainer, keeping all solid large particles in the tank and therefore OUT of your leach field lines.

There could be many reasons why. You’ll have to answer questions, such as has been more than a year since your last septic pumping service or where are the smells coming from, in order to diagnose the problem. It could be that you need your septic tank pumped or it could be a drain issue. The only way to find out is to call Viking Environmental and Septic Services and discuss your issue

Over the counter products are a “quick fix” and will not thoroughly clear the drain. Those products are also harmful to your septic tank and will kill off the bacteria needed to break down the solids in your tank. Most likely your drains will continue to clog if you don’t have a drain cleaner come and snake or jet your line.

It’s recommended to use non-chlorine, non-ammonia, non-antibacterial, non-toxic and bio-degradable cleaning products. Most all-natural cleaners are septic safe. These types of products will not kill off the bacteria in the system.

No. Don’t plant anything over the leach field except grass. Roots can cause major clogs in your leach lines. It’s also important to never cover the septic tank or leach field with asphalt or concrete or other impermeable material.

Even if items are marked as “septic safe” do not flush them. For example, some baby wipes and cat litter may be labeled this way. It is not good for your septic system to flush anything other than human waste and toilet paper because it does not break down in the septic system correctly.

Yes! They are made to save water which will help prevent over taxing the system as well as helping the environment conserve water.

First call your septic company and have them perform a proper septic inspection. A licensed inspector is the only one who can say that your system is failing. There could be minor or major repairs depending on the reason why the system has failed.

The most inexpensive way to maintain your septic system is to service it regularly. You might think that having it serviced every 2, 3, or even 5 years might be a lot, but the cost of service is a lot less expensive than the cost of replacing the system or a component.

Ignoring your septic system. Schedule regular septic pumping service and stay ahead of any potential issues. This is the best way to prolong the life of your septic system.