AIR MAY BE ANSWER FOR SEPTIC SYSTEM
Inexpensive test can help decide if investing in pump is worth it, writes Steve Maxwell.
Q Is there something easier than a full rebuild to get my sluggish, 40-year-old septic system working properly? I know you've written about using an additive called Septicleanse. Will this solve the poor performance?
A Back in 2012, I wrote about Septicleanse used in my 25-yearold septic system, and though the product did help initially, the system still wasn't working properly after nearly two years and three Septicleanse treatments. That's when I decided to do more research.
I've since discovered a generic approach to fixing lazy septic systems that has restored almost like-new performance in about three weeks, all without digging. It has to do with aeration of the second half of the tank.
Normally, septic systems operate without oxygen (that's what "septic" means), but companies now sell air pumps and bubblers that allow air to be bubbled through the sewage, changing it from an oxygen-free environment to an oxygen-rich one. The theory is that oxygen-type bacteria break down the sludge and slime that ordinarily clog the system in time, allowing it to flow freely again.
Rather than buy a bubbler system at a cost of $1,000 to $1,800, I found a supply of air bubble tubing online from a Canadian supplier (canadianpond.ca) and hooked up 15 feet of it to my workshop air compressor as a test.
In three weeks, the sewage levels in my tank went from as high as 10 inches above the top of the tank during heavy use to eight inches below the underside of the tank — just like it's supposed to be. It's the first time this has happened in three years, so I'm really happy.
Now that the approach has proven itself, I'll install a proper air pump, rather than continue to use my air compressor. I've heard about other success stories as well, so I'm convinced that converting septic systems to aerobic operation works extremely well. New systems are being installed now with air bubblers, too.
Q Will solar blinds really keep my home cooler in summer? We have two large bay windows and I was looking at installing some Krumpers solar blinds or perhaps some awnings. I'm skeptical about the blinds since they still let heat inside the glass.
A Your plan is a great way to reduce heat buildup during summer. And though I don't have any personal experience with the blinds you're thinking of, I expect they'll help quite a bit. The research I've looked at with the Krumpers product impresses me.
Your concern about heat still getting between the glass and the blinds probably won't turn out to be an issue. The light colour of solar blinds will reflect energy back out again through the glass, but you don't necessarily need to go ahead on mere "blind" faith.
Before you commit to buying, try simulating blinds by putting a sheet over your window temporarily during sunny weather. I think you'll find it makes quite a difference, and proper blinds will make even more of a difference.
Although most people don't realize it, openable skylights with blinds offer another option for keeping houses cooler during the summer. Even homes with central air conditioning often still have upper rooms that are way too hot in the summer.
A few operable skylights left open even an inch or two allow hot air to escape outside, enabling the air conditioner to do its job upstairs. The best solar skylights don't require wiring and they can open and close electrically, either on schedule or manually. They also close automatically when the first drops of rain hit.